A.D. 850. Birth of Harold fairhair.860. Harold fairhair comes to the throne.870. Harold fairhair sole King in Norway.871. Ingolf sets out for Iceland.872. Battle of Hafrsfirth (Hafrsfjöðr).874. Ingolf and Leif go to settle in Iceland.877. Kettle hæng goes to Iceland.880-884. Harold fairhair roots out the Vikings in the west.888. Fall of Thorstein the red in Scotland.890-900. Rush of settlers from the British Isles to Iceland.892. Aud the deeply wealthy comes to Iceland.900-920. The third period of the Landnámstide.920. Harold fairhair shares the kingdom with his sons.923. Hrut Hauskuld's brother born.929. Althing established.930. Hrafn Kettle hæng's son Speaker of the Law.930-935. Njal born.930. The Fleetlithe feud begins.933. Death of Harold fairhair.940. End of the Fleetlithe feud; Fiddle Mord a man of rank;Hamond Gunnar's son marries Mord's sister Rannveiga.941. Fall of King Eric Bloodaxe.c. 945. Gunnar of Lithend born.955-960. Njal's sons born.959. Glum marries Hallgerda.960. Fall of King Hacon; Athelstane's foster-child, HaroldGrayfell, King in Norway.963. Hrut goes abroad.965. Hrut returns to Iceland and marries Unna Mord's daughter.968. Unna parts from Hrut.969. Fiddle Mord and Hrut strive at the Althing; Fall of KingHarold Grayfell; Earl Hacon rules in Norway.970-971. Fiddle Mord's death; Gunnar and Hrut strive at the Althing.972. Gunnar of Lithend goes abroad.974. Gunnar returns to Iceland.974. Gunnar's marriage with Hallgerda.975. The slaying of Swart.976. The slaying of Kol.977. The slaying of Atli.978. The slaying of Brynjolf the unruly and Thord Freedmanson.979. The slaying of Sigmund the white.983. Hallgerda steals from Otkell at Kirkby.984. The suit for the theft settled at the Althing.985. Otkell rides over Gunnar in the spring; fight at Rangriverjust before the Althing; at the Althing Geir the priestand Gunnar strive; in the autumn Hauskuld Dale-Kolli'sson, Gunnar's father-in-law, dies; birth of HauskuldThrain's son.986. The fight at Knafahills, and death of Hjort Gunnar's brother.987. The suit for those slain at Knafahills settled at the Althing.988. Gunnar goes west to visit Olaf the peacock.989. Slaying of Thorgeir Otkell's son before, and banishment ofGunnar at, the Althing; Njal's sons, Helgi and Grim,and Thrain Sigfus' son, go abroad.990. Gunnar slain at Lithend.992. Thrain returns to Iceland with Hrapp; Njal's sons ill-treatedby Earl Hacon for his sake.994. Njal's sons return to Iceland, bringing Kari with them.995. Death of Earl Hacon; Olaf Tryggvi's son King of Norway.996. Skarphedinn slays Thrain.997. Thangbrand sent by King Olaf to preach Christianity inIceland.998. Slaying of Arnor of Forswaterwood by Flosi's brothers atSkaptarfells Thing; Thangbrand's missionary journey;Gizur and Hjallti go abroad.999. Hjallti Skeggi's son found guilty of blasphemy against theGods at the Althing; Thangbrand returns to Norway.1000. Gizur and Hjallti return to Iceland; the Change of Faithand Christianity brought into the law at the Althing onSt. John's day, 24th June; fall of King Olaf Tryggvi'sson at Svoldr, 9th September.1001. Thorgeir the priest of Lightwater gives up the Speakershipof the Law.1002. Grim of Mossfell Speaker of the Law.1003. Grim lays down the Speakership.1003 or 1004. Skapti Thorod's son Speaker of the Law; the Fifth Courtestablished; Hauskuld Thrain's son marries HildigunnaFlosi's niece and has one of the new priesthoods atWhiteness.1006. Duels abolished in legal matters; slaying of HauskuldNjal's son by Lyting and his brothers.1009. Amund the blind slays Lyting; Valgard the guileful comesback to Iceland; his evil counsel to Mord; Mord beginsto backbite and slander Hauskuld and Njal's sons to oneanother.1111. Hauskald the Whiteness priest slain early in the spring;suit for his manslaughter at the Althing; Njal's Burningthe autumn after.1112. The suit for the Burning and battle at the Althing; Flosiand the Burners banished; Kari and Thorgeir Craggeircarry on the feud.1113. Flosi goes abroad with the Burners, and Kari follows them;Flosi and Kari in Orkney.1114. Brian's battle on Good Friday; Flosi goes to Rome.1115. Flosi returns from Rome to Norway, and stays with EarlEric, Earl Hacon's son.1116. Flosi returns to Iceland; Kari goes to Rome and returns toCaithness; his wife Helga dies out in Iceland.1117. Kari returns to Iceland, id reconciled with Flosi,and marries Hildigunna Hauskuld's widow.
SIR GEORGE DASENT'S INTRODUCTION.The Northmen in Iceland—Superstitions of the Race—Social Principles—Daily Life in Njal's Time—Conclusion.ICELANDIC CHRONOLOGY.
CHAPTER I.Of Fiddle Mord1CHAPTER II.Hrut Woos Unna2CHAPTER III.Hrut and Gunnhillda, Kings' Mother4CHAPTER IV.Of Hrut's Cruise7CHAPTER V.Atli Arnvid Son's Slaying8CHAPTER VI.Hrut Sails out to Iceland10CHAPTER VII.Unna separates from Hrut13CHAPTER VIII.Mord claims his Goods from Hrut15CHAPTER IX.Thorwald gets Hallgerda to Wife17CHAPTER X.Hallgerda's Wedding19CHAPTER XI.Thorwald's Slaying20CHAPTER XII.Thiostolf's Flight22CHAPTER XIII.Glum's Wooing25CHAPTER XIV.Glum's Wedding28CHAPTER XV.Thiostolf goes to Glum's House29CHAPTER XVI.Glum's Sheep Hunt30CHAPTER XVII.Glum's Slaying31CHAPTER XVIII.Fiddle Mord's Death34CHAPTER XIX.Gunnar comes into the Story34CHAPTER XX.Of Njal and His Children35CHAPTER XXI.Unna goes to See Gunnar35CHAPTER XXII.Njal's Advice37CHAPTER XXIII.Huckster Hedinn39CHAPTER XXIV.Gunnar and Hrut Strive at the Thing42CHAPTER XXV.Unna's Second Wedding44CHAPTER XXVI.Of Asgrim and his Children45CHAPTER XXVII.Helgi Njal's Son's Wooing45CHAPTER XXVIII.Hallvard comes out to Iceland46CHAPTER XXIX.Gunnar goes Abroad47CHAPTER XXX.Gunnar goes a-sea-roving48CHAPTER XXXI.Gunnar goes to King Harold Gorm's Son and Earl Hacon52CHAPTER XXXII.Gunnar comes out to Iceland53CHAPTER XXXIII.Gunnar's Wooing54CHAPTER XXXIV.Of Thrain Sigfus' Son57CHAPTER XXXV.The Visit to Bergthorsknoll59CHAPTER XXXVI.Kol Slew Swart60CHAPTER XXXVII.The Slaying of Kol, whom Atli Slew63CHAPTER XXXVIII.The Killing of Atli the Thrall65CHAPTER XXXIX.The Slaying of Brynjolf the Unruly69CHAPTER XL.Gunnar and Njal make Peace about Brynjolf's Slaying70CHAPTER XLI.Sigmund comes out to Iceland71CHAPTER XLII.The Slaying of Thord Freedmanson73CHAPTER XLIII.Njal and Gunnar make Peace for the Slaying of Thord74CHAPTER XLIV.Sigmund Mocks Njal and his Sons76CHAPTER XLV.The Slaying of Sigmund and Skiolld79CHAPTER XLVI.Of Gizur The White and Geir the Priest82CHAPTER XLVII.Of Otkell in Kirkby83CHAPTER XLVIII.How Hallgerda makes Malcolm Steal from Kirkby85CHAPTER XLIX.Of Skamkell's Evil Counsel86CHAPTER L.Of Skamkell's Lying90CHAPTER LI.Of Gunnar92CHAPTER LII.Of Runolf, the Son of Wolf Aurpriest94CHAPTER LIII.How Otkell Rode over Gunnar95CHAPTER LIV.The Fight at Rangriver97CHAPTER LV.Njal's Advice to Gunnar99CHAPTER LVI.Gunnar and Geir the Priest Strive at the Thing101CHAPTER LVII.Of Starkad and his Sons104CHAPTER LVIII.Njals Counsel to Gunnar115CHAPTER LIX.Gunnar's Dream111CHAPTER LX.An Attack against Gunnar agreed on109CHAPTER LXI.Gunnar's Dream111CHAPTER LXII.The Slaying of Hjort and Fourteen Men112CHAPTER LXIII.Njals Counsel to Gunnar115CHAPTER LXIV.Of Valgard and Mord116CHAPTER LXV.Of Fines and Atonements118CHAPTER LXVI.Of Thorgeir Otkell's Son120CHAPTER LXVII.Of Thorgeir Starkad's Son121CHAPTER LXVIII.Of Njal and those Namesakes122CHAPTER LXIX.Olaf the Peacock's Gifts to Gunnar124CHAPTER LXX.Mord's Counsel126CHAPTER LXXI.The Slaying of Thorgeir Otkell's Son127CHAPTER LXXII.Of the Suits for Manslaughter at the Thing129CHAPTER LXXIII.Of the Atonement130CHAPTER LXXIV.Kolskegg goes Abroad132CHAPTER LXXV.The Riding to Lithend135CHAPTER LXXVI.Gunnar's Slaying135CHAPTER LXXVII.Gunnar Sings a Song Dead139CHAPTER LXXVIII.Gunnar of Lithend Avenged141CHAPTER LXXIX.Hogni takes an Atonement for Gunnar's Death143CHAPTER LXXX.Of Kolskegg: How he was Baptised143CHAPTER LXXXI.Of Thrain: How he Slew Kol144CHAPTER LXXXII.Njal's Sons Sail Abroad147CHAPTER LXXXIII.Of Kari Solmund's Son148CHAPTER LXXXIV.Of Earl Sigurd150CHAPTER LXXXV.The Battle with the Earls151CHAPTER LXXXVI.Hrapp's Voyage from Iceland152CHAPTER LXXXVII.Thrain took to Hrapp156CHAPTER LXXXVIII.Earl Hacon Fights with Njal's Sons162CHAPTER LXXXIX.Njal's Sons and Kari come out to Iceland165CHAPTER XC.The Quarrel of Njal's Sons with Thrain Sigfus' Son166CHAPTER XCI.Thrain Sigfus' Son's Slaying170CHAPTER XCII.Kettle takes Hauskuld as his Foster-Son175CHAPTER XCIII.Njal takes Hauskuld to Foster176CHAPTER XCIV.Of Flosi Thord's Son177CHAPTER XCV.Of Hall of the Side177CHAPTER XCVI.Of the Change of Faith178CHAPTER XCVII.Of Thangbrand's Journeys179CHAPTER XCVIII.Of Thangbrand and Gudleif180CHAPTER XCIX.Of Gest Oddleif's Son183CHAPTER C.Of Gizur the White and Hjallti185CHAPTER CI.Of Thorgeir of Lightwater186CHAPTER CII.The Wedding of Hauskuld, the Priest of Whiteness187CHAPTER CIII.The Slaying of Hauskuld Njal's Son191CHAPTER CIV.The Slaying of Lyting's Brothers195CHAPTER CV.Of Amund the Blind197CHAPTER CVI.Of Valgard the Guileful198"CHAPTER CVII.Of Mord and Njal's Sons199CHAPTER CVIII.Of The Slander of Mord Valgard's Son200CHAPTER CIX.Of Mord and Njal's Sons203CHAPTER CX.The Slaying of Hauskuld, the Priest Whiteness203CHAPTER CXI.Of Hildigunna and Mord Valgard's Son205CHAPTER CXII.The Pedigree of Gudmund the Powerful206CHAPTER CXIII.Of Snorri the Priest and his Stock207CHAPTER CXIV.Of Flosi Thord's Son207CHAPTER CXV.Of Flosi and Hildigunna209CHAPTER CXVI.Of Flosi and Mord and the Sons of Sigfus211CHAPTER CXVII.Njal and Skarphedinn Talk Together213CHAPTER CXVIII.Asgrim and Njal's Sons pray Men for Help214CHAPTER CXIX.Of Skarphedinn and Thorkel Foulmouth219CHAPTER CXX.Of the Pleading of the Suit221CHAPTER CXXI.Of the Award of Atonement between Flosi and Njal223CHAPTER CXXII.Of the Judges225CHAPTER CXXIII.An Attack planned on Njal and his Sons228CHAPTER CXXIV.Of Portents232CHAPTER CXXV.Flosi's Journey from Home232CHAPTER CXXVI.Of Portents at Bergthorsknoll233CHAPTER CXXVII.The Onslaught on Bergthorsknoll235CHAPTER CXXVIII.Njal's Burning237CHAPTER CXXIX.Skarphedinn's Death241CHAPTER CXXX.Of Kari Solmund's Son245CHAPTER CXXXI.Njal's and Bergthora's Bones Found248CHAPTER CXXXII.Flosi's Dream251CHAPTER CXXXIII.Of Flosi's Journey and his Asking for Help252CHAPTER CXXXIV.Of Thorhall and Kari256CHAPTER CXXXV.Of Flosi and the Burners260CHAPTER CXXXVI.Of Thorgeir Craggeir262CHAPTER CXXXVII.Of Eyjolf Bolverk's Son262CHAPTER CXXXVIII.Of Asgrim, and Gizur, and Kari267CHAPTER CXXXIX.Of Asgrim and Gudmund270CHAPTER CXL.Of the Declarations of the Suits271CHAPTER CXLI.Now Men go to the Courts274CHAPTER CXLII.Of Eyjolf Bolverk's Son284CHAPTER CXLIII.The Counsel of Thorhall Asgrim's Son285CHAPTER CXLIV.Battle at the Althing290CHAPTER CXLV.Of Kari and Thorgeir299CHAPTER CXLVI.The Award of Atonement with Thorgeir Craggeir303CHAPTER CXLVII.Kari comes to Bjorn's House in the Mark305CHAPTER CXLVIII.Of Flosi and the Burners307CHAPTER CXLIX.Of Kari and Bjorn309CHAPTER CL.More of Kari and Bjorn312CHAPTER CLI.Of Kari, and Bjorn, and Thorgeir315CHAPTER CLII.Flosi goes Abroad317CHAPTER CLIII.Kari goes Abroad318CHAPTER CLIV.Gunnar Lambi's Son's Slaying320CHAPTER CLV.Of Signs and Wonders323CHAPTER CLVI.Brian's Battle324CHAPTER CLVII.The Slaying of Kol Thorstein's Son330CHAPTER CLVIII.Of Flosi and Kari332
There was a man named Mord whose surname was Fiddle; he was the son of Sigvat the Red, and he dwelt at the "Vale" in the Rangrivervales. He was a mighty chief, and a great taker up of suits, and so great a lawyer that no judgments were thought lawful unless he had a hand in them. He had an only daughter, named Unna. She was a fair, courteous and gifted woman, and that was thought the best match in all the Rangrivervales.
Now the story turns westward to the Broadfirth dales, where, at Hauskuldstede, in Laxriverdale, dwelt a man named Hauskuld, who was Dalakoll's son, and his mother's name was Thorgerda. He had a brother named Hrut, who dwelt at Hrutstede; he was of the same mother as Hauskuld, but his father's name was Heriolf. Hrut was handsome, tall and strong, well skilled in arms, and mild of temper; he was one of the wisest of men—stern towards his foes, but a good counsellor on great matters. It happened once that Hauskuld bade his friends to a feast, and his brother Hrut was there, and sat next him. Hauskuld had a daughter named Hallgerda, who was playing on the floor with some other girls. She was fair of face and tall of growth, and her hair was as soft as silk; it was so long, too, that it came down to her waist. Hauskuld called out to her, "Come hither to me, daughter". So she went up to him, and he took her by the chin, and kissed her; and after that she went away.
Then Hauskuld said to Hrut, "What dost thou think of this maiden? Is she not fair?" Hrut held his peace. Hauskuld said the same thing to him a second time, and then Hrut answered, "Fair enough is this maid, and many willsmart for it, but this I know not, whence thief's eyes have come into our race". Then Hauskuld was wroth, and for a time the brothers saw little of each other.
It happened once that those brothers, Hauskuld and Hrut, rode to the Althing, and there was much people at it. Then Hauskuld said to Hrut, "One thing I wish, brother, and that is, that thou wouldst better thy lot and woo thyself a wife."
Hrut answered, "That has been long on my mind, though there always seemed to be two sides to the matter; but now I will do as thou wishest; whither shall we turn our eyes?"
Hauskuld answered, "Here now are many chiefs at the Thing, and there is plenty of choice, but I have already set my eyes on a spot where a match lies made to thy hand. The woman's name is Unna, and she is a daughter of Fiddle Mord one of the wisest of men. He is here at the Thing, and his daughter too, and thou mayest see her if it pleases thee."
Now the next day, when men were going to the High Court, they saw some well-dressed women standing outside the booths of the men from the Rangrivervales, Then Hauskuld said to Hrut—
"Yonder now is Unna, of whom I spoke; what thinkest thou of her?"
"Well," answered Hrut; "but yet I do not know whether we should get on well together."
After that they went to the High Court, where Fiddle Mord was laying down the law as was his wont, and alter he had done he went home to his booth.
Then Hauskuld and Hrut rose, and went to Mord's booth. They went in and found Mord sitting in the innermost part of the booth, and they bade him "good day". He rose to meet them, and took Hauskuld by the hand and made him sit down by his side, and Hrut sat next to Hauskuld, So after they had talked much of this and that, at last Hauskuld said, "I have a bargain to speak to thee about; Hrut wishes tobecome thy son-in-law, and buy thy daughter, and I, for my part, will not be sparing in the matter".
Mord answered, "I know that thou art a great chief, but thy brother is unknown to me".
"He is a better man than I," answered Hauskuld.
"Thou wilt need to lay down a large sum with him, for she is heir to all I leave behind me," said Mord.
"There is no need," said Hauskuld, "to wait long before thou hearest what I give my word he shall have. He shall have Kamness and Hrutstede, up as far as Thrandargil, and a trading-ship beside, now on her voyage."
Then said Hrut to Mord, "Bear in mind, now, husband, that my brother has praised me much more than I deserve for love's sake; but if after what thou hast heard, thou wilt make the match, I am willing to let thee lay down the terms thyself".
Mord answered, "I have thought over the terms; she shall have sixty hundreds down, and this sum shall be increased by a third more in thine house, but if ye two have heirs, ye shall go halves in the goods".
Then said Hrut, "I agree to these terms, and now let us take witness". After that they stood up and shook hands, and Mord betrothed his daughter Unna to Hrut, and the bridal feast was to be at Mord's house, half a month after Midsummer.
Now both sides ride home from the Thing, and Hauskuld and Hrut ride westward by Hallbjorn's beacon. Then Thiostolf, the son of Biorn Gullbera of Reykiardale, rode to meet them, and told them how a ship had come out from Norway to the White River, and how aboard of her was Auzur, Hrut's father's brother, and he wished Hrut to come to him as soon as ever he could. When Hrut heard this, he asked Hauskuld to go with him to the ship, so Hauskuld went with his brother, and when they reached the ship, Hrut gave his kinsman Auzur a kind and hearty welcome. Auzur asked them into his booth to drink, so their horses were unsaddled, and they went in and drank, and while they were drinking, Hrut said to Auzur, "Now, kinsman, thou must ride west with me, and stay with me this winter."
"That cannot be, kinsman, for I have to tell thee the death of thy brother Eyvind, and he has left thee his heir at the Gula Thing, and now thy foes will seize thy heritage, unless thou comest to claim it."
"What's to be done now, brother?" said Hrut to Hauskuld, "for this seems a hard matter, coming just as I have fixed my bridal day."
"Thou must ride south," said Hauskuld, "and see Mord, and ask him to change the bargain which ye two have made, and to let his daughter sit for thee three winters as thy betrothed, but I will ride home and bring down thy wares to the ship."
Then said Hrut, "My wish is that thou shouldest take meal and timber, and whatever else thou needest out of the lading". So Hrut had his horses brought out, and he rode south, while Hauskuld rode home west. Hrut came east to the Rangrivervales to Mord, and had a good welcome, and he told Mord all his business, and asked his advice what he should do.
"How much money is this heritage?" asked Mord, and Hrut said it would come to a hundred marks, if he got it all.
"Well," said Mord, "that is much when set against what I shall leave behind me, and thou shalt go for it, if thou wilt."
After that they broke their bargain, and Unna was to sit waiting for Hrut three years as his betrothed. Now Hrut rides back to the ship, and stays by her during the summer, till she was ready to sail, and Hauskuld brought down all Hrut's wares and money to the ship, and Hrut placed all his other property in Hauskuld's hands to keep for him while he was away. Then Hauskuld rode home to his house, and a little while after they got a fair wind and sail away to sea. They were out three weeks, and the first land they made was Hern, near Bergen, and so sail eastward to the Bay.
At that time Harold Grayfell reigned in Norway; he was the son of Eric Bloodaxe, who was the son of Harold Fairhair; his mother's name was Gunnhillda, a daughter of Auzur Toti, and they had their abode east, at the King's Crag. Now the news was spread, how a ship had come thither east into theBay, and as soon as Gunnhillda heard of it, she asked what men from Iceland were aboard, and they told her Hrut was the man's name, Auzur's brother's son. Then Gunnhillda said, "I see plainly that he means to claim his heritage, but there is a man named Soti, who has laid his hands on it".
After that she called her waiting-man, whose name was Augmund, and said—
"I am going to send thee to the Bay to find out Auzur and Hint, and tell them that I ask them both to spend this winter with me. Say, too, that I will be their friend, and if Hrut will carry out my counsel, I will see after his suit, and anything else he takes in hand, and I will speak a good word, too, for him to the king."
After that he set off and found them; and as soon as they knew that he was Gunnhillda's servant, they gave him good welcome. He took them aside and told them his errand, and after that they talked over their plans by themselves. Then Auzur said to Hrut—
"Methinks, kinsman, here is little need for long talk, our plans are ready made for us; for I know Gunnhillda's temper; as soon as ever we say we will not go to her she will drive us out of the land, and take all our goods by force; but if we go to her, then she will do us such honour as she has promised."
Augmund went home, and when he saw Gunnhillda, he told her how his errand had ended, and that they would come, and Gunnhillda said—
"It is only what was to be looked for; for Hrut is said to be a wise and well-bred man; and now do thou keep a sharp look out, and tell me as soon as ever they come to the town."
Hrut and Auzur went east to the King's Crag, and when they reached the town, their kinsmen and friends went out to meet and welcome them. They asked, whether the king were in the town, and they told them he was. After that they met Augmund, and he brought them a greeting from Gunnhillda, saying, that she could not ask them to her house before they had seen the king, lest men should say, "I make too much of them". Still she would do all she could for them, and she went on, "tell Hrut to be outspoken before the king, and to ask to be made one of his body-guard"; "and here," said Augmund, "is a dress of honour which she sends to thee, Hrut, and in it thou must go in before the king". After that he went away.
The next day Hrut said—
"Let us go before the king."
"That may well be," answered Auzur.
So they went, twelve of them together, and all of them friends or kinsmen, and came into the hall where the king sat over his drink. Hrut went first and bade the king "good day," and the king, looking steadfastly at the man who was well-dressed, asked him his name. So he told his name.
"Art thou an Icelander?" said the king.
He answered, "Yes".
"What drove thee hither to seek us?"
Then Hrut answered—
"To see your state, lord; and, besides, because I have a great matter of inheritance here in the land, and I shall have need of your help, if I am to get my rights."
The king said—
"I have given my word that every man shall have lawful justice here in Norway; but hast thou any other errand in seeking me?"
"Lord!" said Hrut, "I wish you to let me live in your court, and become one of your men."
At this the king holds his peace, but Gunnhillda said—
"It seems to me as if this man offered you the greatest honour, for me thinks if there were many such men in the body-guard, it would be well filled."
"Is he a wise man?" asked the king.
"He is both wise and willing," said she.
"Well," said the king, "methinks my mother wishes that thou shouldst have the rank for which thou askest, but for the sake of our honour and the custom of the land, come to me in half a month's time, and then thou shalt be made one of my body-guard. Meantime, my mother will take care of thee, but then come to me."
Then Gunnhillda said to Augmund—
"Follow them to my house, and treat them well."
So Augmund went out, and they went with him, and he brought them to a hall built of stone, which was hung with the most beautiful tapestry, and there too was Gunnhillda's high-seat.
Then Augmund said to Hrut—
"Now will be proved the truth of all that I said to thee from Gunnhillda. Here is her high-seat, and in it thou shalt sit, and this seat thou shalt hold, though she comes herself into the hall."
After that he made them good cheer, and they had sat down but a little while when Gunnhillda came in. Hrut wished to jump up and greet her.
"Keep thy seat!" she says, "and keep it too all the time thou art my guest."
Then she sat herself down by Hrut, and they fell to drink, and at even she said—
"Thou shalt be in the upper chamber with me to-night, and we two together."
"You shall have your way," he answers.
After that they went to sleep, and she locked the door inside. So they slept that night, and in the morning fell to drinking again. Thus they spent their life all that half-month, and Gunnhillda said to the men who were there—
"Ye shall lose nothing except your lives if you say to any one a word of how Hrut and I are going on."
[When the half-month was over] Hrut gave her a hundred ells of household woollen and twelve rough cloaks, and Gunnhillda thanked him for his gifts. Then Hrut thanked her and gave her a kiss and went away. She bade him "farewell". And next day he went before the king with thirty men after him and bade the king "good-day". The king said—
"Now, Hrut, thou wilt wish me to carry out towards thee what I promised."
So Hrut was made one of the king's body-guard, and he asked, "Where shall I sit?"
"My mother shall settle that," said the king.
Then she got him a seat in the highest room, and he spent the winter with the king in much honour.
When the spring came he asked about Soti, and found out he had gone south to Denmark with the inheritance. Then Hrut went to Gunnhillda and tells her what Soti had been about. Gunnhillda said—
"I will give thee two long-ships, full manned, and along with them the bravest men. Wolf the Unwashed, our overseerof guests; but still go and see the king before thou settest off."
Hrut did so; and when he came before the king, then he told the king of Soti's doings, and how he had a mind to hold on after him.
The king said, "What strength has my mother handed over to thee?"
"Two long-ships and Wolf the Unwashed to lead the men," says Hrut.
"Well given," says the king. "Now I will give thee other two ships, and even then thou'lt need all the strength thou'st got."
After that he went down with Hrut to the ship, and said "fare thee well". Then Hrut sailed away south with his crews.
There was a man named Atli, son of Arnvid, Earl of East Gothland. He had kept back the taxes from Hacon Athelstane's foster child, and both father and son had fled away from Jemtland to Gothland. After that, Atli held on with his followers out of the Mælar by Stock Sound, and so on towards Denmark, and now he lies out in Öresound.[5]He is an outlaw both of the Dane-King and of the Swede-King. Hrut held on south to the Sound, and when he came into it he saw many ships in the Sound. Then Wolf said—
"What's best to be done now, Icelander?"
"Hold on our course," says Hrut, "'for nothing venture, nothing have'. My ship and Auzur's shall go first, but thou shalt lay thy ship where thou likest."
"Seldom have I had others as a shield before me," says Wolf, and lays his galley side by side with Hrut's ship; and so they hold on through the Sound. Now those who are in the Sound see that ships are coming up to them, and they tell Atli.
He answered, "Then maybe there'll be gain to be got".
After that men took their stand on board each ship; "but my ship," says Atli, "shall be in the midst of the fleet".
Meantime Hrut's ships ran on, and as soon as either side could hear the other's hail, Atli stood up and said—
"Ye fare unwarily. Saw ye not that war-ships were in the Sound? But what's the name of your chief?"
Hrut tells his name.
"Whose man art thou?" says Atli.
"One of king Harold Grayfell's body-guard."
Atli said, "'Tis long since any love was lost between us, father and son, and your Norway kings".
"Worse luck for thee," says Hrut.
"Well," says Atli, "the upshot of our meeting will be, that thou shalt not be left alive to tell the tale;" and with that he caught up a spear and hurled it at Hrut's ship, and the man who stood before it got his death. After that the battle began, and they were slow in boarding Hrut's ship. Wolf, he went well forward, and with him it was now cut, now thrust. Atli's bowman's name was Asolf; he sprung up on Hrut's ship, and was four men's death before Hrut was ware of him; then he turned against him, and when they met, Asolf thrust at and through Hrut's shield, but Hrut cut once at Asolf, and that was his death-blow. Wolf the Unwashed saw that stroke, and called out—
"Truth to say, Hrut, thou dealest big blows, but thou'st much to thank Gunnhillda for."
"Something tells me," says Hrut, "that thou speakest with a 'fey' mouth."
Now Atli sees a bare place for a weapon on Wolf, and shot a spear through him, and now the battle grows hot: Atli leaps up on Hrut's ship, and clears it fast round about, and now Auzur turns to meet him, and thrust at him, but fell down full length on his back, for another man thrust at him. Now Hrut turns to meet Atli: he cut at once at Hrut's shield, and clove it all in two, from top to point; just then Atli got a blow on his hand from a stone, and down fell his sword. Hrut caught up the sword, and cut his foot from under him. After that he dealt him his death-blow. There they took much goods, and brought away with them two ships which were best, and stayed there only a little while. But meantime Soti and his crew had sailed past them, and he held on his course back to Norway, and made the land at Limgard'sside. There Soti went on shore, and there he met Augmund, Gunnhillda's page; he knew him at once, and asks—
"How long meanest thou to be here?"
"Three nights," says Soti.
"Whither away, then?" says Augmund.
"West, to England," says Soti, "and never to come back again to Norway while Gunnhillda's rule is in Norway."
Augmund went away, and goes and finds Gunnhillda, for she was a little way off at a feast, and Gudred, her son, with her. Augmund told Gunnhillda what Soti meant to do, and she begged Gudred to take his life. So Gudred set off at once, and came unawares on Soti, and made them lead up the country, and hang him there. But the goods he took, and brought them to his mother, and she got men to carry them all down to the King's Crag, and after that she went thither herself.
Hrut came back towards autumn, and had gotten great store of goods. He went at once to the king, and had a hearty welcome. He begged them to take whatever they pleased of his goods, and the king took a third. Gunnhillda told Hrut how she had got hold of the inheritance, and had Soti slain. He thanked her, and gave her half of all he had.