thou aught of these pretty things?"
"Of a surety," says Otkell, "I know them."
"Who owns them?" asks Skamkell.
"Malcolm the thrall," says Otkell.
"Then more shall see and know them than we two," says Skamkell, "for
true will I be to thee in counsel."
They showed them to many men, and all knew them. Then Skamkell said--
"What counsel wilt thou now take?"
"We shall go and see Mord Valgard's son," answers Otkell, "and seek
counsel of him."
So they went to Hof, and showed the pretty things to Mord, and asked him
if he knew them?
He said he knew them well enough, but what was there in that? "Do you
think you have a right to look for anything at Lithend?"
"We think it hard for us," says Skamkell, "to know what to do, when such
mighty men have a hand in it."
"That is so, sure enough," says Mord, "but yet I will get to know those
things out of Gunnar's household, which none of you will ever know."
"We would give thee money," they say, "if thou wouldst search out this
thing."
"That money I shall buy full dear," answered Mord, "but still, perhaps,
it may be that I will look at the matter."
They gave him three marks of silver for lending them his help.
Then he gave them this counsel, that women should go about from house to
house with small wares, and give them to the housewives, and mark what
was given them in return.
"For," he says, "'tis the turn of mind of all men first to give away
what has been stolen, if they have it in their keeping, and so it will
be here also, if this hath happened by the hand of man. Ye shall then
come and show me what has been given to each in each house, and I shall
then be free from further share in this matter, if the truth comes to
light."
To this they agreed, and went home afterwards.
Mord sends women about the country, and they were away half a month.
Then they came back, and had big bundles. Mord asked where they had most
given them?
They said that at Lithend most was given them, and Hallgerda had been
most bountiful to them.
He asked what was given them there?
"Cheese," say they.
He begged to see it, and they showed it to him, and it was in great
slices. These he took and kept.
A little after, Mord fared to see Otkell, and bade that he would bring
Thorgerda's cheese-mould; and when that was done, he laid the slices
down in it, and lo! they fitted the mould in every way.
Then they saw, too, that a whole cheese had been given to them.
The
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