CHAPTER XVII. MEN GET READY FOR THE THING.

THERE was one Swart, a thrall at Ere, a big man, and so strong that he had four men's might ; he was handy about the stead, and did much work. Now on a day Steinthor let call this thrall to him, and said : " They will have thee in the game with us to-day, for we lack a man." Swart answered : " It is idle to bid me this, for I have much work to do, and I deem not that thy champions will do it for me ; yet I will grant thee this if thou wilt."

So saith it that Hallgrim was matched against Swart, and the best one may tell of it is, that every time they fell to, Swart went down, and after every fall his shoes came off, and he would be a long while binding them on again. This went on for long in the day, and men made great jeering and laughter thereat ; but Howard sang a stave :

The lords of sea-king's stallion, Valbrand's sons the doughty, Nought so long they louted Low o'er shoe-thongs, mind we, When we went, O Valkyr, Toward my son's avenging, And Gylfi's garth swelled round me On that day of summer.

The play was of the best. Hallgrim was then eighteen winters old, and was deemed like to be a most doughty man by then he came to his full growth.

So sayeth it that the winter wore, and nought befell to tell of, yea and until they were ready to go to the Thing.

Howard the Halt. 57

Steinthor said he knew not what he would do for those fellows ; he would not have them with him to the Thing, and he thought it not good to let them abide at his house the while. But a few days before the Thing he and Atli his brotherin-law met, and Atli asked what he was minded to do with his guests while the Thing lasted. Steinthor said he knew not where he could bestow them, so as to be unafraid for them : " Unless thou take them." Atli said : " I will bind myself to take these men/' " Thou dost well therein," said Steinthor. Said Atli : " I will help thee in all thou wilt, so far as my might goeth."

" Right well I trust thee so to do," said Steinthor.