tell thee that Njal has 'spaed' his fortune, and foretold about his
life, if he slays more than once in the same stock, that it would lead
him to his death, if it so fell out that he broke the settlement made
after the deed. Therefore shalt thou bring Thorgeir into the suit,
because he has already slain his father; and now, if ye two are together
in an affray, thou shalt shield thyself; but he will go boldly on, and
then Gunnar will slay him. Then he has slain twice in the same stock,
but thou shalt fly from the fight. And if this is to drag him to his
death he will break the settlement afterwards, and so we may wait till
then."
After that Thorgeir goes home and tells his father secretly. Then they
agreed among themselves that they should work out this plot by stealth.
CHAPTER LXVII.
OF THORGEIR STARKAD'S SON.
Sometime after Thorgeir Starkad's son fared to Kirkby to see his
namesake, and they went aside to speak, and talked secretly all day; but
at the end Thorgeir Starkad's son, gave his namesake a spear inlaid with
gold, and rode home afterwards; they made the greatest friendship the
one with the other.
At the Thingskala-Thing in the autumn, Kolskegg laid claim to the land
at Moeidsknoll, but Gunnar took witness, and offered ready money, or
another piece of land at a lawful price to those under the Threecorner.
Thorgeir took witness also, that Gunnar was breaking the settlement made
between them.
After that the Thing was broken up, and so the next year wore away.
Those namesakes were always meeting, and there was the greatest
friendship between them. Kolskegg spoke to Gunnar and said--
"I am told that there is great friendship between those namesakes, and
it is the talk of many men that they will prove untrue, and I would that
thou wouldst be ware of thyself."
"Death will come to me when it will come," says Gunnar, "wherever I may
be, if that is my fate."
Then they left off talking about it.
About autumn, Gunnar gave out that they would work one week there at
home, and the next down in the isles, and so make an end of their
haymaking. At the same time, he let it be known that every man would
have to leave the house, save himself and the women.
Thorgeir under Threecorner goes to see his namesake, but as soon as they
met they began to talk after their wont, and Thorgeir Starkad's son,
said--
"I would that we could harden our hearts and fall on Gunnar."
"Well," says Thorgeir Otke
|