Now they look for Hedinn, but he is already off and away; after
that they gathered folk, and looked for them three days, but
could not find them. Gunnar rode south from the fell to Hawkdale
and so east of Skard, and north to Holtbeaconheath, and so on
until he got home.
ENDNOTES:
(1) “Lord of rings,” a periphrasis for a chief, that is, Mord.
(2) “Earth’s offspring,” a periphrasis for woman, that is, Unna.
24. GUNNAR AND HRUT STRIVE AT THE THING.
Gunnar rode to the Althing, and Hrut and Hauskuld rode thither
too with a very great company. Gunnar pursues his suit, and
began by calling on his neighbours to bear witness, but Hrut and
his brother had it in their minds to make an onslaught on him,
but they mistrusted their strength.
Gunnar next went to the court of the men of Broadfirth, and bade
Hrut listen to his oath and declaration of the cause of the suit,
and to all the proofs which he was about to bring forward. After
that he took his oath, and declared his case. After that he
brought forward his witnesses of the summons, along with his
witnesses that the suit had been handed over to him. All this
time Njal was not at the court. Now Gunnar pursued his suit till
he called on the defendant to reply. Then Hrut took witness, and
said the suit was naught, and that there was a flaw in the
pleading; he declared that it had broken down because Gunnar had
failed to call those three witnesses which ought to have been
brought before the court. The first, that which was taken before
the marriage-bed, the second, before the man’s door, the third,
at the Hill of Laws. By this time Njal was come to the court and
said the suit and pleading might still be kept alive if they
chose to strive in that way.
“No,” says Gunnar, “I will not have that; I will do the same to
Hrut as he did to Mord my kinsman; or, are those brothers Hrut
and Hauskuld so near that they may hear my voice.”
“Hear it we can,” says Hrut. “What dost thou wish?”
Gunnar said, “Now all men here present be ear-witnesses, that I
challenge thee Hrut to single combat, and we shall fight to-day
on the holm, which is here in Oxwater. But if thou wilt not
fight with me, then pay up all the money this very day.”
After that Gunnar sung a stave —
“Yes, so must it be, this morning —
Now my mind is full of fire —
Hrut with me on yonder island
Raises roar of helm and shield.
All that bear my words bear witness,
Warriors grasping Woden’s guard,
Unless the wealthy wight down payeth
Dower of wife with flowing veil.”
After that Gunnar went away from the court with all his
followers. Hrut and Hauskuld went home too, and the suit was
