They ride home, and after that they ride to the wedding, and there was a crowd of guests to meet them, and it went off well.  Thorkatla went home with Mord and took the housekeeping in hand but Valgard went abroad again the next summer.

Now Mord eggs on Thorgeir to set his suit on foot against Gunnar, and Thorgeir went to find Aunund; he bids him now to begin a suit for manslaughter for his brother Egil and his sons; “but I will begin one for the manslaughter of my brothers, and for the wounds of myself and my father”.

He said he was quite ready to do that, and then they set out, and give notice of the manslaughter, and summon nine neighbours who dwelt nearest to the spot where the deed was done.  This beginning of the suit was heard of at Lithend; and then Gunnar rides to see Njal, and told him, and asked what he wished them to do next.

“Now,” says Njal, “thou shalt summon those who dwell next to the spot, and thy neighbours; and call men to witness before the neighbours, and choose out Kol as the slayer in the manslaughter of Hjort thy brother:  for that is lawful and right; then thou shalt give notice of the suit for manslaughter at Kol’s hand, though he be dead.  Then shall thou call men to witness, and summon the neighbours to ride to the Althing to bear witness of the fact, whether they, Kol and his companions, were on the spot, and in onslaught when Hjort was slain.  Thou shalt also summon Thorgeir for the suit of seduction, and Aunund at the suit of Tyrfing.”

Gunnar now did in everything as Njal gave him counsel.  This men thought a strange beginning of suits, and now these matters come before the Thing.  Gunnar rides to the Thing, and Njal’s sons and the sons of Sigfus.  Gunnar had sent messengers to his cousins and kinsmen, that they should ride to the Thing, and come with as many men as they could, and told them that this matter would lead to much strife.  So they gathered together in a great band from the west.

Mord rode to the Thing and Runolf of the Dale, and those under the Threecorner, and Aunund of Witchwood.  But when they come to the Thing, they join them in one company with Gizur the white and Geir the priest.

CHAPTER LXV.

OF FINES AND ATONEMENTS.

Gunnar, and the sons of Sigfus, and Njal’s sons, went altogether in one band, and they marched so swiftly and closely that men who came in their way had to take heed lest they should get a fall; and nothing was so often spoken about over the whole Thing as these great lawsuits.

Gunnar went to meet his cousins, and Olaf and his men greeted him well.  They asked Gunnar about the fight, but he told them all about it, and was just in all he said; he told them, too, what steps he had taken since.

Then Olaf said, “’Tis worth much to see how close Njal stands by thee in all counsel”.

Gunnar said he should never be able to repay that, but then he begged them for help; and they said that was his due.