Thrain Sigfus’ son, and his companions, and said to him, “Now is
Thord on Thorolfsfell, and now your best plan is to fall on him
and kill him as he goes home.”
“That we will do,” says Sigmund. So they went out, and took
their weapons and horses and rode on the way to meet him.
Sigmund said to Thrain, “Now thou shalt have nothing to do with
it; for we shall not need all of us.”
“Very well, so I will,” says he.
Then Thord rode up to them a little while after, and Sigmund said
to him, “Give thyself up,” he says, “for now shalt thou die.”
“That shall not be,” says Thord, “come thou to single combat with
me.”
“That shall not be either,” says Sigmund; “we will make the most
of our numbers; but it is not strange that Skarphedinn is strong,
for it is said that a fourth of a fosterchild’s strength comes
from the foster-father.
“Thou wilt feel the force of that,” says Thord, “for Skarphedinn
will avenge me.”
After that they fall on him, and he breaks a spear of each of
them, so well did he guard himself. Then Skiolld cut off his
hand, and he still kept them off with his other hand for some
time, till Sigmund thrust him through. Then he fell dead to
earth. They drew over him turf and stones; and Thrain said, “We
have won an ill work, and Njal’s sons will take this slaying ill
when they hear of it.”
They ride home and tell Hallgerda. She was glad to hear of the
slaying, but Rannveig, Gunnar’s mother, said, “It is said `but a
short while is hand fain of blow,’ and so it will be here; but
still Gunnar will set thee free from this matter. But if
Hallgerda makes thee take another fly in thy mouth, then that
will be thy bane.”
Hallgerda sent a man to Bergthorsknoll, to tell the slaying, and
another man to the Thing, to tell it to Gunnar. Bergthora said
she would not fight against Hallgerda with ill words about such a
matter; “That,” quoth she, “would be no revenge for so great a
quarrel.”
43. NJAL AND GUNNAR MAKE PEACE FOR THE SLAYING OF THORD
But when the messenger came to the Thing to tell Gunnar of the
slaying, then Gunnar said, “This has happened ill, and no tidings
could come to my ears which I should think worse; but yet we will
now go at once and see Njal. I still hope he may take it well,
though he be sorely tried.”
So they went to see Njal, and called him to come out and talk to
them. He went out at once to meet Gunnar, and they talked, nor
were there any more men by at first than Kolskegg.
“Hard tidings have I to tell thee,” says Gunnar; “the slaying of
Thord Freedmanson, and I wish to offer thee selfdoom for the
slaying.”
Njal held his peace some while, and then said, “That is well
offered, and I will take it; but yet it is to be looked for that
