flight; but still it was a hard fight, and then Njal’s sons
turned back to the front by the earl’s standard, and fought well.
Now Kari turns to meet Earl Melsnati, and Melsnati hurled a spear
at him, but Kari caught the spear and threw it back and through
the earl. Then Earl Hundi fled, but they chased the fleers until
they learnt that Malcolm was gathering a host at Duncansby. Then
the earl took counsel with his men, and it seemed to all the best
plan to turn back, and not to fight with such a mighty land
force; so they turned back. But when the earl came to Staumey
they shared the battle-spoil. After that he went north to
Hrossey, and Njal’s sons and Kari followed him. Then the earl
made a great feast, and at that feast he gave Kari a good sword,
and a spear inlaid with gold; but he gave Helgi a gold ring and a
mantle, and Grim a shield and sword. After that he took Helgi
and Grim into his bodyguard, and thanked them for their good
help. They were with the earl that winter and the summer after,
till Kari went searoving; then they went with him, and harried
far and wide that summer, and everywhere won the victory. They
fought against Godred, King of Man, and conquered him; and after
that they fared back, and had gotten much goods. Next winter
they were still with the earl, and when the spring came Njal’s
sons asked leave to go to Norway. The earl said they should go
or not as they pleased, and he gave them a good ship and smart
men. As for Kari, he said he must come that summer to Norway
with Earl Hacon’s scatts, and then they would meet; and so it
fell out that they gave each other their word to meet. After
that Njal’s sons put out to sea and sailed for Norway, and made
the land north near Drontheim.
86. HRAPP’S VOYAGE FROM ICELAND
There was a man named Kolbein, and his surname was Arnljot’s son;
he was a man from Drontheim; he sailed out to Iceland that same
summer in which Kolskegg and Njal’s sons went abroad. He was
that winter east in Broaddale; but the spring after, he made his
ship ready for sea in Gautawick; and when men were almost “boun,”
a man rowed up to them in a boat, and made the boat fast to the
ship, and afterwards he went on board the ship to see Kolbein.
Kolbein asked that man for his name.
“My name is Hrapp,” says he.
“What wilt thou with me?” says Kolbein.
“I wish to ask thee to put me across the Iceland main.”
“Whose son art thou?” asks Kolbein.
“I am a son of Aurgunleid, the son of Geirolf the Fighter.”
“What need lies on thee,” asked Kolbein, “to drive thee abroad?”
“I have slain a man,” says Hrapp.
“What manslaughter was that,” says Kolbein, “and what men have
the blood-feud?”
“The men of Weaponfirth,” says Hrapp, “but the man I slew was
Aurlyg, the son of Aurlyg, the son of Roger the White.”
“I guess this,” says Kolbein, “that he will have the worst of it
