Gunnar thanked the king for his offer and said, “I will first of
all sail back to Iceland to see my friends and kinsfolk.”
“Then thou wilt never come back to us,” says the king.
“Fate will settle that, lord,” says Gunnar.
Gunnar gave the king a good longship, and much goods besides,
and the king gave him a robe of honour, and golden-seamed gloves,
and a fillet with a knot of gold on it, and a Russian hat.
Then Gunnar fared north to Hisingen. Oliver welcomed him with
both hands, and he gave back to Oliver his ships, with their
lading, and said that was his share of the spoil. Oliver took
the goods, and said Gunnar was a good man and true, and bade him
stay with him some while. Hallvard asked Gunnar if he had a mind
to go to see Earl Hacon. Gunnar said that was near his heart,
“for now I am somewhat proved, but then I was not tried at all
when thou badest me do this before.”
After that they fared north to Drontheim to see Earl Hacon, and
he gave Gunnar a hearty welcome, and bade him stay with him that
winter, and Gunnar took that offer, and every man thought him a
man of great worth. At Yule the Earl gave him a gold ring.
Gunnar set his heart on Bergliota, the Earl’s kinswoman, and it
was often to be seen from the Earl’s way, that he would have
given her to him to wife if Gunnar had said anything about that.
32. GUNNAR COMES OUT TO ICELAND
When the spring came, the Earl asks Gunnar what course he meant
to take. He said he would go to Iceland. The Earl said that had
been a bad year for grain, “and there will be little sailing out
to Iceland, but still thou shalt have meal and timber both in thy
ship.”
Gunnar fitted out his ship as early as he could, and Hallvard
fared out with him and Kolskegg. They came out early in the
summer, and made Arnbael’s Oyce before the Thing met.
Gunnar rode home from the ship, but got men to strip her and lay
her up. But when they came home all men were glad to see them.
They were blithe and merry to their household, nor had their
haughtiness grown while they were away.
Gunnar asks if Njal were at home; and he was told that he was at
home; then he let them saddle his horse, and those brothers rode
over to Bergthorsknoll.
Njal was glad at their coming, and begged them to stay there that
night, and Gunnar told him of his voyages.
Njal said he was a man of the greatest mark, “and thou hast been
much proved; but still thou wilt be more tried hereafter; for
many will envy thee.”
“With all men I would wish to stand well,” says Gunnar.
“Much bad will happen,” said Njal, “and thou wilt always have
some quarrel to ward off.”
“So be it, then,” says Gunnar, “so that I have a good ground on
my side.”
“So will it be too,” says NjaI, “if thou hast not to smart for
