the fact, whether they, Kol and his companions, were on the spot,
and in onslaught when Hjort was slain. Thou shalt also summon
Thorgeir for the suit of seduction, and Aunund at the suit of
Tyrfing.”
Gunnar now did in everything as Njal gave him counsel. This men
thought a strange beginning of suits, and now these matters come
before the Thing. Gunnar rides to the Thing, and Njal’s sons and
the sons of Sigfus. Gunnar had sent messengers to his cousins
and kinsmen, that they should ride to the Thing, and come with as
many men as they could, and told them that this matter would lead
to much strife. So they gathered together in a great band from
the west.
Mord rode to the Thing and Runolf of the DaIe, and those under
the Threecorner, and Aunund of Witchwood. But when they come to
the Thing, they join them in one company with Gizur the White and
Geir the Priest.
65. OF FINES AND ATONEMENTS
Gunnar, and the sons of Sigfus, and Njal’s sons, went altogether
in one band, and they marched so swiftly and closely that men who
came in their way had to take heed lest they should get a fall;
and nothing was so often spoken about over the whole Thing as
these great lawsuits.
Gunnar went to meet his cousins, and Olaf and his men greeted him
well. They asked Gunnar about the fight, but he told them all
about it, and was just in all he said; he told them, too, what
steps he had taken since.
Then Olaf said,“‘Tis worth much to see how close Njal stands by
thee in all counsel.”
Gunnar said he should never be able to repay that, but then he
begged them for help; and they said that was his due.
Now the suits on both sides came before the court, and each
pleads his cause.
Mord asked, “How it was that a man could have the right to set a
suit on foot who, like Gunnar, had already made himself an outlaw
by striking Thorgeir a blow?”
“Wast thou,” answered Njal, “at Thingskala-Thing last autumn?”
“Surely I was,” says Mord.
“Heardest thou,” asks Njal, “how Gunnar offered him full
atonement? Then I gave back Gunnar his right to do all lawful
deeds.”
“That is right and good law,” says Mord, “but how does the matter
stand if Gunnar has laid the slaying of Hjort at Kol’s door, when
it was the Easterling that slew him?”
“That was right and lawful,” says Njal, “when he chose him as the
slayer before witnesses.”
“That was lawful and right, no doubt,” says Mord; “but for what
did Gunnar summon them all as outlaws?”
“Thou needest not to ask about that,” says Njal, “when they went
out to deal wounds and manslaughter.”
“Yes,” says Mord, “but neither befell Gunnar.”
