who came thither, so long as his stores lasted. At last it came
about that Gunnar himself fell short both of hay and meat. Then
Gunnar called on Kolskegg to go along with him; he called too on
Thrain Sigfus’ son, and Lambi Sigurd’s son. They fared to
Kirkby, and called Otkell out. He greeted them, and Gunnar said,
“It so happens that I am come to deal with thee for hay and meat,
if there be any left.”
Otkell answers, “There is store of both, but I will sell thee
neither.”
“Wilt thou give me them then,” says Gunnar, “and run the risk of
my paying thee back somehow?”
“I will not do that either,” says Otkell.
Skamkell all the while was giving him bad counsel.
Then Thrain Sigfus’ son, said, “It would serve him right if we
take both hay and meat and lay down the worth of them instead.”
Skamkell answered, “All the men of Mossfell must be dead and gone
then, if ye, sons of Sigfus, are to come and rob them.”
“I will have no hand in any robbery,” says Gunnar.
“Wilt thou buy a thrall of me?” says Otkell.
“I’ll not spare to do that,” says Gunnar. After that Gunnar
bought the thrall, and fared away as things stood.
Njal hears of this, and said, “Such things are ill done, to
refuse to let Gunnar buy; and it is not a good outlook for others
if such men as he cannot get what they want.”
“What’s the good of thy talking so much about such a little
matter,” says Bergthora; “far more like a man would it be to let
him have both meat and hay, when thou lackest neither of them.”
“That is clear as day,” says Njal, “and I will of a surety supply
his need somewhat.”
Then he fared up to Thorolfsfell, and his sons with him, and they
bound hay on fifteen horses; but on five horses they had meat.
Njal came to Lithend, and called Gunnar out. He greeted them
kindly.
“Here is hay and meat,” said Njal, “which I will give thee; and
my wish is, that thou shouldst never look to any one else than to
me if thou standest in need of anything.”
“Good are thy gifts,” says Gunnar, “but methinks thy friendship
is still more worth, and that of thy sons.”
After that Njal fared home, and now the spring passes away.
ENDNOTES:
(1) That is, slew him in a duel.
(2) Mord Valgard’s son lived at the other farm called Hof.
48. HOW HALLGERDA MAKES MALCOLM STEAL FROM KIRKBY
Now Gunnar is about to ride to the Thing, but a great crowd of
men from the Side (1) east turned in as guests at his house.
Gunnar bade them come and be his guests again, as they rode back
from the Thing; and they said they would do so.
Now they ride to the Thing, and Njal and his sons were there.
That Thing was still and quiet.
Now we must take up the story, and say that Hallgerda comes to
