to Hrut, “One thing I wish, brother, and that is, that thou
wouldst better thy lot and woo thyself a wife.”
Hrut answered, “That has been long on my mind, though there
always seemed to be two sides to the matter; but now I will do as
thou wishest; whither shall we turn our eyes?”
Hauskuld answered, “Here now are many chiefs at the Thing, and
there is plenty of choice, but I have already set my eyes on a
spot where a match lies made to thy hand. The woman’s name is
Unna, and she is a daughter of Fiddle Mord, one of the wisest of
men. He is here at the Thing and his daughter too, and thou
mayest see her if it pleases thee.”
Now the next day, when men were going to the High Court, they saw
some well-dressed women standing outside the booths of the men
from the Rangrivervales. Then Hauskuld said to Hrut “Yonder now
is Unna, of whom I spoke; what thinkest thou of her?”
“Well,” answered Hrut; “but yet I do not know whether we should
get on well together.”
After that they went to the High Court, where Fiddle Mord was
laying down the law as was his wont, and after he had done he
went home to his booth.
Then Hauskuld and Hrut rose, and went to Mord’s booth. They went
in and found Mord sitting in the innermost part of the booth, and
they bade him “Good-day.” He rose to meet them, and took
Hauskuld by the hand and made him sit down by his side, and Hrut
sat next to Hauskuld. So after they had talked much of this and
that, at last Hauskuld said, “I have a bargain to speak to thee
about; Hrut wishes to become thy son-in-law, and buy thy
daughter, and I, for my part, will not be sparing in the matter.”
Mord answered, “I know that thou art a great chief, but thy
brother is unknown to me.”
“He is a better man than I,” answered Hauskuld.
“Thou wilt need to lay down a large sum with him, for she is heir
to all I leave behind me,” said Mord.
“There is no need,” said Hauskuld, “to wait long before thou
hearest what I give my word lie shall have. He shall have
Kamness and Hrutstede, up as far as Thrandargil, and a trading-ship beside, now on her voyage.”
Then said Hrut to Mord, “Bear in mind, now, husband, that my
brother has praised me much more than I deserve for love’s sake;
but if after what thou hast heard, thou wilt make the match, I am
willing to let thee lay down the terms thyself.”
Mord answered, “I have thought over the terms; she shall have
sixty hundreds down, and this sum shall be increased by a third
more in thine house, but if ye two have heirs, ye shall go halves
in the goods.”
Then said Hrut, “I agree to these terms, and now let us take
witness.” After that they stood up and shook hands, and Mord
betrothed his daughter Unna to Hrut, and the bridal feast was to
be at Mord’s house, half a month after Midsummer.
Now both sides ride home from the Thing, and Hauskuld and Hrut
ride westward by Hallbjorn’s beacon. Then Thiostolf, the son of
