eckoned Bersi would
hardly be hurt if he carried it to shield him,--"but it is little worth
beside this steading thou hast given me." He thanked her for the gift,
and so they parted. Then she got men to scuttle all the boats on the
shore, because she knew beforehand that Cormac and his folk were coming.

When they came and asked her for a boat, she said she would do them no
kindness without payment;--"Here is a rotten boat in the boathouse which
I would lend for half a mark."

Thorgils said it would be in reason if she asked two ounces of silver.
Such matters, said Cormac, should not stand in the way; but Thorgils
said he would sooner ride all round the water-head. Nevertheless Cormac
had his will, and they started in the boat; but they had scarcely put
off from shore when it filled, and they had hard work to get back to the
same spot.

"Thou shouldst pay dearly for this, thou wicked old hag," said Cormac,
"and never be paid at all."

That was no mighty trick to play them, she said; and so Thorgils paid
her the silver; about which Cormac made this song:--

(23)
"I'm a tree that is tricked out in war-gear,
She, the trim rosy elf of the shuttle:
And I break into singing about her
Like the bat at the well, never ceasing.
With the dew-drops of Draupnir the golden
Full dearly folk buy them their blessings;
Then lay down three ounces and leave them
For the leaky old boat that we borrowed."

Bersi got hastily to horse, and rode homewards; and when Cormac saw that
he must be left behind, he made this song:--

(24)
"I tell you, the goddess who glitters
With gold on the perch of the falcon,
The bride that I trusted, by beauty,
From the bield of my hand has been taken.
On the boat she makes glad in its gliding
She is gone from me, reft from me, ravished!
O shame, that we linger to save her,
Too sweet for the prey of the raven!

They took their horses and rode round the head of the firth. They met
Vali and asked about Bersi; he said that Bersi had come to Muli and
gathered men to him,--"A many men."

"Then we are too late," said Cormac, "if they have got men together."

Thorgils begged Cormac to let them turn back, saying there was little
honour to be got; but Cormac said he must see Steingerd.

So Vali went with them and they came to Muli where Bersi was and many
men with him. They spoke togeth