“I give this lawful notice in the hearing of all men at the Hill
of Laws.
“I give notice now of this suit, and of full forfeiture and
outlawry against Gunnar Hamond’s son.”
A second time Gizur took witness, and gave notice of a suit
against Gunnar Hamond’s son, for that he had wounded Thorgeir
Otkell’s son with a body wound which was a death wound, and from
which Thorgeir got his death, on such and such a spot when Gunnar
first sprang on Thorgeir with an onslaught, laid down by law.
After that he gave notice of this declaration as he had done of
the first. Then he asked in what Quarter Court the suit lay, and
in what house in the district the defendant dwelt.
When that was over, men left the Hill of Laws, and all said that
he spoke well.
Gunnar kept himself well in hand and said little or nothing.
Now the Thing wears away till the day when the courts were to be
set.
Then Gunnar stood looking south by the court of the men of
Rangriver, and his men with him.
Gizur stood looking north, and calls his witnesses, and bade
Gunnar to listen to his oath, and to his declaration of the suit,
and to all the steps and proofs which he meant to bring forward.
After that he took his oath, and then he brought forward the suit
in the same shape before the court, as he had given notice of it
before. Then he made them bring forward witness of the notice,
then he bade the neighbours on the inquest to take their seats,
and called upon Gunnar to challenge the inquest.
73. OF THE ATONEMENT
Then Njal spoke and said, “Now I can no longer sit still and take
no part. Let us go to where the neighbours sit on the inquest.”
They went thither and challenged four neighbours out of the
inquest, but they called on the five that were left to answer the
following question in Gunnar’s favour, “Whether those namesakes
had gone out with that mind to the place of meeting to do Gunnar
a mischief if they could?”
But all bore witness at once that so it was.
Then Njal called this a lawful defence to the suit, and said he
would bring forward proof of it unless they gave over the suit to
arbitration.
Then many chiefs joined in praying for an atonement, and so it
was brought about that twelve men should utter an award in the
matter.
Then either side went and handselled this settlement to the
other. Afterwards the award was made, and the sum to be paid
settled, and it was all to be paid down then and there at the
Thing.
But besides, Gunnar was to go abroad and Kolskegg with him, and
they were to be away three winters; but if Gunnar did not go
abroad when he had a chance of a passage, then he was to be slain
