f women. She
was so skilful with her hands, that few women were equally skilful. She
was the grimmest and hardest-hearted of all women; but still a woman of
open hand and heart when any fitting call was made upon her.

CHAPTER XCV.

OF HALL OF THE SIDE.

Hall was the name of a man who was called Hall of the Side. He was the
son of Thorstein Baudvar's son. Hall had to wife Joreida, daughter of
Thidrandi the wise. Thorstein was the name of Hall's brother, and he was
nick-named broadpaunch. His son was Kol, whom Kari slays in Wales. The
sons of Hall of the Side were Thorstein and Egil, Thorwald and Ljot, and
Thidrandi, whom, it is said, the goddesses slew.

There was a man named Thorir, whose surname was Holt-Thorir; his sons
were these: Thorgeir Craggeir, and Thorleif crow, from whom the
Wood-dwellers are come, and Thorgrim the big.

CHAPTER XCVI.

OF THE CHANGE OF FAITH.

There had been a change of rulers in Norway, Earl Hacon was dead and
gone, but in his stead was come Olaf Tryggvi's son. That was the end of
Earl Hacon, that Kark, the thrall, cut his throat at Rimul in
Gaulardale.

Along with that was heard that there had been a change of faith in
Norway; they had cast off the old faith, but King Olaf had christened
the western lands, Shetland, and the Orkneys, and the Faroe Isles.

Then many men spoke so that Njal heard it, that it was a strange and
wicked thing to throw off the old faith.

Then Njal spoke and said--

"It seems to me as though this new faith must be much better, and he
will be happy who follows this rather than the other; and if those men
come out hither who preach this faith, then I will back them well."

He went often alone away from other men and muttered to himself.

That same harvest a ship came out into the firths east to Berufirth, at
a spot called Gautawick. The captain's name was Thangbrand. He was a son
of Willibald, a count of Saxony, Thangbrand was sent out hither by King
Olaf Tryggvi's son, to preach the faith. Along with him came that man of
Iceland whose name was Gudleif. Gudleif was a great man-slayer, and one
of the strongest of men, and hardy and forward in everything.

Two brothers dwelt at Beruness; the name of the one was Thorleif, but
the other was Kettle. They were sons of Holmstein, the son of Auzur of
Broaddale. These brothers held a meeting, and forbade men to have any
dealings with them. This Hall of the Side heard. He dwelt at Thvattwater
i