ord of
how Hrut and I are going on."

[When the half-month was over] Hrut gave her a hundred ells of household
woollen and twelve rough cloaks, and Gunnhillda thanked him for his
gifts. Then Hrut thanked her and gave her a kiss and went away. She bade
him "farewell". And next day he went before the king with thirty men
after him and bade the king "good-day". The king said--

"Now, Hrut, thou wilt wish me to carry out towards thee what I
promised."

So Hrut was made one of the king's body-guard, and he asked, "Where
shall I sit?"

"My mother shall settle that," said the king.

Then she got him a seat in the highest room, and he spent the winter
with the king in much honour.

CHAPTER IV.

OF HRUT'S CRUISE.

When the spring came he asked about Soti, and found out he had gone
south to Denmark with the inheritance. Then Hrut went to Gunnhillda and
tells her what Soti had been about. Gunnhillda said--

"I will give thee two long-ships, full manned, and along with them the
bravest men. Wolf the Unwashed, our overseer of guests; but still go
and see the king before thou settest off."

Hrut did so; and when he came before the king, then he told the king of
Soti's doings, and how he had a mind to hold on after him.

The king said, "What strength has my mother handed over to thee?"

"Two long-ships and Wolf the Unwashed to lead the men," says Hrut.

"Well given," says the king. "Now I will give thee other two ships, and
even then thou'lt need all the strength thou'st got."

After that he went down with Hrut to the ship, and said "fare thee
well". Then Hrut sailed away south with his crews.

CHAPTER V.

ATLI ARNVID SON'S SLAYING.

There was a man named Atli, son of Arnvid, Earl of East Gothland. He had
kept back the taxes from Hacon Athelstane's foster child, and both
father and son had fled away from Jemtland to Gothland. After that, Atli
held on with his followers out of the Maelar by Stock Sound, and so on
towards Denmark, and now he lies out in Oeresound.[5] He is an outlaw
both of the Dane-King and of the Swede-King. Hrut held on south to the
Sound, and when he came into it he saw many ships in the Sound. Then
Wolf said--

"What's best to be done now, Icelander?"

"Hold on our course," says Hrut, "'for nothing venture, nothing have'.
My ship and Auzur's shall go first, but thou shalt lay thy ship where
thou likest."

"Seldom have I had others as a shield before me," says Wolf, and lay