ship with them were Olaf Kettle’s son of Elda, and Bard the
Black. They got so strong a wind from the north that they were
driven south into the main; and so thick a mist came over them
that they could not tell whither they were driving, and they were
out a long while. At last they came to where was a great ground
sea, and thought then they must be near land. So then Njal’s
sons asked Bard if he could tell at all to what land they were
likely to be nearest.
“Many lands there are,” said he, “which we might hit with the
weather we have had — the Orkneys, or Scotland, or Ireland.”
Two nights after, they saw land on both boards, and a great
surf running up in the firth. They cast anchor outside the
breakers, and the wind began to fall; and next morning it was
calm. Then they see thirteen ships coming out to them.
Then Bard spoke and said, “What counsel shall we take now, for
these men are going to make an onslaught on us?”
So they took counsel whether they should defend themselves or
yield, but before they could make up their minds, the Vikings
were upon them. Then each side asked the other their names, and
what their leaders were called. So the leaders of the chapmen
told their names, and asked back who led that host. One called
himself Gritgard, and the other Snowcolf, sons of Moldan of
Duncansby in Scotland, kinsmen of Malcolm the Scot king.
“And now,” says Gritgard, “we have laid down two choices, one
that ye go on shore, and we will take your goods; the other is,
that we fall on you and slay every man that we can catch.”
“The will of the chapmen,” answers Helgi, “is to defend
themselves.”
But the chapmen called out, “Wretch that thou art to speak thus!
What defence can we make? Lading is less than life.”
But Grim, he fell upon a plan to shout out to the Vikings, and
would not let them hear the bad choice of the chapmen.
Then Bard and Olaf said, “Think ye not that these Icelanders will
make game of you sluggards; take rather your weapons and guard
your goods.”
So they all seized their weapons, and bound themselves, one with
another, never to give up so long as they had strength to fight.
83. OF KARI SOLMUND’S SON
Then the Vikings shot at them and the fight began, and the
chapmen guard themselves well. Snowcolf sprang aboard and at
Olaf, and thrust his spear through his body, but Grim thrust at
Snowcolf with his spear, and so stoutly, that he fell overboard.
Then Helgi turned to meet Grim, and they two drove down all the
Vikings as they tried to board, and Njal’s sons were ever where
there was most need. Then the Vikings called out to the chapmen
and bade them give up, but they said they would never yield.
Just then some one looked seaward, and there they see ships
coming from the south round the Ness, and they were not fewer
than ten, and they row hard and steer thitherwards. Along their
sides were shield on shield, but on that ship that came first
