e slayer
Lay slain by the might of my weapon.
And loss of their lives men abided
When Loft fell, and Alf fell, and Skofti.
They were four, yonder kinsmen, and fated--
They were fey--and I met them, alone!"

After that Odd went home, but Steinvor was with Bersi, though it
misliked Thordis, his wife. By this time his stone wall was some-what
broken down, but he had it built up again; and it is said that no
blood-money was ever paid for Thorarin and his sons. So the time went
on.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. How Vali Fell Before An Old Man And A Boy.

Once on a day when Thordis and Bersi were talking together, said he,
"I have been thinking I might ask Olaf Peacock for a child of his to
foster."

"Nay," said she, "I think little of that. It seems to me a great
trouble, and I doubt if folk will reckon more of us for it."

"It means that I should have a sure friend," answered he. "I have many
foes, and I am growing heavy with age."

So he went to see Olaf, and asked for a child to foster. Olaf took it
with thanks, and Bersi carried Halldor home with him and got Steinvor to
be nurse. This too misliked Thordis, and she laid hands on every penny
she could get (for fear it should go to Steinvor and the foster-child).

At last Bersi took to ageing much. There was one time when men riding to
the Thing stayed at his house. He sat all by himself, and his food was
brought him before the rest were served. He had porridge while other
folk had cheese and curds. Then he made this verse:--

(46)
"To batten the black-feathered wound-bird
With the blade of my axe have I stricken
Full thirty and five of my foemen;
I am famed for the slaughter of warriors.
May the fiends have my soul if I stain not
My sharp-edged falchion once over!
And then let the breaker of broadswords
Be borne--and with speed--to the grave!"

"What?" said Halldor; "hast thou a mind to kill another man, then?"

Answered Bersi, "I see the man it would rightly serve!"

Now Thordis let her brother Vali feed his herds on the land of Brekka.
Bersi bade his house-carles work at home, and have no dealings with
Vali; but still Halldor thought it a hardship that Bersi had not his own
will with his own wealth. One day Bersi made this verse:--

(47)
"Here we lie,
Both on one settle--
Halldor and I,
Men of no mettle.
Youth ails th