Limgard's side. There Soti
went on shore, and there he met Augmund, Gunnhillda's page; he knew him
at once, and asks--

"How long meanest thou to be here?"

"Three nights," says Soti.

"Whither away, then?" says Augmund.

"West, to England," says Soti, "and never to come back again to Norway
while Gunnhillda's rule is in Norway."

Augmund went away, and goes and finds Gunnhillda, for she was a little
way off at a feast, and Gudred, her son, with her. Augmund told
Gunnhillda what Soti meant to do, and she begged Gudred to take his
life. So Gudred set off at once, and came unawares on Soti, and made
them lead up the country, and hang him there. But the goods he took, and
brought them to his mother, and she got men to carry them all down to
the King's Crag, and after that she went thither herself.

Hrut came back towards autumn, and had gotten great store of goods. He
went at once to the king, and had a hearty welcome. He begged them to
take whatever they pleased of his goods, and the king took a third.
Gunnhillda told Hrut how she had got hold of the inheritance, and had
Soti slain. He thanked her, and gave her half of all he had.

CHAPTER VI.

HRUT SAILS OUT TO ICELAND.

Hrut stayed with the king that winter in good cheer, but when spring
came he grew very silent. Gunnhillda finds that out, and said to him
when they two were alone together--

"Art thou sick at heart?"

"So it is," said Hrut, "as the saying runs--'Ill goes it with those who
are born on a barren land'."

"Wilt thou to Iceland?" she asks.

"Yes," he answered.

"Hast thou a wife out there?" she asked; and he answers, "No".

"But I am sure that is true," she says; and so they ceased talking about
the matter.

[Shortly after] Hrut went before the king and bade him "good day"; and
the king said, "What dost thou want now, Hrut?"

"I am come to ask, lord, that you give me leave to go to Iceland."

"Will thine honour be greater there than here?" asks the king.

"No, it will not," said Hrut; "but every one must win the work that is
set before him."

"It is pulling a rope against a strong man," said Gunnhillda, "so give
him leave to go as best suits him."

There was a bad harvest that year in the land, yet Gunnhillda gave Hrut
as much meal as he chose to have; and now he busks him to sail out to
Iceland, and Auzur with him; and when they were all-boun, Hrut went to
find the king and Gunnhillda. She led him aside to talk alone, and