up the axe, and said, “This is a rare weapon, and few would be
able to wield it.”
“I see a man,” said Kari, “who shall bear the axe.”
“Who is that?” says Hjallti.
“Thorgeir Craggeir,” says Kari, “he whom I now think to be the
greatest man in all their family.”
Then Skarphedinn was stripped of his clothes, for they were
unburnt, he had laid his hands in a cross, and the right hand
uppermost. They found marks on him; one between his shoulders
and the other on his chest, and both were branded in the shape of
a cross, and men thought that he must have burnt them in himself.
All men said that they thought that it was better to be near
Skarphedinn dead than they weened, for no man was afraid of him.
They sought for the bones of Grim, and found them in the midst
of the hall. They found, too, there, right over against him
under the side wall, Thord Freedmanson; but in the weaving-room
they found Saevuna the carline, and three men more. In all they
found there the bones of nine souls. Now they carried the bodies
to the church, and then Hjallti rode home and Kari with him. A
swelling came on Ingialld’s leg, and then he fared to Hjallti,
and was healed there, but still he limped ever afterwards.
Kari rode to Tongue to Asgrim Ellidagrim’s son. By that time
Thorhalla was come home, and she had already told the tidings.
Asgrim took Kari by both hands, and bade him be there all that
year. Kari said so it should be.
Asgrim asked besides all the folk who had been in the house at
Bergthorsknoll to stay with him. Kari said that was well
offered, and said he would take it on their behalf.
Then all the folk were flitted thither.
Thorhall Asgrim’s son was so startled when he was told that his
foster-father Njal was dead, and that he had been burnt in his
house, that he swelled all over, and a stream of blood burst out
of both his ears, and could not be staunched, and he fell into a
swoon, and then it was staunched.
After that he stood up, and said he had behaved like a coward,
“But I would that I might be able to avenge this which has
befallen me on some of those who burnt him.”
But when others said that no one would think this a shame to him,
he said he could not stop the mouths of the people from talking
about it.
Asgrim asked Kari what trust and help he thought he might look
for from those east of the rivers. Kari said that Mord Valgard’s
son, and Hjallti Skeggi’s son, would yield him all the help they
could, and so, too, would Thorgeir Craggeir and all those
brothers.
Asgrim said that was great strength.
“What strength shall we have from thee?” says Kari.
“All that I can give,” says Asgrim, “and I will lay down my life
on it.”
