EIRIK
Onund and Aesa had two sons; the elder was named Thorgeir, the younger
Ofeig Grettir. Soon afterwards Aesa died and Onund married a second
wife, Thordis Thorgrim's daughter of Gnup in Midfjord, a kinsman of
Skeggi of Midfjord. By her Onund had a son named Thorgrim, who grew
up quickly to manhood, tall and strong, wise and a good manager. Onund
continued to live at Kaldbak until his old age. He died a natural
death and lies in Treefoot's howe. He was the boldest and most active
one-legged man that ever came to Iceland.
Among Onund's sons Thorgrim was the foremost, although the others were
older. When he was twenty-five years old his hair was grey, whence they
nick-named him Greyhead. His mother Thordis married again, taking as her
second husband Audun Skokull. They had a son named Asgeir of Asgeirsa.
Thorgrim Greyhead and his brothers had a large property, which they
managed together without dividing it up.
Eirik lived, as was mentioned, at Arnes. He had married Alof, the
daughter of Ingolf of Ingolfsfjord, by whom he had a son named Flosi, a
very promising young man with many friends.
There came to that part of Iceland three brothers, named Ingolf, Ofeig,
and Eyvind, and took the three fjords which are called by their names,
where they lived. Eyvind had a son named Olaf. He at first lived at
Eyvindsfjord, but went later to Drangar. He was a most capable man.
So long as their fathers were living no disputes arose among these men;
but when Eirik was dead it occurred to Flosi that those of Kaldbak had
no legal title to the lands which Eirik had given to Onund. Out of
this serious dissensions arose between them. Thorgrim and his brothers
continued in possession of the lands as before, but they would not join
in games together. Thorgeir, the eldest brother, was managing the farm
at Reykjarfjord, and often rowed out fishing, as the fjords were full
of fish. The men of Vik now laid their plans. Flosi had a man in Arnes
named Thorfinn, and sent him to fetch Thorgeir's head. This man hid
himself in the boatshed. One morning when Thorgeir was preparing to
row out with two other men, one of whom was named Brand, Thorgeir was
walking ahead with a leather skin on his back containing some drink. It
was very dark, and as he passed the boat-house Thorfinn sprang out upon
him and dealt him a blow with an axe between his shoulders. The axe
went into something and made a squeaking noise. Thorfinn let go his
axe, feeling quite sure that no bandages would be needed, and being very
anxious to escape as fast as he could. He ran North, and reaching Arnes
before the day had quite broken, said that he had killed Thorgeir and
that Flosi must protect him. The only thing to be done was to offer some
compensation in money. "That," he said, "will be the best thing for us
after such a terrible piece of work."
Flosi said he must first learn more about it, and that he thought
Thorfinn seemed very frightened after his doughty deed.
We must now tell what had happened to Thorgeir. He turned round when he
was struck, but the blow had gone into the leather bottle, and he was
unhurt. They could make no search for the man because it was dark,
so they rowed on down the fjord to Kaldbak, where they told what had
happened. People made great game of the affair and called him Thorgeir
Bottleback, a name which stuck to him ever after. A verse was made:
"In days gone by men bathed their blades
in the streaming gore of a foeman's wound.
But now a wretch of all honour bereft
reddens his dastard axe in whey."