ght out everything, brother-in-law; to me
this plan of war seems in every regard the best.

_Thorolf_.--If it is followed, Thord will never return west alive over
the Blanda River, should he attack us.

_Asbjorn_.--Thord will be able to get over the Kjol Mountains or the
Sprengisand Desert, down to the Eyafirth. There he will call upon his
friends and attack us in the flank.

_Thorolf_.--That is unthinkable. In order to reach either of these ways
Thord would have to journey around the whole island, and then overcome
Hjalti the bishop's son, and Gissur's men. I should think it likeliest
that Hjalti would flee north over the Kjol should he be defeated, and
come our way some little time before Thord, who would have to go by a
farther way and would waste his time in getting the men of Eyafirth to
rise. Kolbein's plan of war is the best that can be chosen.

_Kolbein_.--It is most often Thorolf Bjarnason who best comprehends my
plans.

_Broddi_ (_aside, clinching his hand against his breast_).--Does _he_
understand them best?

_Brand_.--All shall be done as you bid, kinsman Kolbein. I myself shall
send three hundred men as guard into Hunathing.

_Kolbein_.--Then all is well, kinsman Brand!

_Salvor_.--You speak too much, my lord!

_Kolbein_.--I must speak to-day; to-day to-morrow is not sure to me (_to
the others_). The third matter is the apportionment of the districts
after my death.

_Salvor_.--Speaking irritates your wound, my lord, and you may become
delirious.

_Kolbein_.--Let come what may! I will that my kinsman Brand have
Skagafirth and Hunathing after my death. But Eyafirth and all districts
east of the Heath I give to--(_He becomes delirious. Lady_ HELGA _makes
a motion and stops him_.)

_Kolbein_.--See, wife, now fly the swans from Holar in Hjaltadale.

_Botolf_ (_to_ DEACON SIGURD).--He is dreaming about the messengers of
the Holy Church, the sick man!

_Sigurd_ (_to_ BISHOP BOTOLF).--He will not live till to-morrow's
matins!

_Helga_ (_bending down over_ KOLBEIN).--Appoint Thorolf Bjarnason!

_Broddi_.--Who is to get Eyafirth?

_Brand_.--I heard no one named.

_Kolbein_.--I name you, Thorolf Bjarnason!

_Broddi_.--For what do you name Thorolf Bjarnason?

_Helga_.--For the chieftainship over Eyafirth and all districts north of
the Heath.

_Broddi_.--I claim that I have better title to it than Thorolf.

_Thorolf_.--It will prove a troublesome business for you to wrench
Eyafirth out of