It was this. That they should send women over the country with goods of housekeeping use, and mark what was given them in exchange. Take heed that you note carefully, said Mord, because no man will keep in his house the things that he has stolen, if he has a chance of getting rid of them. Set therefore apart whatever you get from each house, and bring it to me.
And it was done exactly as Mord commanded, and in fourteen days the women came back, all bearing large bundles.
Who gave you the most? asked Mord, and one woman answered:
Hallgerda, the wife of Gunnar; she gave us a cheese cut into great slices.
I will keep that cheese, said Mord.
When the women had gone, Mord rode away to Otkells farm, and bade him fetch the cheese-mould of Thorgerda his wife. And when it was brought, Mord took the slices and laid them in it, and they filled up the mould.
After this they all saw that Hallgerda had stolen the cheese, and, now that Mord had found the thief, he went back to his own house.
The tidings soon spread far and wide, and reached the ears of Kolskegg, who rode over to Lithend, so that he might speak with Gunnar.
Know you that it is said by every man that it was Hallgerda who caused the fire at Kirkby, that she might steal the cheese and butter? asked he.
I have thought before that it must be so, but how can I set it right? answered Gunnar.
You must make atonement to Otkell, and it is better there should be no delay, replied Kolskegg.
I will do your bidding, said Gunnar; and, mounting his horse, he took eleven with him, beside Thrain and Lambi his friends, and they all fared to Kirkby. There, Otkell came out to greet them, and with him were Skamkell and two other men, Hallkell and Hallbjorm.
I am here, said Gunnar, to offer atonement for the misdeed of my wife and the thrall you sold me, for it was they who caused the fire and stole the cheeses. And, if it pleases you, let the award be fixed by the best of the men round!
That sounds fairer than it is, Gunnar, put in Skamkell, for you are a man of many things, whereas Otkell has few.
Well, said Gunnar, then I will offer atonement of twice the value of all that Otkell lost; but again it was Skamkell and not Otkell who replied:
Beware, Otkell, of giving him the right of making the award when it belongs to you.
And Otkell answered: I will fix the award myself, Gunnar.
Then fix it, said Gunnar, who was waxing wroth at this delay; but once more Otkell turned to Skamkell, and asked what he should answer.
Let the award be made by Gizur the white and Geir the priest, and this saying pleased Otkell.
Do you as you will, replied Gunnar, but do not think that men will speak well of your refusing the choices that I gave you.
And after that he rode home with his men.
Then Hallbjorm spoke to Otkell, saying: Ill was it to refuse the offers of Gunnar, which were good offers, as you know well. Can it be that you think yourself a match for Gunnar in fight, when he has proved himself better than any man in the island? But go and see Gizur the white and Geir the priest at once, and see if the offers of Gunnar do not seem good to them! For he is a just and gentle-hearted man, and perchance he will still hearken to you, if you accept them.
So Otkell, who ever listened to the last speaker, bade, them bring out his horse and set forth, Skamkell walking by his side. In a little while, when they had gone a mile or two, Skamkell said: You have much to look to at Kirkby, and no one but yourself can see after the men. Get home, therefore, and let me ride to Gizur the white and Geir the priest instead of you.
Go, then, answered Otkell, who was lazy and never took the trouble to think for himself; but see you do not tell them lies, as you are wont to do.
I will lie no more than I can help, master, answered Skamkell, jumping on Otkells horse.
Otkell fared home and found Hallbjorm in front of the house.
Has anything befallen you that you have returned on foot? asked he; and Otkell, who feared him, said hurriedly:
I had many men to look over, and much work to do, so I sent Skamkell in my stead, But Hallbjorm held his peace and eyed him scornfully.
He who makes a thrall his friend rues it ever more, he answered at last. And it is ill done when mens lives are at stake to send the biggest liar in Iceland on such an errand.
If you are afraid now, what would you be if Gunnars bill were singing, asked Otkell, who was always brave when there were none to slay, and whose courage always waxed great when there were none to fight.
Hallbjorm laughed as he heard him.
Who can tell who will fear most at the sound of that singing? But this you know well, that when the fight has begun Gunnar does not give his bill much time to sing!
Now when Skamkell reached Mossfell, he told truly to Gizur the white the offers Gunnar had made.
Why did not Otkell accept them? asked Gizur, they were generous and noble, as Gunnars offers are.
Otkell wished to do you honour, replied Skamkell; but Gizur for all answer bade Geir the priest be sent for, and next morning, as soon as he arrived, Gizur told him the story, and after he had finished he said:
Let Skamkell tell it again, for I misdoubt him greatly.
So Skamkell was called in, but he was wary, and he told his tale the second time as he had done the first, and though Gizur still misdoubted him he could find no fault.
Mayhap you speak the truth, he said; but I know the wickedness of your deeds, and if you die in your bed your face belies you.
And after a little more talking Skamkell rode home to Kirkby.
Gizur and Geir greet you, said Skamkell, and they wish that this matter should have a peaceful ending. They will that Gunnar shall be summoned as having received and eaten the goods, likewise Hallgerda for stealing them!
So Otkell followed this counsel, and five days before the opening of the Althing he rode with his brother and Skamkell and a great following to Lithend.
When Gunnar heard what errand they were on, he was very wroth, and after Otkell had read the summons, and departed with his men, he went away to seek Njal.
But Njal told him not to trouble, as before the Thing was over he should be held in greater honour than before.
Gizur the white rode to the Thing also, and he spoke to Otkell, and asked why he had summoned Gunnar to the Thing. Otkell listened in amaze and then answered that he had done so because of the counsel that Gizur himself and Geir the priest had told Skamkell.
He lied, then, replied Gizur; we gave no such counsel; and Gunnar and his friends were called, and Gizur stood forth and bade Gunnar make his own award. At first Gunnar refused, but at length, after Gizur and Geir the priest swore that what Skamkell had said was false, he agreed to do it. And his award was this: that atonement in full should be made for the burnt storehouses and for the stolen food. But for the thrall, said Gunnar, I will give nothing, for you knew what he was when you sold him to me. Therefore I will restore him to you. On the other hand, the ill-words which you have spoken of me, and the way in which you sought to put me to shame, I count to be worth full as great an atonement as the burning of a few sheds, of the stealing of a few cheeses. So that for money we stand equal. One thing more I would say, Beware lest you seek again to do me evil.
So spake Gunnar, and no man said him nay. But after a little Gizur asked that Gunnar might forgive the wrongs Otkell had done him, and hold him his friend. At this Gunnar laughed out in scorn and answered:
So spake Gunnar, and no man said him nay. But after a little Gizur asked that Gunnar might forgive the wrongs Otkell had done him, and hold him his friend. At this Gunnar laughed out in scorn and answered:
Let Skamkell be his friend. It is to him Otkell looks for counsel. They are fitting mates. But one piece of counsel I will give him, and that is to take shelter with his kinsfolk, for if he stays in this country his end will be speedy.
For a while Gunnar rested in peace at home and there was no more quarrelling. He gathered in his harvest and tended his cattle, ploughed his fields, and so the autumn and winter passed away and the spring came.
One day when the sun was shining Gunnar took his small axe, and a bag of corn, and set out to sow seed. And while he was stooping to do this, Otkell galloped past, on a wild horse that carried him faster than he would, and he did not see Gunnar. As ill-chance would have it, Gunnar raised himself at that moment from stooping over the furrow, and Otkells spur tore his ear, and he was very wroth.
You summon me first, and then you ride over me, he said, and, as was his wont, Skamkell made answer:
The wound might have been far sorer, but your anger was greater at the Thing, when you judged the atonement and clenched your bill in your fist.
When we next meet my bill shall have something to say to you, said Gunnar, and went on sowing his corn.
The corn was all sown, and Gunnar was beginning to think of other work, when one morning his shepherd came riding fast.
I passed eight men in Markfleet, said he; their faces were set this way, and Skamkell was with them. He ever speaks ill of you, and I have heard him tell how you shed tears when Otkell rode over you.
It does not do to mind words, answered Gunnar; but for the warning you have given me you shall henceforth do the work that pleases you. Now go to sleep.
So the shepherd slept, and Gunnar took the saddle off his horse, and laid his own saddle on it; he fetched his shield, and buckled on his sword, and then he took his bill, and as his hand touched it it sang loudly. Rannveig his mother heard the sound, and came out from the door to the place where Gunnar was fastening on his helmet.
Never have I seen you so full of wrath, said she. But Gunnar answered her nothing and rode quickly away.
Rannveig went back to the sitting-room, where many men were talking, and, looking at them, she said:
Loud is your talk, but the bill sang louder when Gunnar rode away.
When Kolskegg heard that, he saddled his horse and hasted after Gunnar.
Gunnars horse was swift and steady, and he never drew rein till he reached the ford which he knew Otkells men must pass. There he tied up his horse, and awaited them on foot. When Otkells men came up, they, too, sprang to the ground, and Hallbjorm strode towards Gunnar.
Keep back, said Gunnar, I have no quarrel with brave men like you, but Hallbjorm answered:
I cannot for shame stand by while you kill my brother; and he smote with his spear at Gunnar. While they were fighting, Skamkell struck at Gunnars back with his axe, but Gunnar turned round, and, with his bill caught the axe from beneath, so that it fell out of Skamkells hands. A second thrust with the bill stretched Skamkell on the ground, and after him Otkell and three others. They slew eight men in all, Kolskegg aiding.
After that they rode home, and as they went Gunnar said: I wonder if I am less base than others because I kill men less willingly than they.
The first thing Gunnar did was to seek counsel of Njal, who bid him take care never to break the peace which was made between him and his foes, and never to slay more than one man of the same race, else your life will be but short.
Do you know the death you yourself will die? he asked.
Yes, I know it, answered Njal.
And what is it? asked Gunnar once more.
One that none could guess, replied Njal, and Gunnar went away.
Now at the next Thing there was great dispute over this suit, but in the end it was settled to Gunnars honour, and Gizur the white and Geir the priest gave pledges that they would keep the peace. But there were other men who thought they had been wronged by Gunnar, and laid plots to anger him, so that he might be outlawed and forced to leave the country.
By ill-fortune the words which Njal had spoken when he bade Gunnar never to slay more than one man of the same race were noised abroad, and his enemies made a plan by which Gunnar should be forced to fight Thorgeir, son of Otkell, so that his doom might come upon him.
Thus matters stood for a while, and then Gunnar rode down to the isles to see what his thralls were doing, and his foes heard of it, and resolved to lie in wait for him at the Rang river.
But when Gunnar returned he was not alone, as they expected he would be, for Kolskegg his brother was at his side, and carried the short sword which some of them knew well, while Gunnar was armed with his sword and his bill.
The two were yet far from the Rang river when the bill which Gunnar bore in his hand sweated with blood, and Kolskegg, who had not yet seen this sight, grew cold with terror.
This has some dreadful meaning, said he; and Gunnar nodded.
It only happens before a great fight, he answered, and they are called wound drops in other lands. So beware. Let us not be taken unawares; and they looked well about them, till they saw some men lying hidden on the banks on the other side of the ford.
Long it were to tell of that fierce fight, and of the men that were slain by Kolskegg and Gunnar. At last Thorgeir, Otkells son, forced his way to the front and swung his sword at Gunnar. The blow would have been deadly had it fallen, but, leaping aside, he thrust his bill through Thorgeirs body, and flung him far into the river.
At that the other men turned and fled away.
Our money-chests will be emptied for atonement for these men, said Gunnar as they drew near Lithend, and when they told their mother, Rannveig shook her head.
I fear lest ill should come of it, said she.
And ill did come of it.
Njals heart was sore when Gunnar told him of the fight by the Rang river, for he said:
You have gone against my counsel, and have slain two men of the same race. So take heed, if you break the award, your life will pay forfeit. But whatever befalls I am always your friend.
Soon the Thing was held, and upon the Hill of Laws Gizur the white summoned Gunnar, for manslaughter of Thorgeir, Otkells son, and demanded that his goods should be forfeited and his body outlawed, and that no man should help or harbour him.
After this there was much talking, but at last the award was given by twelve men.
And this was it.
Money was to be paid down for the men slain, and Gunnar and Kolskegg were to depart from Iceland and not return for three winters. But if Gunnar should break the settlement and stay at home, any man might slay him as he would.
Gunnar promised to keep the award, but he did not hold it a just one.
Then Kolskegg began to inquire of the vessels that were sailing that summer, and he settled that he would go on board the ship of Armfin of the Bay, and Gunnar his brother would go with him.
They sent down to the shore those things that they might need in foreign lands, and then Gunnar bade farewell to Njal and his men, and thanked his friends for the help they had given him.
At the last he took leave of the thralls at Lithend, and of his mother, and told them that, since his own country had outlawed him, he would never return to it. Then he threw his arms round every man, and without looking back sprang into the saddle.