would come of it, and all would happen as had happened before if
he were there. Glum answered him well and kindly, but still kept
on in his own way.
16. GLUM'S SHEEP HUNT
Now once on a time when autumn came, it happened that men had
hard work to get their flocks home, and many of Glum's wethers
were missing. Then Glum said to Thiostolf, "Go thou up on the
fell with my house-carles and see if ye cannot find out anything
about the sheep."
"'Tis no business of mine," says Thiostolf, "to hunt up sheep,
and this one thing is quite enough to hinder it. I won't walk in
thy thralls' footsteps. But go thyself, and then I'll go with
thee."
About this they had many words. The weather was good, and
Hallgerda was sitting out of doors. Glum went up to her and
said, "Now Thiostolf and I have had a quarrel, and we shall not
live much longer together." And so he told her all that they had
been talking about.
Then Hallgerda spoke up for Thiostolf, and they had many words
about him. At last Glum gave her a blow with his hand, and said,
"I will strive no longer with thee," and with that he went away.
Now she loved him much, and could not calm herself, but wept out
loud. Thiostolf went up to her and said, "This is sorry sport
for thee, and so it must not be often again."
"Nay," she said, "but thou shalt not avenge this, nor meddle at
all whatever passes between Glum and me."
He went off with a spiteful grin.
17. GLUM'S SLAYING
Now Glum called men to follow him, and Thiostolf got ready and
went with them. So they went up South Reykiardale and then up
along by Baugagil and so south to Crossfell. But some of his
band he sent to the Sulafells, and they all found very many
sheep. Some of them, too, went by way of Scoradale, and it came
about at last that those twain, Glum and Thiostolf, were left
alone together. They went south from Crossfell and found there a
flock of wild sheep, and they went from the south towards the
fell, and tried to drive them down; but still the sheep got away
from them up on the fell. Then each began to scold the other,
and Thiostolf said at last that Glum had no strength save to
tumble about in Hallgerda's arms.
Then Glum said, "`A man's foes are those of his own house.'
Shall I take upbraiding from thee, runaway thrall as thou art?"
Thiostolf said, "Thou shalt soon have to own that I am no thrall,
for I will not yield an inch to thee."
Then Glum got angry, and cut
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