(36)
“They that waken the storm of the spear-points--
For slaughter and strife they are famous--
To the island they bid me for battle,
Nor bitter I think it nor woeful;
For long in that craft am I learned
To loosen the Valkyrie's tempest
In the lists, and I fear not to fight them--
Unflinching in battle am I.
“Well I wot, though,” said he, “that ye and your gang mean to make away
with me. But I would let you know that I too have something to say about
it--something that will set down your swagger, maybe.”
“It is not thy death we are seeking,” answered Steinar; “all we want is
to teach thee thy true place.”
Bersi agreed to fight him, and then went out to a tent apart and took up
his abode there.
Now one day the word went round for bathing in the sea. Said Steinar to
Bersi, “Wilt try a race with me, Bersi?”
“I have given over swimming,” said he, “and yet I'll try.”
Bersi's manner of swimming was to breast the waves and strike out with
all his might. In so doing he showed a charm he wore round his neck.
Steinar swam at him and tore off the lucky-stone with the bag it was in,
and threw them both into the water, saying in verse:--
(37)
“Long I've lived,
And I've let the gods guide me;
Brown hose I never wore
To bring the luck beside me.
I've never knit
All to keep me thriving
Round my neck a bag of worts,
--And lo! I'm living!”
Upon that they struck out to land.
But this turn that Steinar played was Thord's trick to make Bersi lose
his luck in the fight. And Thord went along the shore at low water and
found the luck-stone, and hid it away.
Now Steinar had a sword that was called after Skrymir the giant: it was
never fouled, and no mishap followed it. On the day fixed, Thord and
Steinar went out of the tent, and Cormac also came to the meeting to
hold the shield of Steinar. Olaf Peacock got men to help Bersi at the
fight, for Thord had been used to hold his shield, but this time failed
him. So Bersi went to the trysting-place with a shield-bearer who is not
named in the story, and with the round target that once had belonged to
Thorveig.
Each man was allowed three shields. Bersi cut up two, and then Cormac
took the third. Bersi hacked away, but Whitting his sword stuck fast
in the iron border of Steinar's shield. Cormac whirled it up just when
Steinar was striking out. He struck the shield-edge, and the sword
glanced off, slit Bersi's buttock, sliced his thigh down to the
knee-joint, and stuck in the bone. And so Bersi fell.
“There!” cried Steinar, “Cormac's fine is paid.”
But Bersi leapt up, slashed at him, and clove his shield. The
sword-point was at Steinar's breast when Thord rushed forth and dragged
him away, out of reach.
“There!” cried Thord to Bersi, “I have paid thee for the mauling of my
sons.”
So Bersi was carried to the tent, and his wound was dressed. After a
while, Thord came in; and when Bersi saw him he said:--
(38)
“When the wolf of the war-god was howling
Erstwhile in the north, thou didst aid me:
When it gaped in my hand, and it girded
At the Valkyries' gate for to enter.
But now wilt thou never, O warrior,
At need in the storm-cloud of Odin
Give me help in the tempest of targes
--Untrusty, unfaithful art thou.
(39)
“For when I was a stripling I showed me
To the stems of the lightning of battle
Right meet for the mist of the war-maids;
--Ah me! that was said long ago.
But now, and I may not deny it
My neighbours in earth must entomb me,
At the spot I have sought for grave-mound
Where Saurbae lies level and green.”
Said Thord, “I have no wish for thy death; but I own it is no sorrow to
see thee down for once.”