“Well,” says the Earl, “I will increase thy honour if this be so, otherwise thou shalt smart for it.”

“Nay,” says Kari, “Helgi is not that kind of man, and like enough his words are sooth, for his father has the second sight.”

After that the Earl sent men south to Straumey[36] to Arnljot, his steward there, and after that Arnljot sent them across the Pentland Firth, and they spied out and learnt that Earl Hundi and Earl Melsnati had taken the life of Havard in Thraswick, Earl Sigurd’s brother-in-law.  So Arnljot sent word to Earl Sigurd to come south with a great host and drive those earls out of his realm, and as soon as the Earl heard that, he gathered together a mighty host from all the isles.

CHAPTER LXXXV.

THE BATTLE WITH THE EARLS.

After that the Earl set out south with his host, and Kari went with him, and Njal’s sons too.  They came south to Caithness.  The Earl had these realms in Scotland, Ross and Moray, Sutherland, and the Dales.  There came to meet them men from those realms, and said that the Earls were a short way off with a great host.  Then Earl Sigurd turns his host thither, and the name of that place is Duncansness, above which they met, and it came to a great battle between them.  Now the Scots had let some of their host go free from the main battle, and these took the Earl’s men in flank, and many men fell there till Njal’s sons turned against the foe, and fought with them and put them to flight; but still it was a hard fight, and then Njal’s sons turned back to the front by the Earl’s standard, and fought well.  Now Kari turns to meet Earl Melsnati, and Melsnati hurled a spear at him, but Kari caught the spear and threw it back and through the Earl.  Then Earl Hundi fled, but they chased the fleers until they learnt that Malcolm was gathering a host at Duncansby.  Then the Earl took counsel with his men, and it seemed to all the best plan to turn back, and not to fight with such a mighty land force; so they turned back.  But when the Earl came to Straumey they shared the battle-spoil.  After that he went north to Hrossey, and Njal’s sons and Kari followed him.  Then the Earl made a great feast, and at that feast he gave Kari a good sword, and a spear inlaid with gold; but he gave Helgi a gold ring and a mantle, and Grim a shield and sword.  After that he took Helgi and Grim into his body-guard, and thanked them for their good help.  They were with the Earl that winter and the summer after, till Kari went sea-roving; then they went with him, and harried far and wide that summer, and everywhere won the victory.  They fought against Godred, King of Man, and conquered him; and after that they fared back, and had gotten much goods.  Next winter they were still with the Earl, and when the spring came Njal’s sons asked leave to go to Norway.  The Earl said they should go or not as they pleased, and he gave them a good ship and smart men.  As for Kari, he said he must come that summer to Norway with Earl Hacon’s scatts, and then they would meet; and so it fell out that they gave each other their word to meet.  After that Njal’s sons put out to sea and sailed for Norway, and made the land north near Drontheim.