at the mouth of a brook, where he was line-fishing, and had a cloak over
his head. [Sidenote: They fight] Thorkell leapt off his horse and tied it
up under the wall of the hut. Then he walks down to the water to where the
man was sitting. Grim saw the shadow of a man cast on the water, and
springs up at once. By then Thorkell had got very nearly close up to him,
and strikes at him. The blow caught him on his arm just above the
wolf-joint (the wrist), but that was not a great wound. Grim sprang
forthwith upon Thorkell, and they seized each other wrestling-wise, and
speedily the odds of strength told, and Thorkell fell and Grim on the top
of him. Then Grim asked who this man might be. Thorkell said that did not
at all matter to him. [Sidenote: They make peace] Grim said, "Now things
have befallen otherwise than you must have thought they would, for now
your life will be in my power." Thorkell said he would not pray for peace
for himself, "for lucklessly I have taken this in hand." Grim said he had
had enough mishaps for him to give this one the slip, "for to you some
other fate is ordained than that of dying at this our meeting, and I shall
give you your life, while you repay me in whatever kind you please." Now
they both stand up and walk home to the hut. Thorkell sees that Grim was
growing faint from loss of blood, so he took Skofnung's-stone and rubbed
it on, and ties it to the arm of Grim, and it took forthwith all smarting
pain and swelling out of the wound. They stayed there that night. In the
morning Thorkell got ready to go away, and asked if Grim would go with
him. He said that sure enough that was his will. Thorkell turns
straightway westward without going to meet Eid, nor halted he till he came
to Saelingsdale Tongue. [Sidenote: Thorkell and Grim go to Snorri] Snorri
the Priest welcomes him with great blitheness. Thorkell told him that his
journey had sped lucklessly. Snorri said it had turned out well, "for Grim
looks to me a man endowed with good luck, and my will is that you make
matters up with him handsomely. But now, my friend, I would like to
counsel you to leave off trade-journeyings, and to settle down and marry,
and become a chief as befits your high birth." Thorkell answered, "Often
your counsels have stood me in good stead," and he asked if Snorri had
bethought him of the woman he should woo. Snorri answers, "You must woo
the woman who is the best match for you, and that woman is Gudrun, Osvif's
daughter." Thorkell said it was true that a marriage with her would be an
honourable one. "But," says he, "I think her fierce heart and
reckless-mindedness weigh heavily, for she will want to have her husband,
Bolli, avenged. Besides, it is said that on this matter there is some
understanding between her and Thorgils Hallason, and it may be that this
will not be altogether to his liking. Otherwise, Gudrun pleases me well."
Snorri said, "I will undertake to see that no harm shall come to you from
Thorgils; but as to the revenge for Bolli, I am rather in hopes that
concerning that matter some change will have befallen before these seasons
(this year) are out." Thorkell answered, "It may be that these be no empty
words you are speaking now. But as to the revenge of Bolli, that does not
seem to me more likely to happen now than it did a while ago, unless into
that strife some of the greater men may be drawn." Snorri said, "I should
be well pleased to see you go abroad once more this summer, to let us see
then what happens." Thorkell said so it should be, and they parted,
leaving matters where they now stood. Thorkell went west over
Broadfirth-country to his ship. He took Grim with him abroad. They had a
good summer-voyage, and came to the south of Norway. Then Thorkell said to
Grim, "You know how the case stands, and what things happened to bring
about our acquaintance, so I need say nothing about that matter; but I
would fain that it should turn out better than at one time it seemed
likely it would. I have found you a valiant man, and for that reason I
will so part from you, as if I had never borne you any grudge. I will
give you as much merchandise as you need in order to be able to join the
guild of good merchants. But do not settle down here in the north of this
land, for many of Eid's kinsmen are about on trading journeys who bear you
heavy ill-will." Grim thanked him for these words, and said he could never
have thought of asking for as much as he offered. At parting Thorkell gave
to Grim a goodly deal of merchandise, and many men said that this deed
bore the stamp of a great man. [Sidenote: The end of the story of Grim]
After that Grim went east in the Wick, settled there, and was looked upon
as a mighty man of his ways; and therewith comes to an end what there is
to be told about Grim. Thorkell was in Norway through the winter, and was
thought a man of much account; he was exceeding wealthy in chattels. Now
this matter must be left for a while, and the story must be taken up out
in Iceland, so let us hear what matters befell there for tidings to be
told of whilst Thorkell was abroad.
CHAP. LIX
Gudrun demands Revenge for Bolli, A.D. 1019
In "Twinmonth" that summer Gudrun, Osvif's daughter, went from home up
into the Dales. She rode to Thickshaw; and at this time Thorleik was
sometimes at Thickshaw with the sons of Armod Halldor and Ornolf, and
sometimes Tongue with Thorgils. [Sidenote: Gudrun meets Snorri] The
same night Gudrun sent a man to Snorri Godi saying that she wished to
meet him without fail the next day. Snorri got ready at once and rode
with one other man until he came to Hawkdale-river; on the northern
side of that river stands a crag by the river called Head, within the
land of Lea-Shaw. At this spot Gudrun had bespoken that she and Snorri
should meet. They both came there at one and the same time. With
Gudrun there was only one man, and he was Bolli, son of Bolli; he was
now twelve years old, but fulfilled of strength and wits was he, so
much so, that many were they who were no whit more powerful at the
time of ripe manhood; and now he carried Footbiter. Snorri and Gudrun
now fell to talking together; but Bolli and Snorri's follower sat on
the crag and watched people travelling up and down the countryside.
When Snorri and Gudrun had asked each other for news, Snorri inquired
on what errand he was called, and what had come to pass lately that
she sent him word so hurriedly. Gudrun said, "Truth to tell, to me is
ever fresh the event which I am about to bring up, and yet it befell
twelve years ago; for it is about the revenge of Bolli I wish to
speak, and it ought not to take you unawares. I have called it to your
mind from time to time. I must also bring this home to you that to
this end you have promised me some help if I but waited patiently, but
now I think it past hope that you will give any heed to our case.
[Sidenote: They talk of revenge] I have now waited as long as my
temper would hold out, and I must have whole-hearted counsel from you
as to where this revenge is to be brought home." Snorri asked what she
chiefly had in her mind's eye. Gudrun said, "It is my wish that all
Olaf's sons should not go scatheless." Snorri said he must forbid any
onset on the men who were not only of the greatest account in the
countryside, but also closely akin to those who stand nearest to back
up the revenge; and it is high time already that these family feuds
come to an end. Gudrun said, "Then Lambi shall be set upon and slain;
for then he, who is the most eager of them for evil, would be put out
of the way." Snorri said, "Lambi is guilty enough that he should be
slain; but I do not think Bolli any the more revenged for that; for
when at length peace should come to be settled, no such disparity
between them would be acknowledged as ought to be due to Bolli when
the manslaughters of both should come up for award." Gudrun spoke, "It
may be that we shall not get our right out of the men of
Salmon-river-Dale, but some one shall pay dear for it, whatever dale
he may dwell in. So we shall turn upon Thorstein the Black, for no one
has taken a worse share in these matters than he." [Sidenote: Snorri's
advice] Snorri spake, "Thorstein's guilt against you is the same as
that of the other men who joined in the raid against Bolli, but did
not wound him. But you leave such men to sit by in quiet on whom it
seems to me revenge wrought would be revenge indeed, and who,
moreover, did take the life of Bolli, such as was Helgi Hardbienson."
Gudrun said, "That is true, but I cannot be sure that, in that case,
all these men against whom I have been stirring up enmity will sit
quietly by doing nothing." Snorri said, "I see a good way to hinder
that. Lambi and Thorstein shall join the train of your sons, and that
is a fitting ransom for those fellows, Lambi and Thorstein; but if
they will not do this, then I shall not plead for them to be let off,
whatever penalty you may be pleased to put upon them." Gudrun spake:
"How shall we set about getting these men that you have named to go on
this journey?" Snorri spake: "That is the business of them who are to
be at the head of the journey." Gudrun spake: "In this we must have
your foresight as to who shall rule the journey and be the leader."
Then Snorri smiled and said, "You have chosen your own men for it."
Gudrun replied, "You are speaking of Thorgils." Snorri said so it was.
Gudrun spake: "I have talked the matter over already with Thorgils,
but now it is as good as all over, for he gave me the one choice,
which I would not even look at. He did not back out of undertaking to
avenge Bolli, if he could have me in marriage in return; but that is
past all hope, so I cannot ask him to go this journey." [Sidenote: The
trick to be played on Thorgils] Snorri spoke: "On this I will give you
a counsel, for I do not begrudge Thorgils this journey. You shall
promise marriage to him, yet you shall do it in language of this
double meaning, that of men in this land you will marry none other but
Thorgils, and that shall be holden to, for Thorkell Eyjolfson is not,
for the time being, in this land, but it is he whom I have in my
mind's eye for this marriage." Gudrun spake: "He will see through this
trick." Snorri answered, "Indeed he will not see through it, for
Thorgils is better known for foolhardiness than wits. Make the
covenant with but few men for witnesses, and let Halldor, his
foster-brother, be there, but not Ornolf, for he has more wits, and
lay the blame on me if this will not work out." After that they parted
their talk and each bade the other farewell, Snorri riding home, and
Gudrun unto Thickshaw. The next morning Gudrun rode from Thickshaw and
her sons with her, and when they ride west along Shawstrand they see
that men are riding after them. They ride on quickly and catch them up
swiftly, and lo, there was Thorgils Hallason. They greeted each other
well, and now ride on in the day all together, out to Holyfell.
CHAP. LX
The Egging of Gudrun
[Sidenote: Gudrun and her sons] A few nights after Gudrun had come
home she called her sons to her to have a talk with them in her
orchard; and when they were come there they saw how there were lying
out some linen clothes, a shirt and linen breeches, and they were much
stained with blood. Then spake Gudrun: "These same clothes you see
here cry to you for your father's revenge. I will not say many words
on this matter, for it is past hope that you will heed an egging-on by
words alone if you bring not home to your minds such hints and
reminders as these." The brothers were much startled as this, and at
what Gudrun had to say; but yet this way they made answer that they
had been too young to seek for revenge without a leader; they knew
not, they felt, how to frame a counsel for themselves or others
either. "But we might well bear in mind what we have lost." Gudrun
said, "They would be likely to give more thought to horse-fights or
sports." After that they went away. The next night the brothers could
not sleep. Thorgils got aware of this, and asked them what was the
matter. They told him all the talk they had had with their mother, and
this withal that they could no longer bear their grief or their
mother's taunts. "We will seek revenge," said Bolli, "now that we
brothers have come to so ripe an age that men will be much after us if
we do not take the matter in hand." [Sidenote: Thorgils promises to
help in the revenge] The next day Gudrun and Thorgils had a talk
together, and Gudrun started speaking in this wise: "I am given to
think, Thorgils, that my sons brook it ill to sit thus quietly on any
longer without seeking revenge for their father's death. But what
mostly has delayed the matter hitherto is that up to now I deemed
Thorleik and Bolli too young to be busy in taking men's lives. But
need enough there has been to call this to mind a good long time
before this. Thorgils answered, "There is no use in your talking this
matter over with me, because you have given a flat denial to 'walking
with me' (marrying me). But I am in just the same frame of mind as I
have been before, when we have had talks about this matter. If I can
marry you, I shall not think twice about killing either or both of the
two who had most to do with the murder of Bolli." Gudrun spoke: "I am
given to think that to Thorleik no man seems as well fitted as you to
be the leader if anything is to be done in the way of deeds of
hardihood. Nor is it a matter to be hidden from you that the lads are
minded to go for Helgi Hardbienson the 'Bareserk,' who sits at home in
his house in Skorridale misdoubting himself of nothing." Thorgils
spake: "I never care whether he is called Helgi or by any other name,
for neither in Helgi nor in any one else do I deem I have an
over-match in strength to deal with. As far as I am concerned, the
last word on this matter is now spoken if you promise before witnesses
to marry me when, together with your sons, I have wreaked the
revenge." Gudrun said she would fulfil all she should agree to, even
though such agreement were come to before few men to witness it.
"And," said she, "this then we shall settle to have done." Gudrun
bade be called thither Halldor, Thorgils' foster-brother, and her own
sons. Thorgils bade that Ornolf should also be with them. Gudrun said
there was no need of that, "For I am more doubtful of Ornolf's
faithfulness to you than I think you are yourself." [Sidenote:
Thorgils deceived by Gudrun] Thorgils told her to do as she liked. Now
the brothers come and meet Gudrun and Thorgils, Halldor being also at
the parley with them. Gudrun now sets forth to them that "Thorgils has
said he will be the leader in this raid against Helgi Hardbienson,
together with my sons, for revenge of Bolli, and Thorgils has
bargained in return for this undertaking to get me for wife. Now I
avow, with you to witness, that I promise this to Thorgils, that of
men in this land I shall marry none but him, and I do not purpose to
go and marry in any other land." Thorgils thought that this was
binding enough, and did not see through it. And now they broke up
their talk. This counsel is now fully settled that Thorgils must
betake himself to this journey. He gets ready to leave Holyfell, and
with him the sons of Gudrun, and they rode up into the Dales and first
to the homestead at Tongue.
CHAP. LXI
Of Thorstein the Black and Lambi
[Sidenote: Thorstein the Black joins with the brothers] The next
Lord's day a leet was held, and Thorgils rode thither with his
company, Snorri Godi was not at the leet, but there was a great many
people together. During the day Thorgils fetched up Thorstein the
Black for a talk with him, and said, "As you know, you were one in the
onset by the sons of Olaf when Bolli was slain, and you have made no
atonement for your guilt to his sons. Now although a long time is gone
since those things befell, I think their mind has not given the slip
to the men who were in that raid. Now, these brothers look in this
light upon the matter, that it beseem them least, by reason of
kinship, to seek revenge on the sons of Olaf; and so the brothers
purpose to turn for revenge upon Helgi Hardbienson, for he gave Bolli
his death-wound. So we ask this of you, Thorstein, that you join in
this journey with the brothers, and thus purchase for yourself peace
and good-will." Thorstein replied, "It beseems me not at all to deal
in treason with Helgi, my brother-in-law, and I would far rather
purchase my peace with as much money as it would be to their honour to
take." Thorgils said, "I think it is but little to the mind of the
brothers to do aught herein for their own gain; so you need not hide
it away from yourself, Thorstein, that at your hands there lie two
choices: either to betake yourself to this journey, or to undergo the
harshest of treatments from them as soon as they may bring it about;
and my will is, that you take this choice in spite of the ties that
bind you to Helgi; for when men find themselves in such straits, each
must look after himself." Thorstein spake: "Will the same choice be
given to more of the men who are charged with guilt by the sons of
Bolli?" Thorgils answered, "The same choice will be put to Lambi."
[Sidenote: Lambi is persuaded to join them] Thorstein said he would
think better of it if he was not left the only one in this plight.
After that Thorgils called Lambi to come and meet him, and bade
Thorstein listen to their talk. He said, "I wish to talk over with
you, Lambi, the same matter that I have set forth to Thorstein; to
wit, what amends you are willing to make to the sons of Bolli for the
charges of guilt which they have against you? For it has been told me
as true that you wrought wounds on Bolli; but besides that, you are
heavily guilt-beset, in that you urged it hard that Bolli should be
slain; yet, next to the sons of Olaf, you were entitled to some excuse
in the matter." Then Lambi asked what he would be asked to do.
Thorgils said the same choice would be put to him as to Thorstein, "to
join with the brothers in this journey." Lambi said, "This I think an
evil price of peace and a dastardly one, and I have no mind for this
journey." Then said Thorstein, "It is not the only thing open to view,
Lambi, to cut so quickly away from this journey; for in this matter
great men are concerned, men of much worth, moreover, who deem that
they have long had to put up with an unfair lot in life. It is also
told me of Bolli's sons that they are likely to grow into men of high
mettle, and that they are exceeding masterful; but the wrong they have
to wreak is great. We cannot think of escaping from making some amends
after such awful deeds. I shall be the most open to people's
reproaches for this by reason of my alliance with Helgi. But I think
most people are given to 'setting all aside for life,' and the trouble
on hand that presses hardest must first be thrust out of the way."
Lambi said, "It is easy to see what you urge to be done, Thorstein;
and I think it well befitting that you have your own way in this
matter, if you think that is the only way you see open, for ours has
been a long partnership in great troubles. [Sidenote: The journey
settled] But I will have this understood if I do go into this
business, that my kinsmen, the sons of Olaf, shall be left in peace if
the revenge on Helgi shall be carried out." Thorgils agreed to this on
behalf of the brothers. [Sidenote: The party leave home] So now it was
settled that Lambi and Thorstein should betake themselves to the
journey with Thorgils; and they bespoke it between them that they
should come early on the third day (Tuesday)[8] to Tongue, in
Hord-Dale. After that they parted. Thorgils rode home that evening to
Tongue. Now passes on the time within which it was bespoken they
should come to Tongue. In the morning of the third day (Tuesday),
before sunrise, Thorstein and Lambi came to Tongue, and Thorgils gave
them a cheerful welcome.
[Footnote 8: The agreement was made on a Sunday.]
CHAP. LXII
Thorgils and his Followers leave Home
Thorgils got himself ready to leave home, and they all rode up along
Hord-Dale, ten of them together. There Thorgils Hallason was the
leader of the band. In that train the sons of Bolli, Thorleik and
Bolli, and Thord the Cat, their brother, was the fourth, the fifth was
Thorstein the Black, the sixth Lambi, the seventh and eighth Haldor
and Ornolf, the ninth Svein, and the tenth Hunbogi. Those last were
the sons of Alf o' Dales. They rode on their way up to Sweeping-Pass,
and across Long-waterdale, and then right across Burgfirth. They rode
across North-river at Isleford, but across White-river at Bankford, a
short way down from the homestead of By. Then they rode over Reekdale,
and over the neck of land to Skorradale, and so up through the wood in
the neighbourhood of the farmstead of Water-Nook, where they got off
their horses, as it was very late in the evening. The homestead of
Water-Nook stands a short way from the lake on the south side of the
river. [Sidenote: Thorgils takes the lead] Thorgils said to his
followers that they must tarry there over night, "and I will go to the
house and spy and see if Helgi be at home. I am told Helgi has at most
times very few men with him, but that he is of all men the wariest of
himself, and sleeps on a strongly made lock-bed." Thorgils' followers
bade him follow his own foresight. Thorgils now changed his clothes,
and took off his blue cloak, and slipped on a grey foul-weather
overall. He went home to the house. When he was come near to the
home-field fence he saw a man coming to meet him, and when they met
Thorgils said, "You will think my questions strange, comrade, but
whose am I come to in this countryside, and what is the name of this
dwelling, and who lives here?" The man answered, "You must be indeed a
wondrous fool and wit-bereft if you have not heard Helgi Hardbienson
spoken of, the bravest of warriors, and a great man withal." Thorgils
next asked how far Helgi took kindly to unknown people coming to see
him, such as were in great need of help. He replied, "In that matter,
if truth is told, only good can be said of Helgi, for he is the most
large-hearted of men, not only in giving harbour to comers, but also
in all his high conduct otherwise." "Is Helgi at home now?" asked
Thorgils; "I should like to ask him to take me in." [Sidenote:
Thorgils and Helgi's servant] The other then asks what matters he had
on his hands. Thorgils answered, "I was outlawed this summer at the
Thing, and I want to seek for myself the help of some such man as is a
mighty one of his hands and ways, and I will in return offer my
fellowship and service. So now you take me home to the house to see
Helgi." "I can do that very well, to show you home," he said, "for you
will be welcome to quarters for the night, but you will not see Helgi,
for he is not at home." Then Thorgils asked where he was. The man
answered, "He is at his out-dairy called Sarp." Thorgils asked where
that was, and what men were with him. He said his son Hardbien was
there, and two other men, both outlaws, whom he had taken in to
shelter. Thorgils bade him show the nearest way to the dairy, "for I
want to meet Helgi at once, when I can get to him and plead my errand
to him." The house-carle did so and showed him the way, and after that
they parted. Thorgils returned to the wood to his companions, and told
them what he had found out about Helgi. "We must tarry here through
the night, and not go to the dairy till to-morrow morning." They did as
he ordained, and in the morning Thorgils and his band rode up through
the wood till they were within a short way from the dairy. Then
Thorgils bade them get off their horses and eat their morning meal,
and so they did, and kept them for a while.
CHAP. LXIII
The Description of his Enemies brought to Helgi