Part #2

Settlements of Snæbjorn brother of Helgi the Lean. Terrible blood feud between Snæbjorn and Hallbjorn on account of the murder of Hallgerd, Hallbjorn's wife.

Chapter XXX. Snæbjorn, the son of Eyvind Eastman, and brother to Helgi the Lean, took up land between Narrowfirth and Langdale-river, and abode in Waterfirth; his son was Holmstein, the father of Snæbjorn Hog; but the mother of Snæbjorn was Kjalvor, and he and Tongue-Odd were sisters'-sons. Snæbjorn was fostered at Thingness in Thorodd's house, but at times he would be staying with Tongue-Odd or with his mother. Hallbjorn, the son of Odd of Kidberg who was the son of Hallkel, the brother of Ketilbjorn the Old, got for wife Hallgerd, the daughter of Tongue-Odd; they stayed the first winter (of their married life) with Odd, where Snæbjorn the Hog was also staying. Between the newly married couple there was but little love lost. At the flitting days in spring Hallbjorn got ready to leave the house, and while he was arranging matters for his departure, Odd left the house and went to the hot spring at Reikholt, where his sheep-pens stood. He did not want to be near when Hallbjorn left, for it misdoubted him whether Hallgerd would be willing to leave with him. Odd had always sought to mend matters between them. Now when Hallbjorn had saddled their horses, he went to the bower where Hallgerd was seated on the dais combing her hair, the hair covered her all down to the floor and of all women in Iceland she and Hallgerd Turn-breeches have been the most fair-haired. Hallbjorn called upon her to stand up and come away, but she sat and said nought; then he caught hold of her, yet no more did she rise therefore; and so it went three times. So Hallbjorn stood before her and sang:

                The Lofn of brimmed ale-beakers (75)
                Bedraped in linen, lets me
                Hand playing at her head-stern: (76)
                Thus the arms'-oak (77) repells me.
                That grief will ne'er be bettered
                Which for that bride I harbour;
                Sore sorrow smites my heart's-root;
                I'm wan with baleful trouble.

        After this he twisted her hair round his hand and wanted to pull her down from the dais, but she sat and budged nowhither. Thereupon he drew his sword and cut off her head, walked out and rode away, they being three together with two pack-horses. There were but few people at home and forthwith a man was sent to Odd to tell him the news. Snæbjorn happened to be at Kjalvorstead, and Odd sent a man to him begging him to see to the pursuit; but he said the himself should stir nowhere. Snæbjorn rode after them with eleven men, and when Hallbjorn and his saw the pursuit his companions begged him to ride off, but he would not. Snæbjorn and his men came up with them at the hills which now are called Hallbjorn's-Beacons. Hallbjorn and his went to the top of one of the hills and defended themselves there; there three of Snæbjorn's men fell and both Hallbjorn's companions; next Snæbjorn cut off the foot of Hallbjorn at the ankle joint, whereupon he limped to the southermost hill and slew there yet two men of Snæbjorn's and there Hallbjorn fell withal; therefore there are three beacons on that hill but five on the other. After this Snæbjorn returned. Snæbjorn owned a ship which was lying in Grim's-river-mouth, one half of which Hrolf the Redsander bought; and Snæbjorn and Hrolf manned it each with twelve shipmates. In Snæbjorn's company were Thorkel and Sumarlid, sons of Thorstein the Red, the son of Einar the Staffholting. Snæbjorn also took on board Thorodd from Thingness, his foster-father, together with his wife, but Hrolf took on board Styrbjorn who after a dream he had had, sang this:

                The bane I see                                Frost and cold,
                Of both of us,                                        Fearful wonders,
                Noisome all things                                Such things tell of
                North-east at sea,                                 Snæbjorn slaughtered.

        They went in search of Gunnbjorn-skerries and they found a land, where Snæbjorn would not they should go ashore by night. Styrbjorn left the ship and found treasure in a barrow and kept it hidden. Snæbjorn smote him with an axe and the treasure tumbled down. They made a scale for themselves which soon was snowed up. Thorkel the son of Red found that there was water on a forked pole which stood out in the scale window; and this was in the month of 'goi'; then they dug themselves out. Snæbjorn was busy mending the ship; but Thorodd and his wife were on his behalf home at the scale, while on behalf of Hrolf there were at the scale Styrbjorn and Hrolf himself; the others were out hunting. Styrbjorn slew Thorodd, but both of them together, Hrolf and Styrbjorn slew Snæbjorn. The sons of Red and all the rest of them swore oaths (to Hrolf) for the saving of their lives. They made at last Halogaland and fared thence to Iceland and hove in at 'Vadill.' Thorstein 'Trefill' guessed rightly what had happened to the sons of Red. Hrolf made for himself a fort upon Strandheath and 'Trefill' sent Sveinung to take his life. He first went to Hermund of 'Myrr,' then to Olaf of 'Drangar,' then to Gest at Hawe (Hagi) (78), and Gest sent him to Hrolf, his friend. Sveinung slew both, Hrolf and Styrbjorn and then went back to Hawe. Gest exchanged with him a sword and an axe for two grays with black manes, and sent a man on horseback round 'Vadil,' all the way to Kollfirth, bidding Thorbjorn the strong to claim the horses; and he slew Sveinung at 'Sveinung-seyrr,' because the sword (of Sveinung) broke right under the hilt. From this 'Trefill' boasted to Gest, when their wits were compared together, that he had so outwitted Gest as to make him send himself a man to take the life of his own friend.

Settlements of Olaf 'Jafnakollr,' Orlyg son of Bodvar and Eirek Snare. The Landtakes of Geirmund in their order.

Chapter XXXI. Olaf 'Jafnakollr' took land from Langdale-river to 'Sandeyrar'-river and dwelt in Delight-dale; he had for wife Thora, the daughter of Gunnstein, and their son Grimolf had for wife Vedis the sister of Vebjorn.
        Thorolf Fastholder was the name of a man of high worth in Sogn; he fell into unfriendly dealings with Earl Hakon the son of Grjotgard and went to Iceland by the counsel of King Harald. He took land from 'Sandeyrar'-river to Trollspoor-river in 'Raven'-firth and dwelt at Snowfells. His son was Ofeig, who had for wife Ottkatla.
        Orlyg the son of Bodvar, the son of Vigsterk, went to Iceland driven by the tyranny of King Harald Fairhair, and was the first winter with Geirmund Hellskin, but the next spring Geirmund gave him his manor in 'Adal'-wick and the land thereto belonging. Orlyg had for wife Signy, the daughter of Oblaud, Signy being the sister of Hogni the White; their son was Ketil 'Gufa,' who had for wife Yri, the daughter of Geirmund.
        Here follow in order the landtakes of Geirmund, which are already written down above, all the way to Streamness east of Horn.
        Orlyg got for his own 'Slétta' and Glacier-firths.
        'Hella'-Bjorn, the son of Herfin and Halla, was a great Viking; he was ever a foe to King Harald; he went to Iceland and came in a ship all beset with shields into Bjornfirth, whence he was called Shield-Bjorn ever after; he took land from Streamness unto 'Drangar' and abode in Shieldbjorn's-wick, but had another home at Bjorn's-ness where the tofts of his great scale are still seen. His son was Thorbjorn, the father of Arngerd, whom Thjodrek the son of 'Slettu'-Bjorn had for wife, their sons were Thorbjorn and Sturla and Thjodrek.
        There was a man named Geirolf, who wrecked his ship against Geirolf's-Peak; afterwards, by the counsel of Bjorn, he abode there beneath the peak.
        Thorvald, the son of Asvald, the son of Ulf, the son of Ox-Thorir took 'Drangaland' and 'Drangavik' unto 'Eingines' and abode at 'Drangar' all his life. His son was Eirek the Red, who settled Greenland, as was said before.
        Herradd Whitesky was a man of high worth; he was slain at the bidding of King Harald, but his three sons went to Iceland and took up lands on the Strands; Eyvind taking Eyvind-firth, Ofeig Ofeig's-firth, Ingolf Ingolf's-firth, and there they all abode afterwards.
        Eirek Snare was the name of a man who took land from Ingolf's-firth unto 'Veiðilausa,' and abode in 'Trekyllis'-wick; he had for wife Alof, the daughter of Ingolf of Ingolf's-firth, their son was Flosi who abode at Wick, when some Eastmen (Norwegians) broke there their ship and made of the wreck that ship, which they called 'Trekyllir'; in that ship Flose started on a foreign voyage but was driven back into Axefirth. Therefrom sprang the Saga of Bodmod 'Gerpir' and Grimolf.

Notes:
75. Lofn, one of the Asgarth goddesses, a godess; a goddess of ale-beakers = a cup-bearer made in the image of a goddess = woman. [Back]
76. Head-stern = the back of the head: she turns her back upon me begging and praying her to come. [Back]
77. Arms' oak, a kenning, circumlocution for woman. [Back]
78. Hagi is a pasture, thus in Cumberland we have fields called "The Haggs." [Back]