of not being able to hold myself straight in the face of Hrut and his sons, and that is no reason why I should depart the country.  But if you, brother, set much store by it, and feel yourself in a difficult position in this matter, then, for your words I will do this; for then I was best contented with my lot in life when I lived abroad.  And I know you will not treat my son Bolli any the worse for my being nowhere near; for of all men I love him the best.”  Olaf said, “You have, indeed, taken an honourable course in this matter, if you do after my prayer; but as touching Bolli, I am minded to do to him henceforth as I have done hitherto, and to be to him and hold him no worse than my own sons.”  After that the brothers parted in great affection.  Thorliek now sold his land, and spent his money on his journey abroad.  He bought a ship that stood up in Daymealness; and when he was full ready he stepped on board ship with his wife and household.  That ship made a good voyage, and they made Norway in the autumn.  Thence he went south to Denmark, as he did not feel at home in Norway, his kinsmen and friends there being either dead or driven out of the land.  After that Thorliek went to Gautland.  It is said by most men that Thorliek had little to do with old age; yet he was held a man of great worth throughout life.  And there we close the story of Thorliek.

CHAP.  XXXIX

Of Kjartan’s Friendship for Bolli

[Sidenote:  Osvif’s counsel] At that time, as concerning the strife between Hrut and Thorliek, it was ever the greatest gossip throughout the Broadfirth-Dales how that Hrut had had to abide a heavy lot at the hands of Kotkell and his sons.  Then Osvif spoke to Gudrun and her brothers, and bade them call to mind whether they thought now it would have been the best counsel aforetime then and there to have plunged into the danger of dealing with such “hell-men” (terrible people) as Kotkell and his were.  Then said Gudrun, “He is not counsel-bereft, father, who has the help of thy counsel.”  Olaf now abode at his manor in much honour, and all his sons are at home there, as was Bolli, their kinsman and foster-brother.  Kjartan was foremost of all the sons of Olaf.  Kjartan and Bolli loved each other the most, and Kjartan went nowhere that Bolli did not follow.  Often Kjartan would go to the Saelingdale-spring, and mostly it happened that Gudrun was at the spring too.  Kjartan liked talking to Gudrun, for she was both a woman of wits and clever of speech.  It was the talk of all folk that of all men who were growing up at the time Kjartan was the most even match for Gudrun.  Between Olaf and Osvif there was also great friendship, and often they would invite one another, and not the less frequently so when fondness was growing up between the young folk. [Sidenote:  Olaf’s forebodings] One day when Olaf was talking to Kjartan, he said:  “I do not know why it is that I always take it to heart when you go to