CHAPTER XL OF THE SLAYING OF THORBIORN

THIODREKSON.

TURN we now to Howard and Thorbiorn : they made from land, and a long swim it was till they came to a skerry that lay off there; and when Thorbiorn came up on to the skerry, Howard was but just off it: that seeth Thorbiorn, who being weaponless before him, catcheth up a big stone to drive at his head withal.

But when Howard saw that, it came into his mind of how he had heard tell of the Outlands that another faith was put forth there than the faith of the Northlands ; and therewith he vowed that if any could show him that that faith was better and fairer, then would he trow in it if he might but overcome Thorbiorn.

And therewithal he struck out his hardest for

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the skerry. And so as Thorbiorn was a-casting the stone, his feet slipped up, for it was slippery on the stones, and he fell aback, and the stone fell on his breast, so that he was stunned thereby; and even therewith came Howard on to the skerry, and thrust him through with the sword Warflame. Then was Hallgrim also come on to the skerry ; but Howard smote Thorbiorn across the face, and clave out the teeth and jaw-teeth of him, and down right through. Hallgrim asked wherefore he did so to a dead man ; but Howard said : " I had this stroke in my mind when Thorbiorn smote me in the face with that cloth knit up ; for then the teeth that he had smitten from Olaf, my son with this same sword, tumbled about me.''

Then they made for the land again. Men deemed afterward when that was told them, that Howard did valiantly to swim out into the firth, not knowing that there was any skerry before him : and a very long swim was that even as things went.

As they came up toward the shingle-ridge, a man came running to meet them with axe raised aloft, a man in a blue frock girt into his breeches ; they turned toward him, and when they met they knew Torfi Valbrandson, and greeted him well, and he asked them if Thorbiorn were dead. Then sang Howard :

I drave adown the sword-edge To jaw of sword-clash dealer ; I set the venomed sword-dew Seeking the chieftain's eyen ; Nought saw I any shrinking In that dweller in the scabbard

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Warflame, when his old wielder Who once was mighty fell there.

He asked what their deeds were, and Torfi said that Sturla was fallen, and the house-carles, but that An was slain withal. Then sang Howard :

So have we slain full swiftly Four of the men who slew him, The blood-stained son of Biargey ; Brave is the gain we bring you. But one of our own fellows An, unto earth is fallen By bone of sea-wolf smitten As Hallgrim sayeth soothly.

Then they went up to the boat-house, and found their fellows, who greeted them well. Then asked Eyjulf Valbrandson if they should slay the thralls ; but Howard said that the slaying of thralls was no revenge for Olaf his son. " Let them abide here to-night, and watch that none steal aught of the spoil."

Then Hallgrim asked what to do now, and Howard answered : "We will take the cutter and all we deem of avail, and make for under Moonberg to see Liot the champion : somewhat of a revenge were there in such a man as that, if we might get it done."

So they take the cutter and manifold good things of those kinsmen, and row out along the firth, and up to Moonberg. Then spake Howard : " Now must we fare wisely. Liot is well ware of himself, for he hath ever feuds on hand ; he hath watch held over him every night, and lieth in a shut-bed bolted every night : an earth-house is there under the sleeping-chamber, and the mouth of the same

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cometh up at the back of the houses, and many men he hath with him."

Then said Torfi Valbrandson : " My rede it is to bear fire to the stead, and burn every man's son within/'

Howard said it should not be so : " But thou and Hallgrim my kinsman shall be upon the housetop to watch thence the mouth of the earth-house, lest any go out thereby, thee I trust best for this : here also be two doors in the front of the stead and two doors to the hall : now shall Eyjulf and I go in by one, and the brethren Odd and Thorir by the other, and so into the hall : but thou Thorhall shalt watch the cutter here, and defend it manly if there be need thereof."

So when he had ordered them as he would, they

fo up to the house. There stood a great outower in the home-mead, and a man armed sat under the wall thereof : so when they were drawn nigh the same, the man sees them, and springs up with the mind to give warning of their coming : now Hallgrim went foremost of that company, and he shot a spear after that man, and pinned him to the house-wall, and there he died on the spear. So then they went whither they were minded ; Torfi and Hallgrim going to the outgate of the house.

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