was lost.  He answered and said it was no easy matter to try to make them take care of things, and bade her now leave matters quiet; and told his father what game was up.  Olaf said, “My will is still as before, that you leave alone and let pass by this trouble and I will probe this matter to the bottom in quiet; for I would do anything that you and Bolli should not fall out.  Best to bind up a whole flesh, kinsman,” says he.  Kjartan said, “I know well, father, that you wish the best for everybody in this affair; yet I know not whether I can put up with being thus overborne by these folk of Laugar.” [Sidenote:  Kjartan complains to Bolli] The day that men were to ride away from the feast Kjartan raised his voice and said, “I call on you, Cousin Bolli, to show yourself more willing henceforth than hitherto to do to us as behoves a good man and true.  I shall not set this matter forth in a whisper, for within the knowledge of many people it is that a loss has befallen here of a thing which we think has slipped into your own keep.  This harvest, when we gave a feast at Herdholt, my sword was taken; it came back to me, but not the scabbard.  Now again there has been lost here a keepsake which men will esteem a thing of price.  Come what may, I will have them both back.”  Bolli answered, “What you put down to me, Kjartan, is not my fault, and I should have looked for anything else from you sooner than that you would charge me with theft.”  Kjartan says, “I must think that the people who have been putting their heads together in this affair are so near to you that it ought to be in your power to make things good if you but would.  You affront us far beyond necessity, and long we have kept peaceful in face on your enmity.  But now it must be made known that matters will not rest as they are now.”  Then Gudrun answered his speech and said, “Now you rake up a fire which it would be better should not smoke.  Now, let it be granted, as you say, that there be some people here who have put their heads together with a view to the coif disappearing.  I can only think that they have gone and taken what was their own.  Think what you like of what has become of the head-dress, but I cannot say I dislike it though it should be bestowed in such a way as that Hrefna should have little chance to improve her apparel with it henceforth.”  After that they parted heavy of heart, and the Herdholtings rode home.  That was the end of the feasts, yet everything was to all appearances quiet. [Sidenote:  The end of the coif] Nothing was ever heard of the head-dress.  But many people held the truth to be that Thorolf had burnt it in fire by the order of Gudrun, his sister.  Early that winter Asgeir Eider-drake died.  His sons inherited his estate and chattels.

CHAP.  XLVII

Kjartan goes to Laugar, and of the Bargain for Tongue, A.D. 1003