Gunnar was very wroth and went indoors, and told Kolskegg, and
Kolskegg said, “Ill was it that we were not out of doors; they
should have come here on the most shameful journey, if we had
been by.”
“Everything bides its time,” says Gunnar; “but this journey will
not turn out to their honour.”
A little after Gunnar went and told Njal.
“Let it not worry thee a jot,” said Njal, “for this will be the
greatest honour to thee, ere this Thing comes to an end. As for
us, we will all back thee with counsel and force.”
Gunnar thanked him and rode home.
Otkell rides to the Thing, and his brothers with him and
Skamkell.
51. OF GUNNAR
Gunnar rode to the Thing and all the sons of Sigfus; Njal and his
sons too, they all went with Gunnar; and it was said that no band
was so well knit and hardy as theirs.
Gunnar went one day to the booth of the Dalemen; Hrut was by the
booth and Hauskuld, and they greeted Gunnar well. Now Gunnar
tells them the whole story of the suit up to that time.
“What counsel gives Njal?” asks Hrut.
“He bade me seek you brothers,” says Gunnar, “and said he was
sure that he and you would look at the matter in the same light.”
“He wishes then,” says Hrut, “that I should say what I think
for kinship’s sake; and so it shall be. Thou shalt challenge
Gizur the White to combat on the island, if they do not leave the
whole award to thee; but Kolskegg shall challenge Geir the
Priest. As for Otkell and his crew, men must be got ready to
fall on them; and now we have such great strength all of us
together, that thou mayst carry out whatever thou wilt.”
Gunnar went home to his booth and told Njal.
“Just what I looked for,” said Njal.
Wolf Aurpriest got wind of this plan, and told Gizur, and Gizur
said to Otkell, “Who gave thee that counsel that thou shouldst
summon Gunnar?”
“Skamkell told me that was the counsel of both Geir the Priest
and thyself.”
“But where is that scoundrel?” says Gizur, “who has thus lied.”
“He lies sick up at our booth,” says Otkell.
“May he never rise from his bed,” says Gizur. “Now we must all
go to see Gunnar, and offer him the right to make his own award;
but I know not whether he will take that now.”
Many men spoke ill of Skamkell, and he lay sick all through the
Thing.
Gizur and his friends went to Gunnar’s booth; their coming was
known, and Gunnar was told as he sat in his booth, and then they
all went out and stood in array.
Gizur the White came first, and after a while he spoke and said,
“This is our offer — that thou, Gunnar, makest thine own award
in this suit.”
