n which he, too, must be found guilty. Thou too, Geir the priest,
shalt know that this suit of outlawry which hangs over thee shall not
fall to the ground if thou wilt not listen to my words."

Thorod the priest said, "It seems to us as though the most peaceful way
would be that a settlement and atonement were come to in the suit. But
why sayest thou so little, Gizur the white?"

"It seems to me," says Gizur, "as though we shall need to have strong
props for our suit; we may see, too, that Gunnar's friends stand near
him, and so the best turn for us that things can take will be that good
men and true should utter an award on the suit, if Gunnar so wills it."

"I have ever been willing to make matters up," says Gunnar; "and,
besides, ye have much wrong to follow up, but still I think I was hard
driven to do as I did."

And now the end of those suits was, by the counsel of the wisest men,
that all the suits were put to arbitration; six men were to make this
award, and it was uttered there and then at the Thing.

The award was that Skamkell should be unatoned. The blood money for
Otkell's death was to be set off against the hurt Gunnar got from the
spur; and as for the rest of the manslaughters, they were paid for after
the worth of the men, and Gunnar's kinsmen gave money so that all the
fines might be paid up at the Thing.

Then Geir the priest and Gizur the white went up and gave Gunnar pledges
that they would keep the peace in good faith.

Gunnar rode home from the Thing, and thanked men for their help, and
gave gifts to many, and got the greatest honour from the suit.

Now Gunnar sits at home in his honour.

CHAPTER LVII.

OF STARKAD AND HIS SONS.

There was a man named Starkad; he was a son of Bork the
waxytoothed-blade, the son of Thorkell clubfoot, who took the land round
about Threecorner as the first settler. His wife's name was Hallbera.
The sons of Starkad and Hallbera were these: Thorgeir and Bork and
Thorkell. Hildigunna the leech was their sister.

They were very proud men in temper, hard-hearted and unkind. They
treated men wrongfully.

There was a man named Egil; he was a son of Kol, who took land as a
settler between Storlek and Reydwater. The brother of Egil was Aunund of
Witchwood, father of Hall the strong, who was at the slaying of
Holt-Thorir with the sons of Kettle the smooth-tongued.

Egil kept house at Sandgil; his sons were these: Kol and Ottar and Hauk.
Their mother's na