g."

Eyjolf jumped up in wrath, and said that no man had any right to think
that he could make a catspaw of him, or drag him on if he had no mind to
go himself.

"I see, too, now," he says, "what has led you to utter all those fair
words with which ye began to speak to me."

Then Hallbjorn the strong caught hold of him and sate him down by his
side, between him and Bjarni, and said--

"No tree falls at the first stroke, friend, but sit here awhile by us."

Then Flosi drew a gold ring off his arm.

"This ring will I give thee, Eyjolf, for thy help and friendship, and so
show thee that I will not befool thee. It will be best for thee to take
the ring, for there is no man here at the Thing to whom I have ever
given such a gift."

The ring was such a good one, and so well made, that it was worth twelve
hundred yards of russet stuff.

Hallbjorn drew the ring on Eyjolf's arm; and Eyjolf said--

"It is now most fitting that I should take the ring, since thou behavest
so handsomely; and now thou mayest make up thy mind that I will
undertake the defence, and do all things needful."

"Now," said Bjarni, "ye behave handsomely on both sides, and here are
men well fitted to be witnesses, since I and Hallbjorn are here, that
thou hast undertaken the suit."

Then Eyjolf arose, and Flosi too, and they took one another by the hand;
and so Eyjolf undertook the whole defence of the suit off Flosi's hands,
and so, too, if any suit arose out of the defence, for it often happens
that what is a defence in one suit, is a plaintiff's plea in another. So
he took upon him all the proofs and proceedings which belonged to those
suits, whether they were to be pleaded before the Quarter Court or the
Fifth Court. Flosi handed them over in lawful form, and Eyjolf took them
in lawful form, and then he said to Flosi and Bjarni.

"Now I have undertaken this defence just as ye asked, but my wish it is
that ye should still keep it secret at first; but if the matter comes
into the Fifth Court, then be most careful not to say that ye have given
goods for my help."

Then Flosi went home to his booth, and Bjarni with him, but Eyjolf went
to the booth of Snorri the priest, and sate down by him, and they talked
much together.

Snorri the priest caught hold of Eyjolf's arm, and turned up the sleeve,
and sees that he had a great ring of gold on his arm. Then Snorri the
priest said--

"Pray, was this ring bought or given?"

Eyjolf was put out ab