CHAPTER VI. THORIR WOULD MAKE A CASE AGAINST

BLUNDKETIL,

NOW shall we tell what Thorir fell to : he gat him gone from home with Helgi his foster-son, and they ride to Northtongue, and are greeted there wondrous well, and Arngrim asks for tidings. Thorir answered : " I have heard of nought newer than the robbery."

" Nay, now, what robbery ?" said Arngrim. Thorir answered : " Blundketil has robbed me

136 The Saga Library.

of all my hay, so that there is hardly a wisp left to throw to the neat in the cold weather."

" Is it so, Helgi ? " asked Arngrim.

" Not one whit," said Helgi ; " Blundketil did right well in the matter." And therewith he told how the thing had gone between them.

Then said Arngrim : " Yea, that is more like ; and the hay that he hath gotten is better bestowed than that which shall rot on thine hands."

Thorir answered : "In an evil hour I offered fostering to thy child ; forsooth, whatsoever ill deed is done to me in mine own house none the more shall I be righted here, or holpen at thine hands ; a mighty shame is that to thee."

Arngrim answers : " Forsooth, that was a rash deed from the first, for I wot that in thee I have to do with an evil man."

" Nay, words will not slay me," said Thorir ; " but I am ill content that thou rewardest my good deeds in such wise ; but so it is that what men rob from me is taken from thee no less." They parted with things in such a plight. Thorir rides away, and comes to Broadlairstead, where Odd greeted him well, and asked for tidings.

" Nought have I heard newer than the robbery," said Thorir. " Nay, now, what robbery?" said Odd.

Thorir answered : " Blundketil took all my hay, so that my store is clean gone ; and I would fain have thy furtherance ; moreover, the matter toucheth thee, whereas thou art a ruler in the countryside, to right what is wrong ; and thou mayest call to mind withal that he hath made himself thy foe."

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Odd asked : " Is it so, Helgi ? " He answered that Thorir had wrested the matter clean away from the truth, and he set forth how the whole thing had gone. Odd answered : " I will have nought to do with it ; I should have done likewise if need had been." Said Thorir : " True is the saw that saith, * Best but to hear of woeful thanes ; ' and this also : ' A man's foes are those of his own house/ "

Therewithal rides Thorir away, and Helgi with him, and home he fareth ill-content.