igtrygg sat in a high seat in the
middle, but on either side of the king sat one of the earls. The men of
King Sigtrygg and Earl Gilli sate on the inner side away from him, but
on the outer side away from Earl Sigurd, sate Flosi and Thorstein, son
of Hall of the Side, and the whole hall was full.

Now King Sigtrygg and Earl Gilli wished to hear of these tidings which
had happened at the Burning, and so, also, what had befallen since.

Then Gunnar Lambi's son was got to tell the tale, and a stool was set
for him to sit upon.

CHAPTER CLIV.

GUNNAR LAMBI'S SON'S SLAYING.

Just at that very time Kari and Kolbein and David the white came to
Hrossey unawares to all men. They went straightway up on land, but a few
men watched their ship.

Kari and his fellows went straight to the Earl's homestead, and came to
the hall about drinking time.

It so happened that just then Gunnar was telling the story of the
Burning, but they were listening to him meanwhile outside. This was on
Yule-day itself.

Now King Sigtrygg asked--

"How did Skarphedinn bear the Burning?"

"Well at first for a long time," said Gunnar, "but still the end of it
was that he wept." And so he went on giving an unfair leaning in his
story, but every now and then he laughed out loud.

Kari could not stand this, and then he ran in with his sword drawn, and
sang this song--

Men of might, in battle eager,
Boast of burning Njal's abode,
Have the Princes heard how sturdy
Seahorse racers sought revenge?
Hath not since, on foemen holding
High the shield's broad orb aloft,
All that wrong been fully wroken?
Raw flesh ravens got to tear.

So he ran in up the hall, and smote Gunnar Lambi's son on the neck with
such a sharp blow, that his head spun off on to the board before the
king and the earls, and the board was all one gore of blood, and the
Earl's clothing too.

Earl Sigurd knew the man that had done the deed, and called out--

"Seize Kari and kill him."

Kari had been one of Earl Sigurd's bodyguard, and he was of all men most
beloved by his friends; and no man stood up a whit more for the Earl's
speech.

"Many would say, Lord," said Kari, "that I have done this deed on your
behalf, to avenge your henchman."

Then Flosi said--"Kari hath not done this without a cause; he is in no
atonement with us, and he only did what he had a right to do".

So Kari walked away, and there was no hue and cry after him. Kari fared
to