d Gunnar Lambi's son, said, "It will be in
our power, if Kari be left alone behind, to take care that he be
not less afraid of us than we of him."

"Easier said than done," says Hall, "and ye will find it a dear
bargain to deal with him. Ye will have to pay a heavy fine
before you have done with him."

After that they ceased speaking about it.

ENDNOTES:

(1) "With words alone." The English proverb, "Threatened men
live long."
(2) "Sea crags." Hence Thorgeir got his surname "Craggeir."

146. THE AWARD OF ATONEMENT WITH THORGEIR CRAGGEIR

Hall of the Side and his son Kol, seven of them in all, rode west
over Loomnip's Sand, and so west over Amstacksheath, and did not
draw bridle till they came into Myrdale. There they asked
whether Thorgeir would be at home at Holt, and they were told
that they would find him at home.

The men asked whither Hall meant to go.

"Thither to Holt," he said.

They said they were sure he went on a good errand.

He stayed there some while and baited their horses, and after
that they mounted their horses and rode to Solheim about even,
and they were there that night, but the day after they rode to
Holt.

Thorgeir was out of doors, and Kari too, and their men, for they
had seen Hall's coming. He rode in a blue cape, and had a little
axe studded with silver in his hand; but when they came into the
"town," Thorgeir went to meet him, and helped him off his horse,
and both he and Kari kissed him and led him in between them into
the sittingroom, and sate him down in the high seat on the dais,
and they asked him tidings about many things.

He was there that night. Next morning Hall raised the question
of the atonement with Thorgeir, and told him what terms they
offered him; and he spoke about them with many fair and kindly
words.

"It may be well known to thee," answers Thorgeir, "that I said I
would take no atonement from the burners."

"That was quite another matter then," says Hall; "ye were then
wroth with fight, and, besides, ye have done great deeds in the
way of manslaying since."

"I daresay ye think so," says Thorgeir, "but what atonement do ye
offer to Kari?"

"A fitting atonement shall be offered him," says Hall, "if he
will take it."

Then Kari said, "I pray this of thee, Thorgeir, that thou wilt be
atoned, for thy lot cannot be better than good."

"Methinks," says Thorgeir, "it is ill done to take in atonement,
and sunder myself from thee, unle