f_.--Are you garrulous again, Alf?

_Sigurd_.--He lies sick with his wound, I ween.

_Thorolf and Alf_ (_remain silent_).

_Einar the Rich_ (_aside_).--That news I ought to bring secretly to
Thord Kakali.

_Thorolf_.--Why will Lady Jorun not speak to her guests?

_Sigurd_.--She bade me say that she had seen you last, Thorolf
Bjarnason, at such business that she cares not to see you any more.

_Thorolf_ (_laughs_).--Last I saw her at the slaying of Kalf
Guttormsson, her father, and of Guttorm, her brother.

_Sigurd_.--Much good reason has my lady if she cares to see you no more.

_Einar_.--You are the man who most egged on to the deed, that father and
son should be slain.

_Thorolf_.--No, Uraekja it was, the son of Snorri Sturlason. A most
useful deed it was. Ever since Kolbein's men have obeyed his commands
without gainsaying.

_Einar_.--More useful still, I suppose you think that you snatched from
out of Kalf's hands the crucifix he held when kneeling to receive the
mortal stroke.

_Thorolf_.--His blood would have spurted on the cross, had it been held
so near. (_Wrathfully_.) And likewise would I do to you, Einar the
Rich, if Kolbein struck off your head. Your wife is a kinswoman of Thord
Kakali, and dreamt have I that you will find an earlier grave than will
I.

_Einar_.--An evil business it is to threaten me with death. No one knows
who will be buried first. A faithful follower of Kolbein I have been.

_Thorolf_.--'Scarce shall I trust you,
Troll, quoth Haustkoll.'

_Sigurd_.--Wicked speech this is and witless.

(_Enter_ BRAND KOLBEINSSON, BRODDI THORLEIFSSON, HELGI SKAFTASON, _and
others_.)

_Brand_.--You here, Thorolf Bjarnason?

_Thorolf_.--Ay, sir; and with a message for you, for Broddi, and for
other chieftains, from Kolbein the Young.

_Brand_.--Is it that Thord Kakali is expected from the West with war?

_Thorolf_.--Not to my knowledge. He is still busy drinking the arvel
after Tumi his brother, whom we put to death this last week!

_Alf_.--Yes, and he and his men are now drinking the ale by the bowlful,
they say.

_Brand_.--What of it, if Thord does give his men in plenty?

_Thorolf_.--And why should we not speak of it, we who know what folly it
is for men to drink heavily before going to war?

_Einar_.--A generous chieftain is Thord Kakali, and likely to accomplish
great deeds. No chieftain in this land has ever lost so many men as has
he. It is not seeming to make