CHAPTER III. ^BLUNDKETIL TAKES THE EASTMEN TO

HIM.

THE next day Herstein, BlundketiFs son, rode west to Akraness, and he met the Eastmen as he came back, and found an old acquaintance in the master, and that was much to his mind.

Erne told Herstein what great wrong Odd had offered them. "And," quoth -he, "we mis-

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doubt us how we shall go 'about our affair." So they talked together daylong, and at eve rides Herstein home, and tells his father of the mariners to what pass their business has come. Blundketil answered : " I know the man now from thy story of him, for I was with his father when I was a child, nor ever fell I in with a fellow better at need than was he : so ill it is that his son is hard bestead, and his father would look to me to take some heed to his fortune if need were ; so betimes to-morrow shalt thou ride down to the Haven, and bid him hither with as many men as he will; or if he be liefer thereto, then will I flit him north or south, or where he will; and I will help him with all my heart as far as in me lies."

Herstein said it was good rede and manly : " Yet it is to be looked for that we shall have some folks' displeasure for it." Blundketil answered : "Whereas we have to carry about nought worse than Odd, we may lightly bear it." So weareth the night, and betimes on the morrow Blundketil let gather horses from the pastures, and when all was ready Herstein drave an hundred horses to meet the chapmen, nor need they crave any from any other stead. So he came thither to them, and told Erne what his father had taken on himself. Erne said he would take that with a good heart, but that he deemed the father and son would have the enmity of others for it ; but Herstein said they heeded it nought. Then said Erne : " Well, my crew shall be flitted into other countrysides, for the risk is enough, though we be not all in one and the same house/' So Herstein had Erne and his lading home

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with him, and left not before all the chapmen were gone, and the ship laid up, and all brought into due order.

Blundketil received Erne wondrous well, and there he abode in good entertainment.

But now were tidings brought to Odd of what Blundketil had done, and men talk over it, and say that he had set himself up against Odd thereby. Odd answereth : "So may folk say; but Blundketil is such a man as is both sturdy and well-beloved, so I will even let the matter alone/'

And so all is quiet.