After that they fare to the Point, and two ravens flew along with
them all the way. They came to the Point while it was still
night. Then they drove the flock before them up to the house,
and then Hroald and Tjorfi ran out and drove the flock up the
hollow path, and had their weapons with them.
Skarphedinn sprang up and said, “Thou needest not to stand and
think if it be really as it seems. Men are here.”
Then Skarphedinn smites Tjorfi his deathblow. Hroald had a spear
in his hand, and Hogni rushes at him; Hroald thrusts at him, but
Hogni hewed asunder the spear-shaft with his bill, and drives the
bill through him.
After that they left them there dead, and turn away thence under
the Threecorner.
Skarphedinn jumps up on the house and plucks the grass, and those
who were inside the house thought it was cattle that had come on
the roof. Starkad and Thorgeir took their weapons and upper
clothing, and went out and round about the fence of the yard.
But when Starkad sees Skarphedinn he was afraid, and wanted to
turn back.
Skarphedinn cut him down by the fence. Then Hogni comes against
Thorgeir and slays him with the bill.
Thence they went to Hof, and Mord was outside in the field, and
begged for mercy, and offered them full atonement.
Skarphedinn told Mord the slaying of those four men, and sang a
song:
“Four who wielded warlike weapons
We have slain, all men of worth,
Them at once, gold-greedy fellow,
Thou shalt follow on the spot;
Let us press this pinch-purse so,
Pouring fear into his heart;
Wretch! reach out to Gunnar’s son
Right to settle all disputes.”
“And the like journey,” says Skarphedinn, “shalt thou also fare,
or hand over to Hogni the right to make his own award, if he will
take these terms.”
Hogni said his mind had been made up not to come to any terms
with the slayers of his father; but still at last he took the
right to make his own award from Mord.
79. HOGNI TAKES AN ATONEMENT FOR GUNNAR’S DEATH
Njal took a share in bringing those who had the blood-feud after
Starkad and Thorgeir to take an atonement, and a district meeting
was called together, and men were chosen to make the award, and
every matter was taken into account, even the attack on Gunnar,
though he was an outlaw; but such a fine as was awarded, all that
Mord paid; for they did not close their award against him before
the other matter was already settled, and then they set off one
award against the other.
Then they were all set at one again, but at the Thing there was
great talk, and the end of it was, that Geir the Priest and Hogni
