Chapter 41

Of Thorleif Kimbi And Thord Wall-Eye.

"I will not put this affair off on to other men, for herein may I be the shaper; so this I have to say to thee, Thorleif, that first must the porridge spots on thy neck be healed, wherewith thou wast burnt when thou wast beaten in Norway three winters agone, or ever I give thee my sister."

Thorleif answered: "I know not what my fortune may be therein; but whether that be avenged or not," says he, "my will it is that three winters pass not ere thou be beaten."

Thord answered: "I sit without fear in despite of thy threats."

But the next morning men had a turf-play beside the booth of the sons of Thorbrand, and as Thorlak's sons passed by, forth flew a great piece of turf, and smote Thord Wall-eye under the poll, and so great was the stroke, that he fell heels over head; but when he arose, he saw that Thorbrand's sons were laughing at him hugely. Then Thorlak's sons turned back and drew their swords, and they ran to meet one another, and forthwithal they fought together, and some were wounded, but none slain.

Steinthor had not been there, for he had been in talk with Snorri the Priest. So when they were parted, folk strove to bring about peace; and so it was settled that Snorri and Steinthor should be umpires in the matter. So the wounds of men and the onset were set one against the other, but the remnant over was atoned for; and all were called at one again whenas they rode home.

Chapter 42

Thorbrand's Sons Make An Onslaught On Arnbiorn.

Thorleif Kimbi answered: "It shall not be told of us that we durst not ride through the countryside because of the Broadwickers; but thou mayest well ride home, if thou darest not to ride on thy ways when thou hast an errand."

Snorri answered nought, and so they rode forth over the necks, and so forth to Templegarth, and then west over the sands along the sea; but when they came anigh to the Mouth, Thorbrand's sons rode from the company up to Bank; and when they came to the homestead they leapt off their horses and were minded to enter, but might not break open the door. Then they leapt up on to the house, and fell to unroofing it.

Arnbiorn took his weapons, and warded himself from the inside of the house. He thrust out through the thatch, and that became woundsome to them. This was early in the morning, and the weather was bright and clear; and that morning had those of Broadwick arisen early, with the mind to ride to the ship; but when they came west of the shoulder of the fell, then saw they a man in coloured clothes up on the house-roof at Bank, and they wotted well that it was not the attire of Arnbiorn. Then Biorn and his folk spurred on their horses, and turned their way thitherward.

But when Snorri the Priest was ware that the sons of Thorbrand had ridden away from his company, he rode after them, and by then he and his came to Bank were those others working at their maddest for the unroofing of the house. Then Snorri bade them begone thence, nor work any unpeaceful deeds in his company, so whereas they had got no entrance there, they even gave up the onset as Snorri bade, and rode thereafter to the ship with Snorri.

Now those of Broadwick came to the ship that same day, and either side went with their own band, and great ill-will there was, and cross looks enow, but neither side set on another, yet the men of Broadwick were the most in number at the market. Snorri the Priest rode in the evening south to Templegarth, whereas Biorn dwelt as then with his son Guest, who was the father of Templegarth-Ref. The folk of Biorn the Champion of the Broadwickers offered Arnbiorn to ride after those of Snorri the Priest, but Arnbiorn would not have it so, but said that each should have what he had got. Those of Snorri rode home the next day, and the sons of Thorbrand were worse content with their lot than heretofore. And now the autumn began to wear.

Chapter 43

Of Egil The Strong.

Now it was the wont of the Broadwickers in autumn, about the time of winter-nights, to have ball-play under the shoulder south of Cnear, and the place thereafter was called the Playhall-meads, and men betook themselves thither from all the countryside, and great play-halls were made there, wherein men abode and dwelt there a half month or more. Many chosen men there were as then in the countryside, and it was thickly peopled. Most of the young men were at the plays, except Thord Wall-eye; but he might not deal therein because of his too great eagerness, though he was not so strong that he might not play for that cause. So he sat on a chair and looked on the play. Those brethren withal, Biorn and Arnbiorn, were not deemed meet to play because of their strength, unless they played one against the other.

That same autumn Thorbrand's sons fell to talk with Egil that he should go to the ball-play and slay some one of the Broadwickers, either Biorn or Thord or Arnbiorn, in some wise, and that he should have his freedom after therefor; and some men say that that was done by Snorri's rede, and that he had so counselled that the thrall should try if he might get into the hall by stealth, and thence whereas he lurked do somewhat for the wounding of men; and he bade him go down the pass which is above Playhalls, and go down thence when the meal-fires were kindled; for he said it was mostly the way of the weather that a wind would blow off the lava in the evening and drive the smoke up into the pass. So he bade him abide his time to go down till the pass should be full of smoke.

Egil betook himself to this journey, and went first west over the firths, and asked after the sheep of the Swanfirthers, and made as if he were going a sheep-gleaning.

Now whilst he was on his way, Freystein Rascal was to watch the sheep in Swanfirth. So in the evening, when Egil had gone from home, Freystein went west over the river to the sheep, and when he came to that scree which is called Geirvor, and which goes down west of the river, he saw a man's head lying trunkless there and uncovered, and the head sang this stave:

"With man's blood Geirvor Is reddened over, The skulls of men-folk Shall she cover."

Now it is to be told of Egil that he went west along the firths, and up into the mountain east from Buland's-head, and so south over the mountain, and laid his course so that he went down into the pass by Playhalls, and there lay hid the day long and looked on the play. Now Thord Wall-eye sat by the play, and he said:

"I wot not what thing I see up in the pass there, whether it be a fowl, or a man lying in hiding; it comes up at whiles, and certes," said he, "it is something quick, and methinks it were well done to go look to it."

But no other man saw that, and therefore no search was made.

Now that day Biorn the Champion of the Broadwickers was chosen by lot as mess-ward along with Thord Wall-eye; and Biorn was to light the fire, and Thord to fetch the water; and so when the fire was made, the smoke hung about the pass, even as Snorri had guessed. So Egil went down along the smoke, and made for the hall whenas the play was not yet over, though the day was far spent; and the fires began to burn up, and the hall was full of the reek.

Egil made his way thither. He had got very stiff coming over the mountain, and lying afterwards in the pass. Tasselled shoe-ties he had, after the fashion of those days, and one of the thongs got loose, and the tassel dragged behind as the thrall went into the porch of the hall. But when he went into the main-hall he would fain go softly, for there he saw how Biorn and Thord sat by the fire, and he deemed well that in a short while he would win him a free life for ever.

But now, when he would step over the threshold, he trod on the tasselled thong which dragged, and when he put forth his other foot, the thong stuck fast, and therewith he tottered over, and fell in on the floor with as great fall and clatter as if the carcass of a flayed ox had been cast down.

Then Thord sprang up and asked what fiend fared there. And therewith up leapt Biorn, and got hold of the thrall or ever he gat to his feet, and asked him who he was.

"Egil it is, goodfellow Biorn," said he.

Biorn asked: "What Egil?"

"Egil of Swanfirth," says he.

Then Thord took his sword and would slay him, but Biorn caught hold of Thord and bade him not slay the man so hastily, "for we will first have a true tale of him."

Then Thord held back, and so they did fetters on the feet of Egil, but in the evening, when men came home to the hall, Egil told in such wise that all men might hear it, what journey he had been minded to make of it. So there he abode the night long. But in the morning they brought him up into the pass which is now called Egil's pass, and slew him there.

But there was a law in those days that what man soever slew a thrall from any man should bring home the thrall's-gild therefor, and must begin his journey before the third sun after the slaying of the thrall. And the weregild was to be twelve ounces of silver, and if it were brought home according to law, no blood- suit lay for the slaying of the thrall.

So after the slaying of Egil, those of Broadwick took that rede, to bring home the thrall's-gild according to law. They chose out thirty men thence from Playhalls, and a band of picked men was that. And these rode north over the heath, and guested that night with Steinthor of Ere, and he betook himself to faring with them. So going thence they were sixty in company, and rode in over the firths, and were the next night at Bank, with Thormod, Steinthor's brother. Then they called on Stir and Vermund their kinsmen to go with them, and were then eighty men in all.

Then sent Steinthor a man to Holyfell, for he would know what rede Snorri the Priest would take to, when he heard of the gathering of folk.

But when the messenger came to Holyfell, there sat Snorri the Priest in his high-seat, nor was aught changed in his dwelling, and Steinthor's messenger was nowise ware what Snorri was minded to do. So when he came out to Bank he told Steinthor of what betid at Holyfell. Steinthor answered that it was to be looked for that Snorri would bear the law of men; "and if he fare not into Swanfirth, I see not to what end we have need of that force of ours; therefore I will that men fare peaceably, though we uphold our cases at law."

"Meseems, kinsman Thord," says he, "that ye Broadwickers had best abide behind here; because there needeth but the least thing to set you by the ears, ye and Thorbrand's sons."

Thord answered: "Verily I shall go, nor shall Thorleif Kimbi have therewith to jeer at me, that I durst not bring home a thrall's- gild."

Then spake Steinthor to those brethren, Biorn and Arnbiorn: "That will I," says he, "that ye abide behind with twenty men."

Biorn said: "I will not strive to be in thy fellowship beyond what seemeth good to thee, but never before has it happed to me to be driven from any company. Meseems," says he, "that Snorri the Priest will be deep enough in his redes. I am not foreseeing," quoth Biorn, "yet my mind misgiveth me, that such things may befall in this journey, that thou may'st not deem thy men over-many or ever we meet again."

Steinthor answered: "I shall rule over all while I am anigh, though I be not so deeply wise as Snorri the Priest."

"That may'st thou do as for me, kinsman," said Biorn.

Thereafter rode away from Bank Steinthor and his men, some sixty in company, in over the Skeid to Drapalith, and so in over Waterneck-head, and across the Swallow-river-dale, and made thence inward for Ulfar's-fell-neck.

ENDNOTES: