two brothers are the captains — one’s name is Hallgrim, and the
other’s Kolskegg. I know them to be mighty men of war; and I
know too that they have such good weapons that the like are not
to be had. Hallgrim has a bill which he had made by seething-spells; and this is what the spells say, that no weapon shall
give him his deathblow save that bill. That thing follows
it too that it is known at once when a man is to be slain with
that bill, for something sings in it so loudly that it may be
heard along way off — such a strong nature has that bill in it.”
Then Gunnar sang a song —
“Soon shall I that spearhead seize,
And the bold searover slay,
Him whose blows on headpiece ring,
Heaper up of piles of dead.
Then on Endil’s courser (4) bounding,
O’er the sea-depths I will ride,
While the wretch who spells abuseth,
Life shall lose in Sigar’s storm.” (5)
“Kolskegg has a short sword; that is also the best of weapons.
Force, too, they have — a third more than ye. They have also
much goods, and have stowed them away on land, and I know clearly
where they are. But they have sent a spy-ship off the ness, and
they know all about you. Now they are getting themselves ready
as fast as they can; and as soon as they are `boun,’ they mean
to run out against you. Now you have either to row away at once,
or to busk yourselves as quickly as ye can; but if ye win the day
then I will lead you to all their store of goods.”
Gunnar gave him a golden finger-ring, and went afterwards to his
men and told them that warships lay on the other side of the
ness, “and they know all about us; so let us take to our arms and
busk us well, for now there is gain to be got.”
Then they busked them; and just when they were `boun’ they see
ships coming up to them. And now a fight sprung up between them,
and they fought long, and many men fell. Gunnar slew many a man.
Hallgrim and his men leapt on board Gunnar’s ship. Gunnar turns
to meet him, and Hallgrim thrust at him with his bill. There was
a boom athwart the ship, and Gunnar leapt nimbly back over it.
Gunnar’s shield was just before the boom, and Hallgrim thrust his
bill into it, and through it, and so on into the boom. Gunnar
cut at Hallgrim’s arm hard, and lamed the forearm, but the sword
would not bite. Then down fell the bill, and Gunnar seized the
bill, and thrust Hallgrim through, and then sang a song —
“Slain is he who spoiled the people,
Lashing them with flashing steel;
Heard have I how Hallgrim’s magic
Helm-rod forged in foreign land;
All men know, of heart-strings doughty,
How this bill hath come to me,
Deft in fight, the wolf’s dear feeder,
Death alone us two shall part.”
