e ship and Thorgils went to the Thing, where
he did not arrive before they were proceeding to judgment in Thorgils
Maksson's case. Asmund Longhair then called for the defence. Thorgils
appeared before the court and offered blood-money in atonement on
condition of Thorgeir not being sentenced to banishment. He endeavoured
to meet the charge by pleading that finds in the Almenningar were
free to all. The question whether this was a valid defence or not was
referred to the Lawman, who at that time was Skapti. He upheld Asmund's
view on account of their kinship together. He declared that this was
indeed the law in the case of men equal in position, but that a bondi
had precedence over a vagrant. Asmund further urged that Thorgils had
offered to share the uncut portion of the whale with the foster-brothers
when they arrived. The defendants were non-suited on that point. Then
Thorsteinn and his party pressed their suit resolutely and said they
would not be satisfied with any sentence short of banishment upon
Thorgeir. Thorgils saw that no choice was left to him but either to call
up his men and try to carry his case with violence, the issue of which
would be uncertain, or else to submit to the sentence demanded by
the opposite party, and since Thorgeir was already on board his ship
Thorgils had no desire to press the case further. Thorgeir was banished,
but Thormod was discharged upon payment of blood-money.

Asmund and Thorsteinn gained great glory by this case. The men rode home
from the Thing. There were some who said that Thorgils had not taken
much trouble in the case, but he paid little attention and let them say
what they pleased.

When Thorgeir heard that he was banished, he said that if he had his
way, those who had brought it about should be repayed in full before it
was over.

There was a man named Gaut, called the son of Sleita, a kinsman of
Thorgils Maksson. He was intending to travel in the same ship with
Thorgeir, with whom he was on very bad terms, and frowned on him. The
traders thought it would never do to have them both together in the
ship. Thorgeir said he did not care what Gaut did with his eyebrows.
Nevertheless they decided that Gaut should leave the ship. He went
into the northern districts and for that time nothing happened, but the
affair brought about a feud between them which broke out later.

CHAPTER XXVIII. GRETTIR'S VISIT TO AUDUN IN VIDIDAL; OFFERS HIS SERVICES
TO BARDI

In the c