CHAPTER XV. STEINTHOR GOES TO SEEK STORES IN

OTTERDALE.

FALL we now to telling how they sit all together at Ere well holden ; very costly It was unto Steinthor, so many men as he had, and so much as he must expend in his bounteous housekeeping.

Now there was a man named Atli, who dwelt at Otterdale, and was wedded to a sister of Steinthor of Ere, Thordis to wit ; he was the smallest of men, a very mannikin, and it was said of him that his mind was even as his body, and that he was the greatest of misers ; yet was he come of great men, and was so rich that he might scarce tell his wealth ; and Thordis, Steinthor s sister, had been wedded to him for his wealth's sake.

As goes the tale the house at Otterdale was- far from the highway, and stood on the other side of the firth over against Ere.

Atli was not free enough of his money to keep workmen ; he himself worked night and day all he might, and he was so self-willed, that he would have nought to do with other men either for good or ill. He was the greatest husbandman, and had a big store-house, wherein were all kinds of goods : there were huge piles of dried fish and all kinds of fleshmeat, and cheese and all things needful, and in that house had he made his bed, and he and his wife slept there every night.

Now tells the tale that on a morning was Steinthor early afoot, and he went to Howard's bed, and took him by the foot and bade him stand up ; and

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Howard sprang up speedily and forth on to the floor, and when he was arisen his fellows stood up one after another, even as their wont was, that all went whithersoever one had need to go ; and when they were allarrayed they went forth into the home-mead, where was Steinthor with certain of his men. Then said Howard: "Weareready,master,tofarewhitherso thou wilt have us; and we will follow thee heartily, recking or reckless ; but that is left me of my pride, that I go not on any journey but if I wot whither I be going/'

Steinthor said : " I would fare to Atli my brotherin-law, and I would have you bear me fellowship on the road."

So they went down to the sea, where was the cutter they had taken from Thorbiorn ; so they ran it out and took to their oars, and rowed out into the firth. But Steinthor deemed that that company took all things with hardy heart

That morning master Atli arose up early and went from his bed ; he was so clad, that he had on a white doublet, short and strait. The man was not speedy of foot ; he was both a starveling and foul of favour, bald and sunken-eyed. He went out and looked at the weather ; it was cold and very frosty. Now he saw a boat faring thitherward over the firth, and nigh come to shore, and he knew master Steinthor his brother-in-law, and was ill-content thereat. There was a garth in the home-mead, standing somewhat out into the fields ; therein stood a haystack drawn together from all about : so what must Atli do but run into the garth, and tumble the hay stack down on himself and lie thereunder.

Howard the Halt. 53

But of Steinthor and that company it is to be told that they come aland and go up to the house, and when they came to the store-house Thordis sprang up and greeted well her brother and all of them, and said he was seldom seen there. Steinthor asked where was Atli his brother-in-law ; and she said he was gone out but a little while; so Steinthor bade seek him, and they sought him about the stead and found him not, and so came back and told Steinthor. Then said Thordis : " What wilt thou of us, kinsman ? " He answered : " I was deeming that Atli would have given or sold me some stores."

Said she; "Meseemeth I have no less to do herewith than Atli ; and I will that thou have hence what thou wilt." He said that he would take that willingly ; so they clear out the store-house, and bear what was in it down aboard the cutter till it was laden with all kinds of good things. Then said Steinthor : " Now shall ye go back home with the cutter, but I will 2bide behind with my sister ; for I am fain to see how my brother-in-law Atli bears himself when he cometh back."

" Meseems, kinsman," said Thordis, " there is no good in this ; it will be nothing merry to hear him. But do as thou wilt ; only thou shalt promise me to be no worse friend to Atli than before, whatsoever he may say or do."

Steinthor said yea to this ; and so she set him behind certain hangings where none might see him, but the others went their ways back home with the cutter ; they had rough weather on the firth, and shipped many seas before they came to land.

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