THE BATTLE WITH THE EARLS.
After that the Earl set out south with his host, and Kari went with him,
and Njal's sons too. They came south to Caithness. The Earl had these
realms in Scotland, Ross and Moray, Sutherland, and the Dales. There
came to meet them men from those realms, and said that the Earls were a
short way off with a great host. Then Earl Sigurd turns his host
thither, and the name of that place is Duncansness, above which they
met, and it came to a great battle between them. Now the Scots had let
some of their host go free from the main battle, and these took the
Earl's men in flank, and many men fell there till Njal's sons turned
against the foe, and fought with them and put them to flight; but still
it was a hard fight, and then Njal's sons turned back to the front by
the Earl's standard, and fought well. Now Kari turns to meet Earl
Melsnati, and Melsnati hurled a spear at him, but Kari caught the spear
and threw it back and through the Earl. Then Earl Hundi fled, but they
chased the fleers until they learnt that Malcolm was gathering a host at
Duncansby. Then the Earl took counsel with his men, and it seemed to all
the best plan to turn back, and not to fight with such a mighty land
force; so they turned back. But when the Earl came to Straumey they
shared the battle-spoil. After that he went north to Hrossey, and Njal's
sons and Kari followed him. Then the Earl made a great feast, and at
that feast he gave Kari a good sword, and a spear inlaid with gold; but
he gave Helgi a gold ring and a mantle, and Grim a shield and sword.
After that he took Helgi and Grim into his body-guard, and thanked them
for their good help. They were with the Earl that winter and the summer
after, till Kari went sea-roving; then they went with him, and harried
far and wide that summer, and everywhere won the victory. They fought
against Godred, King of Man, and conquered him; and after that they
fared back, and had gotten much goods. Next winter they were still with
the Earl, and when the spring came Njal's sons asked leave to go to
Norway. The Earl said they should go or not as they pleased, and he gave
them a good ship and smart men. As for Kari, he said he must come that
summer to Norway with Earl Hacon's scatts, and then they would meet; and
so it fell out that they gave each other their word to meet. After that
Njal's sons put out to sea and sailed for Norway, and made the land
north near Drontheim.