of Arnliot Gelline, and observed that
the woman of the house was his sister. Thorod had heard speak of Arnliot
as the greatest-of robbers and malefactors. Thorod and his companion
slept the first part of the night, for they were wearied with walking;
but when a third of the night was still to come, Arnliot awoke them,
told them to get up, and make ready to depart. They arose immediately,
put on their clothes, and some breakfast was given them; and Arnliot
gave each of them also a pair of skees. Arnliot made himself ready to
accompany them, and got upon his skees, which were both broad and long;
but scarcely had he swung his skee-staff before he was a long way past
them. He waited for them, and said they would make no progress in this
way, and told them to stand upon the edge of his skees beside him. They
did so. Thorod stood nearest to him, and held by Arnliot's belt, and his
comrade held by him. Arnliot strode on as quickly with them both, as
if he was alone and without any weight. The following day they came,
towards night, to a lodge for travellers, struck fire, and prepared some
food; but Arnliot told them to throw away nothing of their food, neither
bones nor crumbs. Arnliot took a silver plate out of the pocket of his
cloak, and ate from it. When they were done eating, Arnliot gathered
up the remains of their meal, and they prepared to go to sleep. In the
other end of the house there was a loft upon cross-beams, and Arnliot
and the others went up, and laid themselves down to sleep. Arnliot had
a large halberd, of which the upper part was mounted with gold, and
the shaft was so long that with his arm stretched out he could scarcely
touch the top of it; and he was girt with a sword. They had both their
weapons and their clothes up in the loft beside them. Arnliot, who
lay outermost in the loft, told them to be perfectly quiet. Soon after
twelve men came to the house, who were merchants going with their
wares to Jamtaland; and when they came into the house they made a great
disturbance, were merry, and made a great fire before them; and when
they took their supper they cast away all the bones around them. They
then prepared to go to sleep, and laid themselves down upon the benches
around the fire. When they, had been asleep a short time, a huge witch
came into the house; and when she came in, she carefully swept together
all the bones and whatever was of food kind into a heap, and threw it
into her mouth. Then she grip