CHAPTER CXLV.
OF KARI AND THORGEIR.
Those two, Kari Solmund's and Thorgeir Craggeir, rode that day east
across Markfleet, and so on east to Selialandsmull. They found there
some women. The wives knew them, and said to them--
"Ye two are less wanton than the sons of Sigfus yonder, but still ye
fare unwarily."
"Why do ye talk thus of the sons of Sigfus, or what do ye know about
them?"
"They were last night," they said, "at Raufarfell, and meant to get to
Myrdale to-night, but still we thought they must have some fear of you,
for they asked when he would be likely to come home."
Then Kari and Thorgeir went on their way and spurred their horses.
"What shall we lay down for ourselves to do now," said Thorgeir, "or
what is most to thy mind? Wilt thou that we ride on their track?"
"I will not hinder this," answers Kari, "nor will I say what ought to be
done, for it may often be that those live Long who are slain with words
alone;[79] but I well know what thou meanest to take on thyself, thou
must mean to take on thy hands eight men, and after all that is less
than it was when thou slewest those seven in the sea-crags,[80] and let
thyself down by a rope to get at them; but it is the way with all you
kinsmen, that ye always wish to be doing some famous feat, and now I can
do no less than stand by thee and have my share in the story. So now we
two alone will ride after them, for I see that thou hast so made up thy
mind."
After that they rode east by the upper way, and did not pa** by Holt,
for Thorgeir would not that any blame should be laid at his brother's
door for what might be done.
Then they rode east to Myrdale, and there they met a man who had
turf-panniers on his horse. He began to speak thus--
"Too few men, messmate Thorgeir, hast thou now in thy company."
"How is that?" says Thorgeir.
"Why," said the other, "because the prey is now before thy hand. The
sons of Sigfus rode by a while ago, and mean to sleep the whole day east
in Carlinedale, for they mean to go no farther to-night than to
Headbrink."
After that they rode on their way east on Arnstacks heath, and there is
nothing to be told of their journey before they came to
Carlinedale-water.
The stream was high, and now they rode up along the river, for they saw
their horses with saddles. They rode now thitherward, and saw that there
were men asleep in a dell and their spears were standing upright in the
ground a little below them. They took the spears from them, and threw
them into the river.
Then Thorgeir said--
"Wilt thou that we wake them?"
"Thou hast not asked this," answers Kari, "because thou hast not already
made up thy mind not to fall on sleeping men, and so to slay a shameful
manslaughter."
After that they shouted to them, and then they all awoke and grasped at
their arms.
They did not fall on them till they were armed.
Thorgeir Craggeir runs thither where Thorkel Sigfus' son stood, and just
then a man ran behind his back, but before he could do Thorgeir any
hurt, Thorgeir lifted the axe, "the ogress of war," with both hands, and
dashed the hammer of the axe with a back-blow into the head of him that
stood behind him, so that his skull was shattered to small bits.
"Slain is this one," said Thorgeir; and down the man fell at once, and
was dead.
But when he dashed the axe forward, he smote Thorkel on the shoulder,
and hewed it off, arm and all.
Against Kari came Mord Sigfus' son, and Sigmund Sigfus' son, and Lambi
Sigurd's son; the last ran behind Kari's back, and thrust at him with a
spear; Kari caught sight of him, and leapt up as the blow fell, and
stretched his legs far apart, and so the blow spent itself on the
ground, but Kari jumped down on the spear-shaft, and snapped it in
sunder. He had a spear in one hand, and a sword in the other, but no
shield. He thrust with the right hand at Sigmund Sigfus' son, and smote
him on his breast, and the spear came out between his shoulders, and
down he fell and was dead at once. With his left hand he made a cut at
Mord, and smote him on the hip, and cut it asunder, and his backbone
too; he fell flat on his lace, and was dead at once.
After that he turned sharp round on his heel like a whipping-top, and
made at Lambi Sigurd's son, but he took the only way to save himself,
and that was by running away as hard as he could.
Now Thorgeir turns against Leidolf the strong, and each hewed at the
other at the same moment, and Leidolf's blow was so great that it shore
off that part of the shield on which it fell.
Thorgeir had hewn with "the ogress of war," holding it with both hands,
and the lower horn fell on the shield and clove it in twain, but the
upper caught the collar bone and cut it in two, and tore on down into
the breast and trunk. Kari came up just then, and cut off Leidolf's leg
at mid-thigh, and then Leidolf fell and died at once.
Kettle of the Mark said--"We will now run for our horses, for we cannot
hold our own here, for the overbearing strength of these men".
Then they ran for their horses, and leapt on their backs; and Thorgeir
said--
"Wilt thou that we chase them? if so, we shall yet slay some of them."
"He rides last," says Kari, "whom I would not wish to slay, and that is
Kettle of the Mark, for we have two sisters to wife; and besides, he has
behaved best of all of them as yet in our quarrels."
Then they got on their horses, and rode till they came home to Holt.
Then Thorgeir made his brothers fare away east to Skoga, for they had
another farm there, and because Thorgeir would not that his brothers
should be called truce-breakers.
Then Thorgeir kept many men there about him, so that there were never
fewer than thirty fighting men there.
Then there was great joy there, and men thought Thorgeir had grown much
greater, and pushed himself on; both he and Kari too. Men long kept in
mind this hunting of theirs, how they two rode upon fifteen men and slew
those five, but put those ten to flight who got away.
Now it is to be told of Kettle, that they rode as they best might till
they came home to Swinefell, and told how bad their journey had been.
Flosi said it was only what was to be looked for; "and this is a warning
that ye should never do the like again".
Flosi was the merriest of men, and the best of hosts, and it is so said
that he had most of the chieftain in him of all the men of his time.
He was at home that summer, and the winter too.
But that winter, after Yule, Hall of the Side came from the east, and
Kol his son. Flosi was glad at his coming, and they often talked about
the matter of the Burning. Flosi said they had already paid a great
fine, and Hall said it was pretty much what he had guessed would come of
Flosi's and his friends' quarrel. Then he asked him what counsel he
thought best to be taken, and Hall answers--
"The counsel I give is, that thou beest atoned with Thorgeir if there be
a choice, and yet he will be hard to bring to take any atonement."
"Thinkest thou that the manslaughters will then be brought to an end?"
asks Flosi.
"I do not think so," says Hall; "but you will have to do with fewer foes
if Kari be left alone; but if thou art not atoned with Thorgeir, then
that will be thy bane."
"What atonement shall we offer him?" asks Flosi.
"You will all think that atonement hard," says Hall, "which he will
take, for he will not hear of an atonement unless he be not called on to
pay any fine for what he has just done, but he will have fines for Njal
and his sons, so far as his third share goes."
"That is a hard atonement," says Flosi.
"For thee at least," says Hall, "that atonement is not hard, for thou
hast not the blood-feud after the sons of Sigfus; their brothers have
the blood-feud, and Hamond the halt after his son; but thou shalt now
get an atonement from Thorgeir, for I will now ride to his house with
thee, and Thorgeir will in anywise receive me well; but no man of those
who are in this quarrel will dare to sit in his house on Fleetlithe if
they are out of the atonement, for that will be their bane; and, indeed,
with Thorgeir's turn of mind, it is only what must be looked for."
Now the sons of Sigfus were sent for, and they brought this business
before them; and the end of their speech was, on the persuasion of Hall,
that they all thought what he said right, and were ready to be atoned.
Grani Gunnar's son and Gunnar Lambi's son said--
"It will be in our power, if Kari be left alone behind, to take care
that he be not less afraid of us than we of him."
"Easier said than done," says Hall, "and ye will find it a dear bargain
to deal with him. Ye will have to pay a heavy fine before you have done
with him."
After that they ceased speaking about it.
CHAPTER CXLVI.
THE AWARD OF ATONEMENT WITH THORGEIR CRAGGEIR.
Hall of the Side and his son Kol, seven of them in all, rode west over
Loomnip's Sand, and so west over Arnstacksheath, and did not draw bridle
till they came into Myrdale. There they asked whether Thorgeir would be
at home at Holt, and they were told that they would find him at home.
The men asked whither Hall meant to go.
"Thither to Holt," he said.
They said they were sure he went on a good errand.
He stayed there some while and baited their horses, and after that they
mounted their horses and rode to Solheim about even, and they were there
that night, but the day-after they rode to Holt.
Thorgeir was out of doors, and Kari too, and their men, for they had
seen Hall's coming. He rode in a blue cape, and had a little axe studded
with silver in his hand; but when they came into the "town," Thorgeir
went to meet him, and helped him off his horse, and both he and Kari
kissed him and led him in between them into the sitting-room, and sate
him down in the high seat on the dais, and they asked him tidings about
many things.
He was there that night. Next morning Hall raised the question of the
atonement with Thorgeir, and told him what terms they offered him; and
he spoke about them with many fair and kindly words.
"It may be well known to thee," answers Thorgeir, "that I said I would
take no atonement from the Burners."
"That was quite another matter then," says Hall; "ye were then wroth
with fight, and, besides, ye have done great deeds in the way of
manslaying since."
"I daresay ye think so," says Thorgeir, "but what atonement do ye offer
to Kari?"
"A fitting atonement shall be offered him," says Hall, "if he will take
it."
Then Kari said--
"I pray this of thee, Thorgeir, that thou wilt be atoned, for thy lot
cannot be better than good."
"Methinks," says Thorgeir, "it is ill done to take an atonement, and
sunder myself from thee, unless thou takest the same atonement as I."
"I will not take any atonement," says Kari, "but yet I say that we have
avenged the Burning; but my son, I say, is still unavenged, and I mean
to take that on myself alone, and see what I can get done."
But Thorgeir would take no atonement before Kari said that he would take
it ill if he were not atoned. Then Thorgeir handselled a truce to Flosi
and his men, as a step to a meeting for atonement; but Hall did the same
on behalf of Flosi and the sons of Sigfus.
But ere they parted, Thorgeir gave Hall a gold ring and a scarlet cloak,
but Kari gave him a silver brooch, and there were hung to it four
crosses of gold. Hall thanked them kindly for their gifts, and rode away
with the greatest honour. He did not draw bridle till he came to
Swinefell, and Flosi gave him a hearty welcome. Hall told Flosi all
about his errand and the talk he had with Thorgeir, and also that
Thorgeir would not take the atonement till Kari told him he would
quarrel with him if he did not take it; but that Kari would take no
atonement.
"There are few men like Kari," said Flosi, "and I would that my mind
were shapen altogether like his."
Hall and Kol stayed there some while, and afterwards they rode west at
the time agreed on to the meeting for atonement, and met at Headbrink,
as had been settled between them.
Then Thorgeir came to meet them from the west, and then they talked over
their atonement, and all went off as Hall had said.
Before the atonement, Thorgeir said that Kari should still have the
right to be at his house all the same if he chose.
"And neither side shall do the others any harm at my house; and I will
not have the trouble of gathering in the fines from each of the Burners;
but my will is that Flosi alone shall be answerable for them to me, but
he must get them in from his followers. My will also is that all that
award which was made at the Thing about the Burning shall be kept and
held to; and my will also is, Flosi, that thou payest me up my third
share in unclipped coin."
Flosi went quickly into all these terms.
Thorgeir neither gave up the banishment nor the outlawry.
Now Flosi and Hall rode home east, and then Hall said to Flosi--
"Keep this atonement well, son-in-law, both as to going abroad and the
pilgrimage to Rome,[81] and the fines, and then thou wilt be thought a
brave man, though thou hast stumbled into this misdeed, if thou
fulfillest handsomely all that belongs to it."
Flosi said it should be so.
Now Hall rode home east, but Flosi rode home to Swinefell, and was at
home afterwards.
CHAPTER CXLVII.
KARI COMES TO BJORN'S HOUSE IN THE MARK.
Thorgeir Craggeir rode home from the peace-meeting, and Kari asked
whether the atonement had come about. Thorgeir said that they now fully
atoned.
Then Kari took his horse and was for riding away.
"Thou hast no need to ride away," says Thorgeir, "for it was laid down
in our atonement that thou shouldst be here as before if thou chosest."
"It shall not be so, cousin, for as soon as ever I slay a man they will
be sure to say that thou wert in the plot with me, and I will not have
that; but I wish this, that thou wouldst let me hand over in trust to
thee my goods, and the estates of me and my wife Helga Njal's daughter,
and my three daughters, and then they will not be seized by those
adversaries of mine."
Thorgeir agreed to what Kari wished to ask of him, and then Thorgeir had
Kari's goods handed over to him in trust.
After that Kari rode away. He had two horses and his weapons and outer
clothing, and some ready money in gold and silver.
Now Kari rode west by Selialandsmull and up along Markfleet, and so on
up into Thorsmark. There there are three farms all called "Mark". At the
midmost farm dwelt that man whose name was Bjorn, and his surname was
Bjorn the white; he was the son of Kadal, the son of Bjalfi. Bjalfi had
been the freedman of Asgerda, the mother of Njal and Holt-Thorir; Bjorn
had to wife Valgerda, she was the daughter of Thorbrand, the son of
Asbrand. Her mother's name was Gudlauga, she was a sister of Hamond, the
father of Gunnar of Lithend; she was given away to Bjorn for his money's
sake, and she did not love him much, but yet they had children together,
and they had enough and to spare in the house.
Bjorn was a man who was always boasting and praising himself, but his
housewife thought that bad. He was sharpsighted and swift of foot.
Thither Kari turned in as a guest, and they took him by both hands, and
he was there that night. But the next morning Kari said to Bjorn--
"I wish thou wouldst take me in, for I should think myself well housed
here with thee. I would too that thou shouldst be with me in my
journeyings, as thou art a sharpsighted, swift-footed man, and besides I
think thou wouldst be dauntless in an onslaught."
"I can't blame myself," says Bjorn, "for wanting either sharp sight, or
dash, or any other bravery; but no doubt thou camest hither because all
thy other earths are stopped. Still, at thy prayer, Kari, I will not
look on thee as an everyday man; I will surely help thee in all that
thou askest."
"The trolls take thy boasting and bragging," said his housewife, "and
thou shouldst not utter such stuff and silliness to any one than
thyself. As for me, I will willingly give Kari meat and other good
things, which I know will be useful to him; but on Bjorn's hardihood,
Kari, thou shalt not trust, for I am afraid that thou wilt find it quite
otherwise than he says."
"Often hast thou thrown blame upon me," said Bjorn, "but for all that I
put so much faith in myself that though I am put to the trial I will
never give way to any man; and the best proof of it is this, that few
try a tussle with me because none dare to do so."
Kari was there some while in hiding, and few men knew of it.
Now men think that Kari must have ridden to the north country to see
Gudmund the powerful, for Kari made Bjorn tell his neighbours that he
had met Kari on the beaten track, and that he rode thence up into
Godaland, and so north to Goose-sand, and then north to Gudmund the
powerful at Modruvale.
So that story was spread over all the country.
CHAPTER CXLVIII.
OF FLOSI AND THE BURNERS.
Now Flosi spoke to the Burners, his companions--
"It will no longer serve our turn to sit still, for now we shall have to
think of our going abroad and of our fines, and of fulfilling our
atonement as bravely as we can, and let us take a pa**age wherever it
seems most likely to get one."
They bade him see to all that. Then Flosi said--
"We will ride east to Hornfirth; for there that ship is laid up, which
is owned by Eyjolf nosy, a man from Drontheim, but he wants to take to
him a wife here, and he will not get the match made unless he settles
himself down here. We will buy the ship of him, for we shall have many
men and little freight. The ship is big and will take us all."
Then they ceased talking of it.
But a little after they rode east, and did not stop before they came
east to Bjornness in Hornfirth, and there they found Eyjolf, for he had
been there as a guest that winter.
There Flosi and his men had a hearty welcome, and they were there the
night. Next morning Flosi dealt with the captain for the ship, but he
said he would not be hard to sell the ship if he could get what he
wanted for her. Flosi asked him in what coin he wished to be paid for
her; the Easterling says he wanted land for her near where he then was.
Then Eyjolf told Flosi all about his dealings with his host, and Flosi
says he will pull an oar with him, so that his marriage bargain might be
struck, and buy the ship of him afterwards. The Easterling was glad at
that. Flosi offered him land at Borgarhaven, and now the Easterling
holds on with his suit to his host when Flosi was by, and Flosi threw in
a helping word, so that the bargain was brought about between them.
Flosi made over the land at Borgarhaven to the Easterling, but shook
hands on the bargain for the ship. He got also from the Easterling
twenty hundreds in wares, and that was also in their bargain for the
land.
Now Flosi rode back home. He was so beloved by his men that their wares
stood free to him to take either on loan or gift, just as he chose.
He rode home to Swinefell, and was at home a while.
Then Flosi sent Kol Thorstein's son and Gunnar Lambi's son east to
Hornfirth. They were to be there by the ship, and to fit her out, and
set up booths, and sack the wares, and get all things together that were
needful.
Now we must tell of the sons of Sigfus how they say to Flosi that they
will ride west to Fleetlithe to set their houses in order, and get wares
thence, and such other things as they needed. "Kari is not there now to
be guarded against," they say, "if he is in the north country as is
said."
"I know not," answers Flosi, "as to such stories, whether there be any
truth in what is said of Kari's journeyings; methinks, we have often
been wrong in believing things which are nearer to learn than this. My
counsel is that ye go many of you together, and part as little as ye
can, and be as wary of yourselves as ye may. Thou, too, Kettle of the
Mark, shalt bear in mind that dream which I told thee, and which thou
prayedst me to hide; for many are those in thy company who were then
called."
"All must come to pa** as to man's life," said Kettle, "as it is
foredoomed; but good go with thee for thy warning."
Now they spoke no more about it.
After that the sons of Sigfus busked them and those men with them who
were meant to go with them. They were eight in all, and then they rode
away, and ere they went they kissed Flosi, and he bade them farewell,
and said he and some of those who rode away would not see each other
more. But they would not let themselves be hindered. They rode now on
their way, and Flosi said that they should take his wares in Middleland,
and carry them east, and do the same in Landsbreach and Woodcombe.
After that they rode to Skaptartongue, and so on the fell, and north of
Eyjafell Jokul, and down into Godaland, and so down into the woods in
Thorsmark.
Bjorn of the Mark caught sight of them coming, and went at once to meet
them.
Then they greeted each other well, and the sons of Sigfus asked after
Kari Solmund's son.
"I met Kari," said Bjorn, "and that is now very long since; he rode
hence north on Goose-sand, and meant to go to Gudmund the powerful, and
methought if he were here now, he would stand in awe of you, for he
seemed to be left all alone."
Grani Gunnar's son said--
"He shall stand more in awe of us yet before we have done with him, and
he shall learn that as soon as ever he comes within spearthrow of us;
but as for us, we do not fear him at all, now that he is all alone."
Kettle of the Mark bade them be still, and bring out no big words.
Bjorn asked when they would be coming back.
"We shall stay near a week in Fleetlithe," said they; and so they told
him when they should be riding back on the fell.
With that they parted.
Now the sons of Sigfus rode to their homes, and their households were
glad to see them. They were there near a week.
Now Bjorn comes home and sees Kari, and told him all about the doings of
the sons of Sigfus, and their purpose.
Kari said he had shown in this great faithfulness to him, and Bjorn
said--
"I should have thought there was more risk of any other man's failing in
that than of me if I had pledged my help or care to any one."
"Ah," said his mistress, "but you may still be bad and yet not be so bad
as to be a traitor to thy master."
Kari stayed there six nights after that.