“This choice shalt thou not take,” said Skamkell; “and it is
unworthy to give up to him the right to make his own award, when
thou oughtest to have kept it for thyself.”
So Otkell said, “I will not give up to thee, Gunnar, the right to
make thine own award.”
“I see plainly,” said Gunnar, “the help of men who will be paid
off for it one day, I daresay; but come now, utter an award for
thyself.”
Otkell leant toward Skamkell and said, “What shall I answer now?”
“This thou shalt call a good offer, but still put thy suit into
the hands of Gizur the White, and Geir the Priest, and then many
will say this, that thou behavest like Hallkell, thy grandfather,
who was the greatest of champions.”
“Well offered is this, Gunnar,” said Otkell, “but still my will
is thou wouldst give me time to see Gizur the White.”
“Do now whatever thou likest in the matter,” said Gunnar; “but
men will say this, that thou couldst not see thine own honour
when thou wouldst have none of the choices I offer thee.”
Then Gunnar rode home, and when he had gone away, Hallbjorn said,
“Here I see how much man differs from man. Gunnar made thee good
offers, but thou wouldst take none of them; or how dost thou
think to strive with Gunnar in a quarrel, when no one is his
match in fight. But now he is still so kind-hearted a man that
it may be he will let these offers stand, though thou art only
ready to take them afterwards. Methinks it were best that thou
farest to see Gizur the White and Geir the Priest now this very
hour.”
Otkell let them catch his horse, and made ready in every way.
Otkell was not sharpsighted, and Skamkell walked on the way along
with him, and said to Otkell, “Methought it strange that thy
brother would not take this toil from thee, and now I will make
thee an offer to fare instead of thee, for I know that the
journey is irksome to thee.”
“I will take that offer,” says Otkell, “but mind and be as
truthful as ever thou canst.”
“So it shall be,” says Skamkell.
Then Skamkell took his horse and cloak, but Otkell walks home.
Hallbjorn was out of doors, and said to Otkell, “Ill is it to
have a thrall for one’s bosom friend, and we shall rue this for
ever that thou hast turned back, and it is an unwise step to send
the greatest liar on an errand, of which one may so speak that
men’s lives hang on it.”
“Thou wouldst be sore afraid,” says Otkell, “if Gunnar had his
bill aloft, when thou art so scared now.”
“No one knows who will be most afraid then,” said Hallbjorn; “but
this thou wilt have to own, that Gunnar does not lose much time
in brandishing his bill when he is wroth.”
“Ah!” said Otkell, “ye are all of you for yielding but Skamkell.”
And then they were both wroth.
50. OF SKAMKELL’S LYING
