f Osvif;
they thought it a very handy chance to be able to secure this land so
near to themselves, and Osvif bade them not to let a small matter
stand in the way of a covenant. Then they (Bolli and Gudrun) bespoke
the purchase with Thorarin, and came to terms as to what the price
should be, and also as to the kind wherein it should be paid, and the
bargain was settled with Thorarin. But the buying was not done in the
presence of witnesses, for there were not so many men there at the
time as were lawfully necessary. Bolli and Gudrun rode home after
that. But when Kjartan Olafson hears of these tidings he rides off
with twelve men, and came to Tongue early one day. Thorarin greeted
him well, and asked him to stay there. [Sidenote: Kjartan's bargain]
Kjartan said he must ride back again in the morning, but would tarry
there for some time. Thorarin asked his errand, and Kjartan said, "My
errand here is to speak about a certain sale of land that you and
Bolli have agreed upon, for it is very much against my wishes if you
sell this land to Bolli and Gudrun." Thorarin said that to do
otherwise would be unbecoming to him, "For the price that Bolli has
offered for the land is liberal, and is to be paid up speedily."
Kjartan said, "You shall come in for no loss even if Bolli does not
buy your land; for I will buy it at the same price, and it will not be
of much avail to you to speak against what I have made up my mind to
have done. Indeed it will soon be found out that I shall want to have
the most to say within this countryside, being more ready, however, to
do the will of others than that of the men of Laugar." Thorarin
answered, "Mighty to me will be the master's word in this matter, but
it would be most to my mind that this bargain should be left alone as
I and Bolli have settled it." Kjartan said, "I do not call that a sale
of land which is not bound by witnesses. Now you do one of two things,
either sell me the lands on the same terms as you agreed upon with the
others, or live on your land yourself." Thorarin chooses to sell him
the land, and witnesses were forthwith taken to the sale, and after
the purchase Kjartan rode home. That same evening this was told at
Laugar. Then Gudrun said, "It seems to me, Bolli, that Kjartan has
given you two choices somewhat harder than those he gave
Thorarin--that you must either leave the countryside with little
honour, or show yourself at some meeting with him a good deal less
slow than