ut it off from you any longer, that I am minded to think that it
is not fated to me to be your wife. Yet I deem that I fulfil to you
all uttered words, though I marry Thorkell Eyjolfson, who at present
is not in this land." [Sidenote: Gest's prophecy fulfilled] Then
Thorgils said, and flushed up very much, "Clearly I do see from whence
that chill wave comes running, and from thence cold counsels have
always come to me. I know that this is the counsel of Snorri the
Priest." Thorgils sprang up from this talk and was very angry, and
went to his followers and said he would ride away. Thorleik disliked
very much that things should have taken such a turn as to go against
Thorgils' will; but Bolli was at one with his mother's will herein.
Gudrun said she would give Thorgils some good gifts and soften him by
that means, but Thorleik said that would be of no use, "for Thorgils
is far too high-mettled a man to stoop to trifles in a matter of this
sort." Gudrun said in that case he must console himself as best he
could at home. After this Thorgils rode from Holyfell with his
foster-brothers. He got home to Tongue to his manor mightily ill at
ease over his lot.

[Footnote 9: Shield-wands = swords.]

[Footnote 10: Helmet-stems, those who upbear the helmet = men, specially
warriors.]

CHAP. LXVI

Osvif and Gest die

That winter Osvif fell ill and died, and a great loss that was deemed,
for he had been the greatest of sages. Osvif was buried at Holyfell,
for Gudrun had had a church built there. That same winter Gest
Oddliefson fell ill, and as the sickness grew heavy on him, he called
to him Thord the Low, his son, and said, "My mind forebodes me that
this sickness will put an end to our living together. I wish my body
to be carried to Holyfell, for that will be the greatest place about
these countrysides, for I have often seen a light burning there."
Thereupon Gest died. The winter had been very cold, and there was much
ice about, and Broadfirth was laid under ice so far out that no ship
could get over it from Bardistrand. [Sidenote: The funeral of Gest and
Osvif] Gest's body lay in state two nights at Hegi, and that very
night there sprang up such a gale that all the ice was drawn away from
the land, and the next day the weather was fair and still. Then Thord
took a ship and put Gest's body on board, and went south across
Broadfirth that day, and came in the evening to Holyfell. Thord had a
good welcome there, and sta