“Most likely I shall be riding from the west next Thursday (the fifth day of the week).”  “Would you do an errand for me?” said Thorhalla.  “I have a kinsman west at Whitedale and Saurby; he has promised me half a mark’s worth of homespun, and I would like you to claim it for me, and bring it with you from the west.”  Kjartan promised to do this.  After this Thorarin came home, and betook himself to the journey with them.  They rode westward over Saelingsdale heath, and came to Hol in the evening to the brothers and sister there.  There Kjartan got the best of welcomes, for between him and them there was the greatest friendship. [Sidenote:  Thorhalla returns to Laugar] Thorhalla the Chatterbox came home to Laugar that evening.  The sons of Osvif asked her who she had met during the day.  She said she had met Kjartan Olafson.  They asked where he was going.  She answered, telling them all she knew about it, “And never has he looked braver than now, and it is not wonderful at all that such men should look upon everything as low beside themselves;” and Thorhalla still went on, “and it was clear to me that Kjartan liked to talk of nothing so well as of his land bargain with Thorarin.”  Gudrun spoke, “Kjartan may well do things as boldly as it pleases him, for it is proven that for whatever insult he may pay others, there is none who dares even to shoot a shaft at him.”  Present at this talk of Gudrun and Thorhalla were both Bolli and the sons of Osvif.  Ospak and his brothers said but little, but what there was, rather stinging for Kjartan, as was always their way.  Bolli behaved as if he did not hear, as he always did when Kjartan was spoken ill of, for his wont was either to hold his peace, or to gainsay them.

CHAP.  XLVIII

The Men of Laugar and Gudrun plan an Ambush for Kjartan, A.D. 1003

Kjartan spent the fourth day after Easter at Hol, and there was the greatest merriment and gaiety. [Sidenote:  An’s dream] The night after An was very ill at ease in his sleep, so they waked him.  They asked him what he had dreamt.  He answered, “A woman came to me most evil-looking and pulled me forth unto the bedside.  She had in one hand a short sword, and in the other a trough; she drove the sword into my breast and cut open all the belly, and took out all my inwards and put brushwood in their place.  After that she went outside.”  Kjartan and the others laughed very much at this dream, and said he should be called An “brushwood belly,” and they caught hold of him and said they wished to feel if he had the brushwood in his stomach.  Then Aud said, “There is no need to mock so much at this; and my counsel is that Kjartan do one of two things:  either tarry here longer, or, if he will ride away, then let him ride with more followers hence than hither he did.”  Kjartan said, “You may hold An ‘brushwood belly’ a man very sage as he sits and talks to you all day, since you think that whatever he dreams must be a very vision,