70. MORD'S COUNSEL

A little after, those namesakes and Mord met, and they were not

at all of one mind. They thought they had lost much goods for

Mord's sake, but had got nothing in return; and they bade him set

on foot some other plot which might do Gunnar harm.

Mord said so it should be. "But now this is my counsel, that

thou, Thorgeir Otkell's son shouldest beguile Ormilda, Gunnar's

kinswoman; but Gunnar will let his displeasure grow against thee

at that, and then I will spread that story abroad that Gunnar

will not suffer thee to do such things. Then ye two shall some

time after make an attack on Gunnar, but still ye must not seek

him at home, for there is no thinking of that while the hound is

alive."

So they settled this plan among them that it should be brought

about.

Thorgeir began to turn his steps towards Ormilda, and Gunnar

thought that ill, and great dislike arose between them.

So the winter wore away. Now comes the summer, and their secret

meetings went on oftener than before.

As for Thorgeir of the Threecorner and Mord, they were always

meeting; and they plan an onslaught on Gunnar when he rides down

to the isles to see after the work done by his house-caries.

One day Mord was ware of it when Gunnar rode down to the isles,

and sent a man off under the Threecorner to tell Thorgeir that

then would be the likeliest time to try to fall on Gunnar.

They bestirred them at once, and fare thence twelve together, but

when they came to Kirkby there they found thirteen men waiting

for them.

Then they made up their minds to ride down to Rangriver and lie

in wait there for Gunnar.

But when Gunnar rode up from the isles, Kolskegg rode with him.

Gunnar had his bow and his arrows and his bill. Kolskegg had his

short sword and weapons to match.

The Story of Burnt Njal: The Great Icelandic Tribune, Jurist, and Counsellor · 第 113 / 252 题