d above the handle, so
that therewith the shield was pressed against him, the spear piercing
the shield and the arm above the elbow, where it sundered the main
muscle, Thorolf dropping the shield, and his arm being of no avail to
him through the day. Thereupon Kjartan drew his sword, but he held not
the "King's-gift." The sons of Thorhalla went at Thorarin, for that
was the task allotted to them. That outset was a hard one, for
Thorarin was mightily strong, and it was hard to tell which would
outlast the other. Osvif's sons and Gudlaug set on Kjartan, they being
five together, and Kjartan and An but two. An warded himself
valiantly, and would ever be going in front of Kjartan. Bolli stood
aloof with Footbiter. Kjartan smote hard, but his sword was of little
avail (and bent so), he often had to straighten it under his foot. In
this attack both the sons of Osvif and An were wounded, but Kjartan
had no wound as yet. Kjartan fought so swiftly and dauntlessly that
Osvif's sons recoiled and turned to where An was. At that moment An
fell, having fought for some time, with his inwards coming out. In
this attack Kjartan cut off one leg of Gudlaug above the knee, and
that hurt was enough to cause death. Then the four sons of Osvif made
an onset on Kjartan, but he warded himself so bravely that in no way
did he give them the chance of any advantage. Then spake Kjartan,
"Kinsman Bolli, why did you leave home if you meant quietly to stand
by? Now the choice lies before you, to help one side or the other, and
try now how Footbiter will do." Bolli made as if he did not hear. And
when Ospak saw that they would no how bear Kjartan over, he egged on
Bolli in every way, and said he surely would not wish that shame to
follow after him, to have promised them his aid in this fight and not
to grant it now. "Why, heavy enough in dealings with us was Kjartan
then, when by none so big a deed as this we had offended him; but if
Kjartan is now to get away from us, then for you, Bolli, as even for
us, the way to exceeding hardships will be equally short." [Sidenote:
Bolli kills Kjartan] Then Bolli drew Footbiter, and now turned upon
Kjartan. Then Kjartan said to Bolli, "Surely thou art minded now, my
kinsman, to do a dastard's deed; but oh, my kinsman, I am much more
fain to take my death from you than to cause the same to you myself."
Then Kjartan flung away his weapons and would defend himself no
longer; yet he was but slightly wounded, though ver