big man walked into the booth. [Sidenote: Eldgrim of Burgfirth] He
greeted Thorliek, who took well the greeting of this man and asked his
name and whence he was. He said he was called Eldgrim, and lived in
Burgfirth at a place called Eldgrimstead--but that abode lies in the
valley which cuts westward into the mountains between Mull and
Pigtongue, and is now called Grimsdale. Thorliek said, "I have heard
you spoken of as being no small man." Eldgrim said, "My errand here is
that I want to buy from you the stud-horses, those valuable ones that
Kotkell gave you last summer." Thorliek answered, "The horses are not
for sale." Eldgrim said, "I will offer you equally many stud-horses
for them and some other things thrown in, and many would say that I
offer you twice as much as the horses are worth." Thorliek said, "I am
no haggler, but these horses you will never have, not even though you
offer three times their worth." Eldgrim said, "I take it to be no lie
that you are proud and self-willed, and I should, indeed, like to see
you getting a somewhat less handsome price for them than I have now
offered you, and that you should have to let the horses go none the
less." Thorliek got angered at these words, and said, "You need,
Eldgrim, to come to closer quarters if you mean to frighten out me the
horses." Eldgrim said, "You think it unlikely that you will be beaten
by me, but this summer I shall go and see the horses, and we will see
which of us will own them after that." Thorliek said, "Do as you like,
but bring up no odds against me." Then they dropped their talk. The
man who heard this said that for this sort of dealing together here
were two just fitting matches for each other. After that people went
home from the Thing, and nothing happened to tell tidings of.
[Sidenote: Hrut meets with Eldgrim] It happened one morning early that
a man looked out at Hrutstead at goodman Hrut's, Herjolf's son's, and
when he came in Hrut asked what news he brought. He said he had no
other tidings to tell save that he saw a man riding from beyond Vadlar
towards where Thorliek's horses were, and that the man got off his
horse and took the horses. Hrut asked where the horses were then, and
the house-carle replied, "Oh, they have stuck well to their pasture,
for they stood as usual in your meadows down below the fence-wall."
Hrut replied, "Verily, Thorliek, my kinsman, is not particular as to
where he grazes his beasts; and I still think it more likely that it
is not by his order that the horses are driven away." Then Hrut sprang
up in his shirt and linen breeches, and cast over him a grey cloak and
took in his hand his gold inlaid halberd that King Harald had given
him. He went out quickly and saw where a man was riding after horses
down below the wall. Hrut went to meet him, and saw that it was
Eldgrim driving the horses. Hrut greeted him, and Eldgrim returned his
greeting, but rather slowly. [Sidenote: Hrut takes Thorliek's part]
Hrut asked him why he was driving the horses. Eldgrim replied, "I will
not hide it from you, though I know what kinship there is between you
and Thorliek; but I tell you I have come after these horses, meaning
that he shall never have them again. I have also kept what I promised
him at the Thing, that I have not gone after the horses with any great
company." Hrut said, "That is no deed of fame to you to take away the
horses while Thorliek lies in his bed and sleeps; you would keep best
what you agreed upon if you go and meet himself before you drive the
horses out of the countryside." Eldgrim said, "Go and warn Thorliek if
you wish, for you may see I have prepared myself in such a manner as
that I should like it well if we were to meet together, I and
Thorliek," and therewith he brandished the barbed spear he had in his
hand. He had also a helmet on his head, and a sword girded on his
side, and a shield on his flank, and had on a chain coat. Hrut said,
"I think I must seek for something else than to go to Combeness for I
am heavy of foot; but I mean not to allow Thorliek to be robbed if I
have means thereto, no matter how little love there may go with our
kinship." Eldgrim said, "And do you mean to take the horses away from
me?" Hrut said, "I will give you other stud-horses if you will let
these alone, though they may not be quite so good as these are."
Eldgrim said, "You speak most kindly, Hrut, but since I have got hold
of Thorliek's horses you will not pluck them out of my hands either by
bribes or threats." [Sidenote: He kills Eldgrim] Hrut replied, "Then I
think you are making for both of us the choice that answers the
worst." Eldgrim now wanted to part, and gave the whip to his horse,
and when Hrut saw that, he raised up his halberd and struck Eldgrim
through the back between the shoulders so that the coat of mail was
torn open and the halberd flew out through the chest, and Eldgrim fell
dead off his horse, as was only natural. After that Hrut covered up
his body at the place called Eldgrim's-holt south of Combeness. Then
Hrut rode over to Combeness and told Thorliek the tidings. Thorliek
burst into a rage, and thought a great shame had been done him by this
deed, while Hrut thought he had shown him great friendship thereby.
Thorliek said that not only had he done this for an evil purpose, but
that, moreover, no good would come in return for it. Hrut said that
Thorliek must do what pleased him, and so they parted in no loving
kindness. Hrut was eighty years old when he killed Eldgrim, and he was
considered by that deed to have added much to his fame. Thorliek
thought that Hrut was none the worthier of any good from him for being
more renowned for this deed, for he held it was perfectly clear he
would have himself have got the better of Eldgrim if they had had a
trial of arms between them, seeing how little was needed to trip
Eldgrim up. [Sidenote: Kotkell's enchantments] Thorliek now went to
see his tenants Kotkell and Grima, and bade them do something to the
shame of Hrut. They took this up gladly, and said they were quite
ready to do so. Thorliek now went home. A little later they, Kotkell
and Grima and their sons, started on a journey from home, and that was
by night. They went to Hrut's dwelling, and made great incantations
there, and when the spell-working began, those within were at a loss
to make out what could be the reason of it; but sweet indeed was that
singing they heard. Hrut alone knew what these goings-on meant, and
bade no man look out that night, "and let every one who may keep
awake, and no harm will come to us if that counsel is followed." But
all the people fell asleep. Hrut watched longest, and at last he too
slept. Kari was the name of a son of Hrut, and he was then twelve
winters old. He was the most promising of all Hrut's sons, and Hrut
loved him much. Kari hardly slept at all, for to him the play was
made; he did not sleep very soundly, and at last he got up and looked
out, and walked in the direction of the enchantment, and fell down
dead at once. Hrut awoke in the morning, as also did his household,
and missed his son, who was found dead a short way from the door. This
Hrut felt as the greatest bereavement, and had a cairn raised over
Kari. Then he rode to Olaf Hoskuldson and told him the tidings of what
had happened there. Olaf was madly wroth at this, and said it showed
great lack of forethought that they had allowed such scoundrels as
Kotkell and his family to live so near to him, and said that Thorliek
had shaped for himself an evil lot by dealing as he had done with
Hrut, but added that more must have been done than Thorliek had ever
could have wished. [Sidenote: Death of Kotkell and Grima] Olaf said
too that forthwith Kotkell and his wife and sons must be slain, "late
though it is now." Olaf and Hrut set out with fifteen men. But when
Kotkell and his family saw the company of men riding up to their
dwelling, they took to their heels up to the mountain. There Hallbjorn
Whetstone-eye was caught and a bag was drawn over his head, and while
some men were left to guard him others went in pursuit of Kotkell,
Grima, and Stigandi up on the mountain. Kotkell and Grima were laid
hands on on the neck of land between Hawkdale and Salmon-river-Dale,
and were stoned to death and a heap of stones thrown up over them, and
the remains are still to be seen, being called Scratch-beacon.
Stigandi took to his heels south over the neck towards Hawkdale, and
there got out of their sight. Hrut and his sons went down to the sea
with Hallbjorn, and put out a boat and rowed out from land with him,
and they took the bag off his head and tied a stone round his neck.
Hallbjorn set gloating glances on the land, and the manner of his look
was nowise of the goodliest. Then Hallbjorn said, "It was no day of
bliss when we, kinsfolk, came to this Combeness and met with Thorliek.
And this spell I utter," says he, "that Thorliek shall from henceforth
have but few happy days, and that all who fill his place have a
troublous life there." And this spell, men deem, has taken great
effect. After that they drowned him, and rowed back to land.
[Sidenote: Hrut's anger against Thorliek] A little while afterwards
Hrut went to find Olaf his kinsman, and told him that he would not
leave matters with Thorliek as they stood, and bade him furnish him
with men to go and make a house-raid on Thorliek. Olaf replied, "It is
not right that you two kinsmen should be laying hands on each other;
on Thorliek's behalf this has turned out a matter of most evil luck. I
would sooner try and bring about peace between you, and you have often
waited well and long for your good turn." Hrut said, "It is no good
casting about for this; the sores between us two will never heal up;
and I should like that from henceforth we should not both live in
Salmon-river-Dale." Olaf replied, "It will not be easy for you to go
further against Thorliek than I am willing to allow; but if you do it,
it is not unlikely that dale and hill will meet."[4] Hrut thought he
now saw things stuck hard and fast before him; so he went home
mightily ill pleased; but all was quiet or was called so. And for that
year men kept quiet at home.
[Footnote 4: _i.e._, old age = Hrut, and youthful power=Olaf, the
greatest "goethi" in the countryside.]
CHAP. XXXVIII
The Death of Stigandi. Thorliek leaves Iceland
[Sidenote: Stigandi and the slave woman] Now, to tell of Stigandi, he
became an outlaw and an evil to deal with. Thord was the name of a
man who lived at Hundidale; he was a rich man, but had no manly
greatness. A startling thing happened that summer in Hundidale, in
that the milking stock did not yield much milk, but a woman looked
after the beast there. At last people found out that she grew wealthy
in precious things, and that she would disappear long and often, and
no one knew where she was. Thord brought pressure to bear on her for
confession, and when she got frightened she said a man was wont to
come and meet her, "a big one," she said, "and in my eyes very
handsome." Thord then asked how soon the man would come again to meet
her, and she said she thought it would be soon. After that Thord went
to see Olaf, and told him that Stigandi must be about, not far away
from there, and bade him bestir himself with his men and catch him.
Olaf got ready at once and came to Hundidale, and the bonds-woman was
fetched for Olaf to have talk of her. Olaf asked her where the lair of
Stigandi was. She said she did not know. Olaf offered to pay her money
if she would bring Stigandi within reach of him and his men; and on
this they came to a bargain together. The next day she went out to
herd her cattle, and Stigandi comes that day to meet her. [Sidenote:
The death of Stigandi] She greeted him well, and offers to look
through (the hair of) his head. He laid his head down on her knee, and
soon went to sleep. Then she slunk away from under his head, and went
to meet Olaf and his men, and told them what had happened. Then they
went towards Stigandi, and took counsel between them as to how it
should not fare with him as his brother, that he should cast his
glance on many things from which evil would befall them. They take now
a bag, and draw it over his head. Stigandi woke at that, and made no
struggle, for now there were many men to one. The sack had a slit in
it, and Stigandi could see out through it the slope on the other side;
there the lay of the land was fair, and it was covered with thick
grass. But suddenly something like a whirlwind came on, and turned the
sward topsy-turvy, so that the grass never grew there again. It is now
called Brenna. Then they stoned Stigandi to death, and there he was
buried under a heap of stones. Olaf kept his word to the bonds-woman,
and gave her her freedom, and she went home to Herdholt. Hallbjorn
Whetstone-eye was washed up by the surf a short time after he was
drowned. It was called Knorstone where he was put in the earth, and
his ghost walked about there a great deal. There was a man named
Thorkell Skull who lived at Thickshaw on his father's inheritance. He
was a man of very dauntless heart and mighty of muscle. One evening a
cow was missing at Thickshaw, and Thorkell and his house-carle went to
look for it. It was after sunset, but was bright moonlight. Thorkell
said they must separate in their search, and when Thorkell was alone
he thought he saw the cow on a hill-rise in front of him, but when he
came up to it he saw it was Whetstone-eye and no cow. They fell upon
each in mighty strength. Hallbjorn kept on the defensive, and when
Thorkell least expected it he crept down into the earth out of his
hands. After that Thorkell went home. The house-carle had come home
already, and had found the cow. No more harm befell ever again from
Hallbjorn.
Thorbjorn Skrjup was dead by then, and so was Melkorka, and
they both lie in a cairn in Salmon-river-Dale. Lambi, their son, kept
house there after them. He was very warrior-like, and had a great deal
of money. Lambi was more thought of by people than his father had
been, chiefly because of his mother's relations; and between him and
Olaf there was fond brotherhood. [Sidenote: Olaf and Thorliek meet]
Now the winter next after the killing of Kotkell passed away. In the
spring the brothers Olaf and Thorliek met, and Olaf asked if Thorliek
was minded to keep on his house. Thorliek said he was. Olaf said, "Yet
I would beg you, kinsman, to change your way of life, and go abroad;
you will be thought an honourable man whereever you come; but as to
Hrut, our kinsman, I know he feels how your dealings with him come
home to him. And it is little to my mind that the risk of your sitting
so near to each other should be run any longer. For Hrut has a strong
run of luck to fall back upon, and his sons are but reckless bravos.
On account of my kinship I feel I should be placed in a difficulty if
you, my kinsman, should come to quarrel in full enmity." [Sidenote:
Thorliek goes abroad] Thorliek replied, "I am not afraid of not being
able to hold myself straight in the face of Hrut and his sons, and
that is no reason why I should depart the country. But if you,
brother, set much store by it, and feel yourself in a difficult
position in this matter, then, for your words I will do this; for then
I was best contented with my lot in life when I lived abroad. And I
know you will not treat my son Bolli any the worse for my being
nowhere near; for of all men I love him the best." Olaf said, "You
have, indeed, taken an honourable course in this matter, if you do
after my prayer; but as touching Bolli, I am minded to do to him
henceforth as I have done hitherto, and to be to him and hold him no
worse than my own sons." After that the brothers parted in great
affection. Thorliek now sold his land, and spent his money on his
journey abroad. He bought a ship that stood up in Daymealness; and
when he was full ready he stepped on board ship with his wife and
household. That ship made a good voyage, and they made Norway in the
autumn. Thence he went south to Denmark, as he did not feel at home in
Norway, his kinsmen and friends there being either dead or driven out
of the land. After that Thorliek went to Gautland. It is said by most
men that Thorliek had little to do with old age; yet he was held a man
of great worth throughout life. And there we close the story of
Thorliek.
CHAP. XXXIX
Of Kjartan's Friendship for Bolli
[Sidenote: Osvif's counsel] At that time, as concerning the strife
between Hrut and Thorliek, it was ever the greatest gossip throughout
the Broadfirth-Dales how that Hrut had had to abide a heavy lot at the
hands of Kotkell and his sons. Then Osvif spoke to Gudrun and her
brothers, and bade them call to mind whether they thought now it would
have been the best counsel aforetime then and there to have plunged
into the danger of dealing with such "hell-men" (terrible people) as
Kotkell and his were. Then said Gudrun, "He is not counsel-bereft,
father, who has the help of thy counsel." Olaf now abode at his manor
in much honour, and all his sons are at home there, as was Bolli,
their kinsman and foster-brother. Kjartan was foremost of all the sons
of Olaf. Kjartan and Bolli loved each other the most, and Kjartan went
nowhere that Bolli did not follow. Often Kjartan would go to the
Saelingdale-spring, and mostly it happened that Gudrun was at the
spring too. Kjartan liked talking to Gudrun, for she was both a woman
of wits and clever of speech. It was the talk of all folk that of all
men who were growing up at the time Kjartan was the most even match
for Gudrun. Between Olaf and Osvif there was also great friendship,
and often they would invite one another, and not the less frequently
so when fondness was growing up between the young folk. [Sidenote:
Olaf's forebodings] One day when Olaf was talking to Kjartan, he said:
"I do not know why it is that I always take it to heart when you go to
Laugar and talk to Gudrun. It is not because I do not consider Gudrun
the foremost of all other women, for she is the one among womenkind
whom I look upon as a thoroughly suitable match for you. But it is my
foreboding, though I will not prophesy it, that we, my kinsmen and I,
and the men of Laugar will not bring altogether good luck to bear on
our dealings together." Kjartan said he would do nothing against his
father's will where he could help himself, but he hoped things would
turn out better than he made a guess to. Kjartan holds to his usual
ways as to his visits (to Laugar), and Bolli always went with him, and
so the next seasons passed.
CHAP. XL
Kjartan and Bolli Voyage to Norway, A.D. 996