CHAPTER X. OF THORKEL WELT AND GUNNAR

HLIFARSON.

THE shepherd of Thorkel Welt of Swigniskarth went to his sheep that morning, and he saw them a-faring on and driving all kind of cattle ; so he told Thorkel thereof, who answers : " I wot how it will be; these will be the men of Thwartlithe, my friends, who have been sore pinched by the winter, and will be driving their beasts hither : they shall be welcome, for I have hay enough, and here are enough winter pastures open for grazing beasts/' So he went out when they came into the home-mead, and gave them good welcome, and bade them to all good things that they would have ; yea, scarce might they get off their horses, he was so eager-kind with them. But Thorbiorn said : " Thy good welcome is a great matter, and much lies on thy holding to all thou hast promised us."

Said Thorkel : " I wot of thine errand, that ye would leave the beasts behind here, where forsooth there lacketh not open pastures and good," Thorbiorn said : " That will we take."

Then he taketh Thorkel aside by the houses, and said : " Great tidings and evil are abroad."

Thorkel asked what they were.

" Master Blundketil was burned in his house last night/ 5 said Thorbiorn.

"Who wroughtthatdeed of shame ? ?J saidThorkeL

So Thorbiarn told the whole story of it, saying moreover : " Herstein here hath need of thine wholesome redes/'

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Thorkel says : " It is not so sure that I should have been so busy with my offers had I known hereof before ; but my redes shall even go down the road they set out on ; and first come ye in to meat."

They said yea thereto. Thorkel Welt was of few words, and somewhat thoughtful ; but when they had eaten, he bade them to horse ; and they take their weapons, and get a-horseback, but Thorkel rode first that day, and gave command that the beasts in the pasture should be well heeded, and those at stall fed plenteously. So ride they now to Woodstrand, to Gunnarstead, which lieth on the inner side of the Strand. There dwelt a man named Gunnar, the son of Hlifar, a big man and a strong, and the greatest of champions ; he was wedded to a sister of Thord Gellir called Helga, and had two daughters, Jofrid and Thurid.

Thither they come late in the day, and get off their horses up above the house ; the wind was in the north, and it was somewhat cold. So Thorkel goes to the door and knocks, and a house-carle comes thereto, and greets the new-comer well, asking who he might be. Thorkel says he would be none the wiser though he tell him, and bids him bid Gunnar come out H e said that Gunnar was gotten to bed; but Thorkel bids him say that a man would see him. The house-carle does so, goes in, and tells Gunnar that here is a man will see him, Gunnar asks who it might be ; the house-carle said he wotted not, but that he was great of growth,

Gunnar said : " Go and tell him to abide here to-night/'

The house-carle went and did as Gunnar bade ;

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but Thorkel said he would not take that bidding from a thrall, but from the master himself. The house-carle said that, be that as true as it might be, Gunnar was not wont to arise benights. " Do one of two things," said he ; " either go away, or come in and abide here to-night."

" Do thou one of two things/' said Thorkel, " either go bear my errand doughtily to Gunnar, or have my sword-hilt on the nose of thee." The house-carle ran in, and shut to the door, and Gunnar asked why he went on so wildly ; but he said that he would talk no more with the newcomer, for that, he was exceeding rough of speech. Then Gunnar arose, and went out into the homemead ; and he was clad in shirt and linen breeches, with a cloak cast over him, black shoes on his feet, and his sword in his hand ; he greeted Thorkel well, and bade him come in, but he said there were more of them in company. So Gunnar goeth out into the home-mead ; but Thorkel catcheth hold of the door-ring, and shutteth to the door, and then they go round to the back of the house. There Gunnar welcomes them, but Thorkel said : " Sit we down, because we have many things to say to thee, Gunnar."

They did so, sitting on either hand of him, and so close that they sat on the very skirts of the cloak that Gunnar had over him. Then spake Thorkel : " So it falleth out, master Gunnar, that here is a man in my company called Herstein, son of Blundketil, nor need we hide our errand from thee, that he comes a-wooing Thurid thy daughter of thee ; and for this cause have I come hither with

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him, that I would not thou turn the man away, for meseemeth it is a most meet match : withal we shall deem it no little matter if he be deemed unworthy, he and my furtherance, yea, or if he be answered coldly."

Gunnar said : " I may not answer to this matter alone ; I will take counsel with her mother, and with my daughter herself, and especially with Thord Gellir, her kinsman ; yet have we heard nought but good of the man, or his father either, and it is a matter to be looked to."

Then answered Welt : " Thou must know that we will not be dangling about the woman, and we think the match no less for thine honour than for ours ; wondrous I deem it that a wise man like thee should ponder matters in such a good match as is this ; moreover, we will not have come from home for nothing; wherefore, Herstein, I will give thee whatso help thou wilt to bring this about if he know not his own honour,"

Gunnar answered : u I cannot make out why ye are so hasty in this, or why ye go nigh even to threaten me ; for the match is an even one ; but I may look for any mischief from you ; so I must even take the rede of stretching forth my hand." ^

So did he, and Herstein named witnesses for himself, and betrothed himself to the woman. Then they stand up, and go in, and are well served.

Now Gunnar asks for tidings ; and Thorkel says that there is none newer than the burning of BlundketiL

Gunnar asked who brought it to pass, and

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Thorkel says that Thorwald Oddson and Arngrim the priest were the leaders therein. Gunnar answered in few words ; blamed but little, and praised nought at all.