which one may
call tidings. Gauti Tofason went out with five warships by the river
Gaut Elbe; but when he lay by the Eikr Isles, some Danes came there with
five large merchant ships. Gauti and his company soon captured four of
the merchant ships without losing a man, and took great store of wealth;
but the fifth ship escaped out to sea by sailing. Gauti went after that
one ship, and at first gained on it; but soon, as the wind freshened,
the merchant ship went faster. They had got far out to sea, and Gauti
wished to turn back; but a storm came on, and his ship was wrecked on an
island, and all the wealth lost and the more part of the men. Meanwhile
his comrades had had to stay at the Eikr Isles. Then attacked them
fifteen Danish merchant ships, and slew them all, and took all the
wealth which they had before gotten. Such was the end of this
covetousness.'

The King answered: 'Great tidings these, and worth telling; but what is
thy errand hither?'

Emund answered: 'I come, sire, to seek a solution in a difficulty where
our law and Upsala law differ.'

The King asked: 'What is it of which thou wouldst complain?'

Emund answered: 'There were two men, nobly born, equal in family, but
unequal in possessions and disposition. They quarrelled about lands, and
each wrought harm on the other, and he wrought the more who was the more
powerful, till their dispute was settled and judged at the general
assembly. He who was the more powerful was condemned to pay; but at the
first repayment he paid wildgoose for goose, little pig for old swine,
and for a mark of gold he put down half a mark of gold, the other
half-mark of clay and mould, and yet further threatened with rough
treatment the man to whom he was paying this debt. What is thy judgment
herein, sire?'

The King answered: 'Let him pay in full what was adjudged, and to his
King thrice that amount. And if it be not paid within the year, then let
him go an outlaw from all his possessions, let half his wealth come into
the King's treasury, and half to the man to whom he owed redress.'

Emund appealed to all the greatest men there, and to the laws valid at
Upsala Thing in witness of this decision. Then he saluted the King and
went out. Other men brought their complaints before the King, and he sat
long time over men's suits.

But when the King came to table he asked where was lawman Emund.

He was told that he was at home in his lodging.

Then said the King: 'Go after hi