CHAPTER CXLV.

OF KARI AND THORGEIR.

Those two, Kari Solmund’s and Thorgeir Craggeir, rode that day east across Markfleet, and so on east to Selialandsmull.  They found there some women.  The wives knew them, and said to them—­

“Ye two are less wanton than the sons of Sigfus yonder, but still ye fare unwarily.”

“Why do ye talk thus of the sons of Sigfus, or what do ye know about them?”

“They were last night,” they said, “at Raufarfell, and meant to get to Myrdale to-night, but still we thought they must have some fear of you, for they asked when he would be likely to come home.”

Then Kari and Thorgeir went on their way and spurred their horses.

“What shall we lay down for ourselves to do now,” said Thorgeir, “or what is most to thy mind?  Wilt thou that we ride on their track?”

“I will not hinder this,” answers Kari, “nor will I say what ought to be done, for it may often be that those live Long who are slain with words alone;[79] but I well know what thou meanest to take on thyself, thou must mean to take on thy hands eight men, and after all that is less than it was when thou slewest those seven in the sea-crags,[80] and let thyself down by a rope to get at them; but it is the way with all you kinsmen, that ye always wish to be doing some famous feat, and now I can do no less than stand by thee and have my share in the story.  So now we two alone will ride after them, for I see that thou hast so made up thy mind.”

After that they rode east by the upper way, and did not pass by Holt, for Thorgeir would not that any blame should be laid at his brother’s door for what might be done.

Then they rode east to Myrdale, and there they met a man who had turf-panniers on his horse.  He began to speak thus—­

“Too few men, messmate Thorgeir, hast thou now in thy company.”

“How is that?” says Thorgeir.

“Why,” said the other, “because the prey is now before thy hand.  The sons of Sigfus rode by a while ago, and mean to sleep the whole day east in Carlinedale, for they mean to go no farther to-night than to Headbrink.”

After that they rode on their way east on Arnstacks heath, and there is nothing to be told of their journey before they came to Carlinedale-water.

The stream was high, and now they rode up along the river, for they saw their horses with saddles.  They rode now thitherward, and saw that there were men asleep in a dell and their spears were standing upright in the ground a little below them.  They took the spears from them, and threw them into the river.

Then Thorgeir said—­

“Wilt thou that we wake them?”

“Thou hast not asked this,” answers Kari, “because thou hast not already made up thy mind not to fall on sleeping men, and so to slay a shameful manslaughter.”

After that they shouted to them, and then they all awoke and grasped at their arms.