At the Thingskala-Thing in the autumn, Kolskegg laid claim to the land at Moeidsknoll, but Gunnar took witness, and offered ready money, or another piece of land at a lawful price to those under the Threecorner.

Thorgeir took witness also, that Gunnar was breaking the settlement made between them.

After that the Thing was broken up, and so the next year wore away.

Those namesakes were always meeting, and there was the greatest friendship between them.  Kolskegg spoke to Gunnar and said—­

“I am told that there is great friendship between those namesakes, and it is the talk of many men that they will prove untrue, and I would that thou wouldst be ware of thyself.”

“Death will come to me when it will come,” says Gunnar, “wherever I may be, if that is my fate.”

Then they left off talking about it.

About autumn, Gunnar gave out that they would work one week there at home, and the next down in the isles, and so make an end of their haymaking.  At the same time, he let it be known that every man would have to leave the house, save himself and the women.

Thorgeir under Threecorner goes to see his namesake, but as soon as they met they began to talk after their wont, and Thorgeir Starkad’s son, said—­

“I would that we could harden our hearts and fall on Gunnar.”

“Well,” says Thorgeir Otkell’s son, “every struggle with Gunnar has had but one end, that few have gained the day; besides, methinks it sounds ill to be called a peace-breaker.”

“They have broken the peace, not we,” says Thorgeir Starkad’s son.  “Gunnar took away from thee thy cornfield; and he has taken Moeidsknoll from my father and me.”

And so they settle it between them to fall on Gunnar; and then Thorgeir said that Gunnar would be all alone at home in a few nights’ space, “and then thou shalt come to meet me with eleven men, but I will have as many”.

After that Thorgeir rode home.

CHAPTER LXVIII.

OF NJAL AND THOSE NAMESAKES.

Now when Kolskegg and the house-carles had been three nights in the isles, Thorgeir Starkad’s son had news of that, and sends word to his namesake that he should come to meet him on Threecorner ridge.

After that Thorgeir of the Threecorner busked him with eleven men; he rides up on the ridge and there waits for his namesake.

And now Gunnar is at home in his house, and those namesakes ride into a wood hard by.  There such a drowsiness came over them that they could do naught else but sleep.  So they hung their shields up in the boughs, and tethered their horses, and laid their weapons by their sides.

Njal was that night up in Thorolfsfell, and could not sleep at all, but went out and in by turns.

Thorhilda asked Njal why he could not sleep?

“Many things now flit before my eyes,” said he; “I see many fetches of Gunnar’s bitter foes, and what is very strange is this, they seem to be mad with rage, and yet they fare without plan or purpose.”