Rapes (1), and so to Thursowater.
Flosi, and the burners along with him, rode east to Fleetlithe,
and he allowed the sons of Sigfus to settle their affairs at
home. Then Flosi heard that Thorgeir and Kari had ridden north
with Gudmund the Powerful, and so the burners thought that Kari
and his friend must mean to stay in the north country; and then
the sons of Sigfus asked leave to go east under Eyjafell to get
in their money, for they had money out on call at Headbrink.
Flosi gave them leave to do that, but still bade them be ware of
themselves, and be as short a time about it as they could.
Then Flosi rode up by Godaland, and so north of Eyjafell Jokul,
and did not draw bridle before he came home east to Swinefell.
Now it must be said that Hall of the Side had suffered his son to
fall without a fine, and did that for the sake of an atonement,
but then the whole host of men at the Thing agreed to pay a fine
for him, and the money so paid was not less than eight hundred in
silver, but that was four times the price of a man; but all the
others who had been with Flosi got no fines paid for their hurts,
and were very ill pleased at it.
The sons of Sigfus stayed at home two nights, but the third day
they rode east to Raufarfell, and were there the night. They
were fifteen together, and had not the least fear for themselves.
They rode thence late, and meant to reach Headbrink about even.
They baited their horses in Carlinedale, and then a great slumber
came over them.
ENDNOTES:
(1) “Swinestye,” ironically for Swinefell, where Flosi lived.
(2) This is the English equivalent for the Icelandic Hrep, a
district. It still lingers in “the Rape of Bramber,” and
other districts in Sussex and the southeast.
145. OF KARI AND THORGEIR
Those two, Kari Solmund’s son and Thorgeir Craggeir, rode that
day east across Markfleet, and so on east to Selialandsmull.
They found there some women. The wives knew them, and said to
them, “Ye two are less wanton than the sons of Sigfus yonder, but
still ye fare unwarily.”
“Why do ye talk thus of the sons of Sigfus, or what do ye know
about them?”
“They were last night,” they said, “at Raufarfell, and meant to
get to Myrdale to-night, but still we thought they must have some
fear of you, for they asked when ye would be likely to come
home.”
Then Kari and Thorgeir went on their way and spurred their
horses.
“What shall we lay down for ourselves to do now,” said Thorgeir,
“or what is most to thy mind? Wilt thou that we ride on their
track?”
“I will not hinder this,” answers Kari, “nor will I say what
ought to be done, for it may often be that those live long who
are slain with words alone (1); but I well know what thou meanest
