talk with Malcolm the thrall.
“I have thought of an errand to send thee on,” she says; “thou
shalt go to Kirkby.”
“And what shall I do there?” he says.
“Thou shalt steal from thence food enough to load two horses, and
mind and have butter and cheese; but thou shalt lay fire in the
storehouse, and all will think that it has arisen out of
heedlessness, but no one will think that there has been theft.”
“Bad have I been,” said the thrall, “but never have I been a
thief.”
“Hear a wonder!” says Hallgerda, “thou makest thyself good, thou
that hast been both thief and murderer; but thou shalt not dare
to do aught else than go, else will I let thee be slain.”
He thought he knew enough of her to be sure that she would so do
if he went not; so he took at night two horses and laid
packsaddles on them, and went his way to Kirkby. The house-dog
knew him and did not bark at him, and ran and fawned on him.
After that he went to the storehouse and loaded the two horses
with food out of it, but the storehouse he burnt, and the dog he
slew.
He went up along by Rangriver, and his shoethong snapped; so he
takes his knife and makes the shoe right, but he leaves the knife
and belt lying there behind him.
He fares till he comes to Lithend; then he misses the knife, but
dares not to go back.
Now he brings Hallgerda the food, and she showed herself well
pleased at it.
Next morning when men came out of doors at Kirkby there they saw
great scathe. Then a man was sent to the Thing to tell Otkell;
he bore the loss well, and said it must have happened because the
kitchen was next to the storehouse; and all thought that that was
how it happened.
Now men ride home from the Thing, and many rode to Lithend.
Hallgerda set food on the board, and in came cheese and butter.
Gunnar knew that such food was not to be looked for in his house,
and asked Hallgerda whence it came?
“Thence,” she says; “whence thou mightest well eat of it;
besides, it is no man’s business to trouble himself with
housekeeping.”
Gunner got wroth and said, “Ill indeed is it if I am a partaker
with thieves;” and with that he gave her a slap on the cheek.
She said she would bear that slap in mind and repay it if she
could.
So she went off and he went with her, and then all that was
on the board was cleared away, but flesh-meat was brought in
instead, and all thought that was because the flesh was thought
to have been got in a better way.
Now the men who had been at the Thing fare away.
ENDNOTES:
