Njal had a ring of gold on his hand, and showed it to the lad.  He took hold of the gold, and looked at it, and put it on his finger.

“Wilt thou take the gold as a gift?” said Njal.

“That I will,” said the lad.

“Knowest thou,” says Njal, “what brought thy father to his death?”

“I know,” answers the lad, “that Skarphedinn slew him; but we need not keep that in mind, when an atonement has been made for it, and a full price paid for him.”

“Better answered than asked,” said Njal; “and thou wilt live to be a good man and true,” he adds.

“Methinks thy forecasting,” says Hauskuld, “is worth having, for I know that thou art foresighted and unlying.”

“Now I will offer to foster thee,” said Njal, “if thou wilt take the offer.”

He said he would be willing to take both that honour and any other good offer which he might make.  So the end of the matter was, that Hauskuld fared home with Njal as his foster-son.

He suffered no harm to come nigh the lad, and loved him much.  Njal’s sons took him about with them, and did him honour in every way.  And so things go on till Hauskuld is full grown.  He was both tall and strong; the fairest of men to look on, and well-haired; blithe of speech, bountiful, well-behaved; as well trained to arms as the best; fairspoken to all men, and much beloved.

Njal’s sons and Hauskuld were never apart, either in word or deed.

CHAPTER XCIV.

OF FLOSI THORD’S SON.

There was a man named Flosi, he was the son of Thord Freyspriest.  Flosi had to wife Steinvora, daughter of Hall of the Side.  She was base born, and her mother’s name was Solvora, daughter of Herjolf the white.  Flosi dwelt at Swinefell, and was a mighty chief.  He was tall of stature, and strong withal, the most forward and boldest of men.  His brother’s name was Starkad; he was not by the same mother as Flosi.

The other brothers of Flosi were Thorgeir and Stein, Kolbein and Egil.  Hildigunna was the name of the daughter of Starkad Flosi’s brother.  She was a proud, high-spirited maiden, and one of the fairest of women.  She was so skilful with her hands, that few women were equally skilful.  She was the grimmest and hardest-hearted of all women; but still a woman of open hand and heart when any fitting call was made upon her.

CHAPTER XCV.

OF HALL OF THE SIDE.

Hall was the name of a man who was called Hall of the Side.  He was the son of Thorstein Baudvar’s son.  Hall had to wife Joreida, daughter of Thidrandi the wise.  Thorstein was the name of Hall’s brother, and he was nick-named broadpaunch.  His son was Kol, whom Kari slays in Wales.  The sons of Hall of the Side were Thorstein and Egil, Thorwald and Ljot, and Thidrandi, whom, it is said, the goddesses slew.

There was a man named Thorir, whose surname was Holt-Thorir; his sons were these:  Thorgeir Craggeir, and Thorleif crow, from whom the Wood-dwellers are come, and Thorgrim the big.