asked whither he was going. He said he was seeking an
engagement.

"Are you not a servant of Thorbjorn?" Atli asked.

"We did not get on with our bargain. I was not there long, but it seemed
to me a bad place while I was there. Our parting was in such a way that
his song on my throat did not please me. I will never go back there,
whatever becomes of me. And it is true that there is a great difference
between you two in the way you treat your servants. I would be glad to
take service with you if there is a place, for me."

Atli said: "I have servants enough without stretching forth my hands for
those whom Thorbjorn has hired. You seem an impatient man and had better
go back to him."

"I am not going there of my own free will," said Ali.

He stayed there for the night, and in the morning went out to work with
Atli's men, and toiled as if he had hands everywhere. So he continued
all the summer; Atli took no notice of him, but allowed him his food,
for he was pleased with the man's work. Soon Thorbjorn learned that Ali
was at Bjarg. He rode thither with two others and called to Atli to come
out and speak with him. Atli went out and greeted him.

"You want to begin again provoking me to attack you, Atli," he said.
"Why have you taken away my workman? It is a most improper thing to do."

Atli replied: "It is not very clear to me that he is your workman. I do
not want to keep him if you can prove that he belongs to your household;
but I cannot drive him out of my house."

"You must have your way now," said Thorbjorn; "but I claim the man and
protest against his working for you. I shall come again, and it is not
certain that we shall then part any better friends than we are now."

Atli rejoined: "I shall stay at home and abide whatever comes to hand."

Thorbjorn then went off home. When the workmen came back in the evening
Atli told them of his conversation with Thorbjorn and said to Ali that
he must go his own ways, for he was not going to be drawn into a quarrel
for employing him.

Ali said: "True is the ancient saying: The over-praised are the worst
deceivers. I did not think that you would have turned me off now after
I had worked here till I broke in the summer. I thought that you
would have given me protection. Such is your way, however you play the
beneficent. Now I shall be beaten before your very eyes if you refuse to
stand by me."

Atli's mind was changed after the man had spoken; he no longer wanted to