vestein's slaying.

It came out^ too, at that feast that Gisli was restless at night, two nights together. He would not say what dreams he had, though men asked him.

Now comes the third night, and men go to their beds, and when they had slumbered a while a whirlwind fell on the house with such strength that it tore all the roof off on one side, and in a little while all the rest of the roof followed. Then rain fell from heaven in such a flood the like was never seen before, and the house began to drip and drip, as was likely when the roof was off. Gisli sprang out of bed and called on his men to show their mettle, and save the hay-stacks from being washed away ; and so he left the house, and every man with him, except a thrall, whose name was Thord the Hareheart, who was nearly as tall as Gisli. Vestein wanted to go with Gisli, but Gisli would not suffer it. So when they were all gone Auda and Vestein draw their beds from the wall, where the water dripped down on them, and turn them end on to the benches in the midst of the halL Tlie thrall too stayed in the house, for he had not heart enough to go out of doors in such a storm.

VESTEIN'S SLx\Y11íG. 43

And a little before dawn some one stole softly into tlie hall, and stood over against Vestein's bed. He was then awake, and a spear was thrust then and there into his chest, right through his body. But when Vestein got the thrust^ he sprang up and called out: "Stabbed! stabbed!** and with that he fell dead on the floor.

But the man passed out at the door.

Meanwhile Auda awakes, and sees what work was being done. Now Tliord the Hareheart comes up, and she told him to pluck the weapon out of the wound, for in those days it was a settled thing that the man was bound to avenge the slain who took the weapon out of the wound, and it was called secret slaying, but not murder, if, when the deed was done, the weapon were left behind. But Thord was so afraid of the dead that he did not so much as dare to come nigh the spot. Then Gisli came in, and spoke to the thrall, and bade him let it alone ; and then Gisli went up and took the spear away, and cast it, all bloody as it was> into a chest, and let no man see it After that he sat down on the bedside, and laid out the body as was the wont ; and GisU thought he had suffered a great loss, and many others with him.

Then GisU said to Gudrida, his foster-child :

" Thou must go over to Sæbol, and find out what men are about there ; and I send thee because I trust thee best of all in this and in all other things."

So she went to Sæbol, and found them already risen when she gf>t there, and they were all sitting -with their weapons.

44 GI8LI THE OUTLAW.

There were both the Thorgrims and Thorkel. They were slow to greet her, for most of them had scarce a word to say. At last they ask her what news, and she tells them that Vestein was slain or murdered.

" We should have thought that great news once,'' said ThorkeL

Then Thorgrim went on : " We are bound to bury Vestein as worthily as we can. We will come and help to lay him in his howe. Tell Gisli we w^ill come, too, this very day. Sooth to say, such a man's death is a great loss."

After that she went home, and tells Gisli that Thorgrim the priest sat with his helm on his head and his sword at his belt, and all his war-gear, when she went in ; that Thorgrim Bottlenose had a pole-axe in his hand, and that Thorkel had a sword in his hand half-drawn. All men were up and about, and some of them armed, when she reached Sœbol.

" Just atf I thought," said Gisli

Now Gisli made ready to lay Vestein in his howe, and they meant to lay him in the sandhill which looks down on the tarn just below Sæbol, and as they were on their 'way with the body Thorgrim came up with many men to meet them. And when they had heaped up the howe, and were going to lay the body in it, Thorgrim the priest goes up to Gisli, and says, " Tis the custom, brother-in-law, to bind the hellshoe on men, so that they may walk on them to Valhalla, and I will now do that by Vestein."

And when he had done it, he said :

vestein's slaying. 45

"I know nothing about binding on hellshoon if these loosen."

Then they sat down outside the howe and talked, and Gisli asks if any one thought he knew who had done that deed, but all thought it most unlikely that any there knew who had done this crima

Thorkel asks Gisli : ** How Auda bore her brother's death ? Does she weep much ?"

" I should think thou knowest well how she bears it. She

shows it little and feels it much. I dreamed a dream," says Gisli,

" the night before last; and last night too, but I will not tell it, nor

say who did this slaying, but my dreams all point to it. Me-

thought I dreamt the first night that an adder crept out of a

house I know, and stung Vestein to death. And last night I

dreamt that a wolf ran fix)m the same house and tore Vestein to

death ; but I told neither dream up to this time, because I did

not wish that any one should interpret them." Then'he chaunted

a song :

" Twice I dreamt it ! thrice I could not I Vestein, Woden's darling, would not Have been wakened thus I ween, When we sat in Vibjorg drinking, Never from the wine-cup shrinking, No man sittiog us between."

Again Thorkel asks : *' How bore Auda her brother's death ? Does she weep sore ?"

"Oft askest thou the same thing, kinsman," said Gisli, " and thou art very eager to know this."

46 GISLI THE OUTLAW.

Again Gisli chaunted a song :

** Deep beneath her golden veil Hides her grief that kdy pale ; Still down fields where roeea blush Streams from slumber's fountain gush. From her heart dim mists arise, Filling all her beauteous eyes, Down her cheeks tears chase each other : Thus Auda mourneth for her brother."

And again he chaunted :

" She the goddess, ring-bestowing, Sets the waves of sorrow flowing ; From her golden eyebrows pressed, Down they dash upon her breast. Vestein's voice no longer singeth. Pearl on pearl his sister stringeth ; Gems that round her dark eyes glisten : My song is o'er — ^no longer listen !"

Now these brothers go away both together, and as they went Thorkel said :

" These have been great tidings, and to thee they must seem more mournful than to us ; but after all, every one must bear his own burden, for every one walks farthest with his own self. Now I would, brother, that thou dost not let this take such hold on thee that men should fall to wondering about it ; and so my wish is, that we take to some sports, and that now everything should be with us as it hath been when we were the best friends.

**That is well spoken," said Gisli, "and I will willingly do that — only with this bargain, that if anything ever befalls thee

VESTEDí'S SLAYING. 47

which thou feelest as much as I do this, then thou shalt give me thy word to behave just as thou askest me to behave now."

To that Thorkel agreed, and after that they each go home, and Vestein's ale of heirship was brewed and drunk, and when that was done each man went to his own home, and all was quiet.

But men say that all that great stonn was ibe work of Thorgrim Bottlenose, with his sorcery and witchcraft, and that he had so framed his spella as to get a good chance at Vestein while Gisli was not near him ; for they did not dare to fall on him if Gisli were by. But after the storm Thorgrim, the priest of Frey, did the deed, and slew Vestein, as we have already said.

So now the sports were set afoot as though nothing had happened. Those brothei's-in-law, Thorgrim and Gisli, were very often matched against each other, and men could not make up their minds which was the stronger, but most thought Gisli had most strengtli. They were playing at the ball on the tarn called Sedgetam. On it there was ever a crowd. It fell one day when there was a great gathering that Gisli bade them share the sides as evenly as they could for a game.

" That we will with all our hearts," said Thorkel ; "but we also wish thee not to spare thy strength against Thorgrim, for the story runs that thou sparest him ; but as for me I love thee well enough to wish that thou shouldst get all the more honour if thou art the stronger/'

" We have not put that yet to the proof," says Gisli ; " maybe the time may come for us to try our strength/'

48 GISLI THE OUTLAW.

Now they began the game, and Thorgrim could not hold his own. Gisli threw him and bore away the balL Again Gisli wished to catch the ball, but Thorgrim runs and holds him and will not let him get near it. Then Gisli turned and threw Thorgrim such a fall on the slippery ice that he could scarce rise. The skin came off his knuckles, and the flesh off his knees, and blood gushed from his nostrils. Thorgrim was very slow in rising. As he did so he looked towards Vestein's howe, and chaunted :

" Right through hÍB ribs,

My apear-point went crashing ;

Why should I worry ?

Twas well worth this thrashing.''

Gisli caught the ball on the bound, and hurled it between Tliorgrim's shoulders so that he tumbled forwards, and threw his heels up in the air, and Gisli chaunted :

" Bump on his back My big ball went dashing ; Why should I worry — Twas I gave the thrashing.*'

Thorkel jumps up and says : " Now we can see who is the strongest or is the best player. Let us break off the game." And so they did.

CHAPTEE IX.

thorgrim's slaying.

Now the games ceased, and the summer comes on, and there was rather a coldness between Thorgrim and GislL Thorgrim meant to have a harvest feast on the first night of winter, and to sacrifice to Frey. He bids to it his brother Bork, and Eyjolf the son of Thord, and many other great men. Gisli too made ready a feast, and bids to it his brothers-in-law from Amafirth, and the two Thorkels ; so that there were full sixty men at his house. There was to be a drinking-bout at each house, and the floor at Sæbol was covered with sedge won from Sedgetarn. Now when Thorgrim and his men were busy putting up the hangings in the hall, Thorgrim all at once said to Thorkel : " Those hangings would come in well — those fine ones I mean — ^that Vestein wished to give thee ; methinks there is great difiference between your having them for a day or having them altogether. I wish thou wouldst send for them now."

•'The man," said Thorkel, "who knows how to forbear is master of all knowledge. I will not send for them."

" Then I will," said Thorgrim ; and with that he bade Geirmund go and fetch them.

£

50 GISU THE OUTLAW.

" I have work to do/' said Geirmund, " and I have no mind to go."

Then Thorgrim goes up to him, and gave him a great buckhorse on the ear, and said :

" Be off with thee now, if thou likest it better."

" So I will," he said, " though I have less mind than ever ; but be sure Til do my best to give thee the gray mare instead of thy horse. Then we shall be quits."

So he went away ; but when he gets to Gisli's house, Gisli and Auda were hard at work putting up the hangings. Geirmund told his errand, and the whole story.

** Well, Auda," said Gisli, ** wilt thou lend them the hangings ?"

'• Why ask me at all," says Auda, ** when thou knowest that I would neither grant them this nor aught else that would do them any honour ?"

" Did my brother Thorkel wish it 1" asks GislL

" He was well pleased that I came for them."

" That alone is quite enough," said Gisli ; and with that he gives him the rich hangings, and went back with him on the way. Gisli goes with him right up to the farm-yard, and then said :

** Things now stand in this wise : I think I have made thy errand turn out well, and now I wish thou wouldst be yielding to me in what I want, for gift answers to gift, you know, and one hand washes the other. My wish is, that thou wouldst push back the bolts of the three doors to-night. Think how thou wast bidden to set out."

tuorgrim's slaying. 51

*• Will there be any risk to thy brother Thorkel ?" said Geirmund.

" None at all,** said GislL

" Then that shall come to pass," said Geirmund.

And now when he comes home he casts down the costly hangings, and Thorkel said :

** Unlike is Gisli to other men in long-suffering. He is far better than we."

" For all that," said Thorgrim, " we need these pretty things ; 80 let us e'en put them up."

After that the guests who were bidden came at even. Now the weather thickens, and a snow-drift falls that night and covera all paths.

Bork and Eyjolf came to the feast with a hundred and twenty men, and there were half as many at Gisli's house. Men took to drinking in the evening, and after that they go to bed and sleep.

Then Gisli said to Auda his wife :

*• I have not given fodder to Thorkel the Wealthy's horse. Come now with me and undo the locks at the gate, and watch while I am away, and undo the locks again when I come back."

He takes the spear *' Graysteel" out of the chest, and is clad in a blue cape, and in his kirtle and linen breeks and shoes. So he goes to the brook which runs between the farms, whence each drew water for its cattle. He goes down to the brook by the path, and then wades along it to the other path tliat led up

52 GISU THE OUTLAW.

to the other farm. Gisli knew all the ins and outs of the house at Sæbol, for he had built it himself There was a way from the water into the byre. That was where he got in. There in the byre stood thirty cows, back to back ; he knots together the tails of the kiue, and locks up the byre, and makes it so fast that it cannot be opened if any one came from the inside. After that he goes to the dwelling-house, and Geirmund had done his work well, for there was not a bolt to any of the doors. Now he goes in and shuts the door again, just as it had been locked the evening before. Now he takes his time, and stands and spies about if any were awake, and he is soon aware that all men are asleep. There were three lamps in the halL Then he takes some of the sedge from the floor, and makes a wisp of it, and throws it on one of the lights, and quenches it Again he stands awhile., and spies if any man had awoke, and cannot find that any are awake. Then he takes another wisp and throws it at that light which stood next, and quenches that. Then he became aware that all men cannot be asleep ; for he sees now a young man's arm comes toward the third light, and pulls down the lamp, and put« out the light.

Now he goes farther in along the house till he comes to the shut bed where Thorgrim and his sister Thordisa slept The lattice was ajar, and there they are both in bed. Then he goes thither, and puts out his hand to feel, and touches her breast ; for she slept on the outside.

Then Thordisa said : " Why is thy hand so cold, Thorgrim ?" and wakes him up.

THORGRIM'S SLAYING

THORGRIM*S SLAYING. 53

" Wilt thou that I turn to thee ?" asked Thorgiim.

She thought he had laid his hand on her.

Then Gisli bides awhile, and warms his hand in his shirt ; but they two fell asleep again.

Kow he takes hold of Thorgrim gently, so that he woke and turned towards Thordisa, for he thought she had roused him.

Then Gisli lifts the clothes off them with one hand, while with the other he thrusts Thorgrim through the body with " Graysteel,** and pins him to the bed.

Now Thordisa cries out : ** Wake up men in the hall ; my husband Thorgrim is slain !"

Gisli turns short away to the byre. He goes out where he had meant, and locks it up strongly behind him. Then he goes home by the same way, and his footsteps cannot be seen. Auda pushes back the bolts when he came home, and he gets into bed, and makes as though nothing had happened, or as though he had naught to do but sleep.

But down at Sæbol all the men were mad with drink, and knew not what to do. The deed came on them unawares, and so no course was taken that was of any good.

At last Eyjolf of Otterdale said : " Here have happened ill tidings, and great tidings, and all the folk have been bereft of their wits. It seems to me the best thing were to light the lamps, and run to the doors, that the manslayer may not get out."

And so it was done, and men thought when they could not lay hands on the manslayer, that it must have been some one in the house who had done the deed.

54 GISLI THE OUTLAW.

So time runs on till day came. Then they took Thoi-grim's body and plucked out the spear, and he was laid out for burial, and sixty men followed him. So they fare to Gisli's house at HoL Thord the Hareheart was out of doors early, and when he sees the band, he runs in and says that a host of men were marching on the house, and was quite out of breath.

" That is well," said Gisli, and chaunted a stave :

" Mighty man ! my mind is easy ;

Too many have I done to death To be scared by tidings queasy,

Uttered by idiots out of breath. No ! I lie and take my slumber ;

Though this lord is stretched on earth ; Idle rumours without number

Vex the folk and mar their mirth."

Now they come to the fann, Tliorkel and Eyjolf, and go up to the shut-bed where Gisli and his wife slept ; but Thorkel, Gisli's brother, stepped up first on to the floor, and stands at the side of the bed, and sees Gisli's shoes lying all frozen and snowy. He kicked them under the footboard, so that no other man should see them..

Now Gisli greets them and asks the news. Thorkel said there were both great and bad news, and asks what it might mean, and what counsel was best to take.

** Then there has been scant space between two great and ill deeds," said Gisli: *'but we shall be ready enough to lay Thorgrim in his howe, and you have a right to ask that of us, for it is our bounden duty to do it with all honour."

THORGRI\ÍS SLAYIXO. 55

Tliey took that offer gladly, and all together went to Sæbol to throw up the howe, and lay Thorgrim in his ship.

Now they heap up the howe after the fashion of the olden time, and when they were just about to close the howe Gisli goes to the mouth of the stream, and takes up a stone so big that it looked like a rock, and dashes it down on the ship, so that every timber cracked again, and the whole ship creaked and groaned. As he did that he said :

** I know nothing of making a ship fast if any weather stirs this."

Some now said that this looked very like what Thorgrim had done to Vestein when he spoke about the hellshoon.

Now they made them ready to go home from the howe, and Gisli said to his brother :

*' Methinks I have a right to call on thee, brotlier, that our friendship should now be as good as when it was best. Now let us set some sports afoot."

Thorkel took that well enough, and they parted and went home. Gisli's house was now quite full, and the feast came to an end, and Gisli gives good gifts to his guests.