128. NJAL’S BURNING
Now they took fire, and made a great pile before the doors. Then
Skarphedinn said, “What, lads! are ye lighting a fire, or are ye
taking to cooking?”
“So it shall be,” answered Grani Gunnar’s son; “and thou shalt
not need to be better done.”
“Thou repayest me,” said Skarphedinn, “as one may look for from
the man that thou art. I avenged thy father, and thou settest
most store by that duty which is farthest from thee.”
Then the women threw whey on the fire, and quenched it as fast as
they lit it. Some, too, brought water, or slops.
Then Kol Thorstein’s son said to Flosi, “A plan comes into my
mind; I have seen a loft over the hall among the crosstrees, and
we will put the fire in there, and light it with the vetchstack
that stands just above the house.”
Then they took the vetchstack and set fire to it, and they who
were inside were not aware of it till the whole hall was a-blaze
over their heads.
Then Flosi and his men made a great pile before each of the
doors, and then the women folk who were inside began to weep and
to wail.
Njal spoke to them and said, “Keep up your hearts, nor utter
shrieks, for this is but a passing storm, and it will be long
before ye have another such; and put your faith in God, and
believe that he is so merciful that he will not let us burn both
in this world and the next.”
Such words of comfort had he for them all, and others still more
strong.
Now the whole house began to blaze. Then Njal went to the door
and said, “Is Flosi so near that he can hear my voice.”
Flosi said that he could hear it.
“Wilt thou,” said Njal, “take an atonement from my sons, or allow
any men to go out.”
“I will not,” answers Flosi, “take any atonement from thy sons,
and now our dealings shall come to an end once for all, and I
will not stir from this spot till they are all dead; but I will
allow the women and children and housecarles to go out.”
Then Njal went into the house, and said to the fold, “Now all
those must go out to whom leave is given, and so go thou out
Thorhalla Asgrim’s daughter, and all the people also with thee
who may.”
Then Thorhalla said, “This is another parting between me and
Helgi than I thought of a while ago; but still I will egg on my
father and brothers to avenge this manscathe which is wrought
here.”
“Go, and good go with thee,” said Njal, “for thou art a brave
woman.”
After that she went out and much folk with her.
Then Astrid of Deepback said to Helgi Njal’s son, “Come thou out
