the sons of Osvif lie in wait for me, there is no knowing which
side will live to tell the tale, even though I may have some odds to
deal with." Thereupon the brothers rode back to the west.

[Footnote 6: Gill=gorge, deep watercourse.]

CHAP. XLIX

The Death of Kjartan

Now Kjartan rode south through the dale, he and they three together,
himself, An the Black, and Thorarin. Thorkell was the name of a man
who lived at Goat-peaks in Swinedale, where now there is waste land.
He had been seeing after his horses that day, and a shepherd of his
with him. They saw the two parties, the men of Laugar in ambush and
Kjartan and his where they were riding down the dale three together.
Then the shepherd said they had better turn to meet Kjartan and his;
it would be, quoth he, a great good hap to them if they could stave
off so great a trouble as now both sides were steering into. Thorkell
said, "Hold your tongue at once. Do you think, fool as you are, you
will ever give life to a man to whom fate has ordained death? And,
truth to tell, I would spare neither of them from having now as evil
dealings together as they like. It seems to me a better plan for us to
get to a place where we stand in danger of nothing, and from where we
can have a good look at their meeting, so as to have some fun over
their play. For all men make a marvel thereof, how Kjartan is of all
men the best skilled at arms. I think he will want it now, for we two
know how overwhelming the odds are." And so it had to be as Thorkell
wished. Kjartan and his followers now rode on to Goat-gill. On the
other hand the sons of Osvif misdoubt them why Bolli should have
sought out a place for himself from where he might well be seen by men
riding from the west. So they now put their heads together, and, being
of one mind that Bolli was playing them false, they go for him up unto
the brink and took to wrestling and horse-playing with him, and took
him by the feet and dragged him down over the brink. [Sidenote: The
beginning of the fight] But Kjartan and his followers came up apace as
they were riding fast, and when they came to the south side of the
gill they saw the ambush and knew the men. Kjartan at once sprung off
his horse and turned upon the sons of Osvif. There stood near by a
great stone, against which Kjartan ordered they should wait the onset
(he and his). [Sidenote: The fight] Before they met Kjartan flung his
spear, and it struck through Thorolf's shiel