ised him their aid, and then became so
steadfast that they said they would fight for Flosi, if need were.

Then Bjarni said to Flosi--

"Well done! well done! Thou art a mighty chief, and a bold outspoken
man, and reckest little what thou sayest to men."

After that they fared away west across the river, and so to the
Hladbooth. They saw many men outside before the booth. There was one man
who had a scarlet cloak over his shoulders, and a gold band round his
head, and an axe studded with silver in his hand.

"This is just right," said Bjarni, "here now is the man I spoke of,
Eyjolf Bolverk's son, if thou wilt see him, Flosi."

Then they went to meet Eyjolf, and hailed him. Eyjolf knew Bjarni at
once, and greeted him well. Bjarni took Eyjolf by the hand, and led him
up into the "Great Rift". Flosi's and Bjarni's men followed after, and
Eyjolf's men went also with him. They bade them stay upon the lower
brink of the Rift, and look about them, but Flosi, and Bjarni, and
Eyjolf went on till they came to where the path leads down from the
upper brink of the Rift.

Flosi said it was a good spot to sit down there, for they could see
around them far and wide. Then they sat them down there. They were four
of them together, and no more.

Then Bjarni spoke to Eyjolf, and said--

"Thee, friend, have we come to see, for we much need thy help in every
way."

"Now," said Eyjolf, "there is good choice of men here at the Thing, and
ye will not find it hard to fall on those who will be a much greater
strength to you than I can be."

"Not so," said Bjarni, "Thou hast many things which show that there is
no greater man than thou at the Thing; first of all, that thou art so
well-born, as all those men are who are sprung from Ragnar hairybreeks;
thy forefathers, too, have always stood first in great suits, both here
at the Thing, and at home in their own country, and they have always had
the best of it; we think, therefore, it is likely that thou wilt be
lucky in winning suits, like thy kinsfolk."

"Thou speakest well, Bjarni," said Eyjolf; "but I think that I have
small share in all this that thou sayest."

Then Flosi said--

"There is no need beating about the bush as to what we have in mind. We
wish to ask for thy help, Eyjolf, and that thou wilt stand by us in our
suits, and go to the court with us, and undertake the defence, if there
be any, and plead it for us, and stand by us in all things that may
happen at this Thin