Next Helgi leapt so boldly out of the door so that those nearest shrunk aback.  Thorgils was standing near, and struck after him with a sword, and caught him on the shoulder and made a great wound.  Helgi turned to meet him, and had a wood-axe in his hand, and said, “Still the old one will dare to look at and face weapons,” and therewith he flung the axe at Thorgils, and the axe struck his foot, and a great wound that was. [Sidenote:  Helgi’s death] And when Bolli saw this he leapt forward at Helgi with Footbiter in his hand, and thrust Helgi through with it, and that was his death-blow.  Helgi’s followers leapt out of the dairy forthwith, and Hardbien with them.  Thorleik Bollison turned against Eyolf, who was a strong man.  Thorleik struck him with his sword, and it caught him on the leg above the knee and cut off his leg, and he fell to earth dead.  Hunbogi the Strong went to meet Thorgils, and dealt a blow at him with an axe, and it struck the back of him, and cut him asunder in the middle.  Thord Cat was standing near where Hardbien leapt out, and was going to set upon him straightway, but Bolli rushed forward when he saw it, and bade no harm be done to Hardbien.  “No man shall do a dastard’s work here, and Hardbien shall have life and limbs spared.”  Helgi had another son named Skorri.  He was brought up at Gugland in Reekdale the southernmost.

CHAP.  LXV

Of Gudrun’s Deceit

[Sidenote:  Thorgils’ return] After these deeds Thorgils and his band rode away over the neck to Reekdale, where they declared these manslaughters on their hands.  Then they rode the same way eastward as they had ridden from the west, and did not stop their journey till they came to Hord-Dale.  They now told the tidings of what had happened in their journey, which became most famous, for it was thought a great deed to have felled such a hero as was Helgi.  Thorgils thanked his men well for the journey, and the sons of Bolli did the same.  And now the men part who had been in Thorgils’ train; Lambi rode west to Salmon-river-Dale, and came first to Herdholt and told his kinsmen most carefully the tidings of what had happened in Skorradale.  They were very ill-pleased with his journey and laid heavy reproaches upon him, saying he had shown himself much more of the stock of Thorbjorn “Skrjup” than of that of Myrkjartan, the Irish king.  Lambi was very angry at their talk, and said they knew but little of good manners in overwhelming him with reproaches, “for I have dragged you out of death,” says he.  After that they exchanged but few words, for both sides were yet more fulfilled of ill-will than before.  Lambi now rode home to his manor.  Thorgils Hallason rode out to Holyfell, and with him the sons of Gudrun and his foster-brothers Halldor and Ornolf. [Sidenote:  Gudrun receives them] They came late in the evening to Holyfell, when all men were in bed.  Gudrun rose up and bade the household get up and wait upon them.  She went into the guest-chamber and greeted Thorgils and all the others, and asked for tidings.  Thorgils returned Gudrun’s greeting; he had laid aside his cloak and his weapons as well, and sat then up against the pillars.  Thorgils had on a red-brown kirtle, and had round his waist a broad silver belt.  Gudrun sat down on the bench by him.  Then Thorgils said this stave—­