s. Hrut greeted him, and Eldgrim returned his
greeting, but rather slowly. [Sidenote: Hrut takes Thorliek's part]
Hrut asked him why he was driving the horses. Eldgrim replied, "I will
not hide it from you, though I know what kinship there is between you
and Thorliek; but I tell you I have come after these horses, meaning
that he shall never have them again. I have also kept what I promised
him at the Thing, that I have not gone after the horses with any great
company." Hrut said, "That is no deed of fame to you to take away the
horses while Thorliek lies in his bed and sleeps; you would keep best
what you agreed upon if you go and meet himself before you drive the
horses out of the countryside." Eldgrim said, "Go and warn Thorliek if
you wish, for you may see I have prepared myself in such a manner as
that I should like it well if we were to meet together, I and
Thorliek," and therewith he brandished the barbed spear he had in his
hand. He had also a helmet on his head, and a sword girded on his
side, and a shield on his flank, and had on a chain coat. Hrut said,
"I think I must seek for something else than to go to Combeness for I
am heavy of foot; but I mean not to allow Thorliek to be robbed if I
have means thereto, no matter how little love there may go with our
kinship." Eldgrim said, "And do you mean to take the horses away from
me?" Hrut said, "I will give you other stud-horses if you will let
these alone, though they may not be quite so good as these are."
Eldgrim said, "You speak most kindly, Hrut, but since I have got hold
of Thorliek's horses you will not pluck them out of my hands either by
bribes or threats." [Sidenote: He kills Eldgrim] Hrut replied, "Then I
think you are making for both of us the choice that answers the
worst." Eldgrim now wanted to part, and gave the whip to his horse,
and when Hrut saw that, he raised up his halberd and struck Eldgrim
through the back between the shoulders so that the coat of mail was
torn open and the halberd flew out through the chest, and Eldgrim fell
dead off his horse, as was only natural. After that Hrut covered up
his body at the place called Eldgrim's-holt south of Combeness. Then
Hrut rode over to Combeness and told Thorliek the tidings. Thorliek
burst into a rage, and thought a great shame had been done him by this
deed, while Hrut thought he had shown him great friendship thereby.
Thorliek said that not only had he done this for an evil purpose, but
that, mor