The story of Burnt Njal eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 520 pages of information about The story of Burnt Njal.

The story of Burnt Njal eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 520 pages of information about The story of Burnt Njal.

Mord answered, “I have thought over the terms; she shall have sixty hundreds down, and this sum shall be increased by a third more in thine house, but if ye two have heirs, ye shall go halves in the goods”.

Then said Hrut, “I agree to these terms, and now let us take witness”.  After that they stood up and shook hands, and Mord betrothed his daughter Unna to Hrut, and the bridal feast was to be at Mord’s house, half a month after Midsummer.

Now both sides ride home from the Thing, and Hauskuld and Hrut ride westward by Hallbjorn’s beacon.  Then Thiostolf, the son of Biorn Gullbera of Reykiardale, rode to meet them, and told them how a ship had come out from Norway to the White River, and how aboard of her was Auzur, Hrut’s father’s brother, and he wished Hrut to come to him as soon as ever he could.  When Hrut heard this, he asked Hauskuld to go with him to the ship, so Hauskuld went with his brother, and when they reached the ship, Hrut gave his kinsman Auzur a kind and hearty welcome.  Auzur asked them into his booth to drink, so their horses were unsaddled, and they went in and drank, and while they were drinking, Hrut said to Auzur, “Now, kinsman, thou must ride west with me, and stay with me this winter.”

“That cannot be, kinsman, for I have to tell thee the death of thy brother Eyvind, and he has left thee his heir at the Gula Thing, and now thy foes will seize thy heritage, unless thou comest to claim it.”

“What’s to be done now, brother?” said Hrut to Hauskuld, “for this seems a hard matter, coming just as I have fixed my bridal day.”

“Thou must ride south,” said Hauskuld, “and see Mord, and ask him to change the bargain which ye two have made, and to let his daughter sit for thee three winters as thy betrothed, but I will ride home and bring down thy wares to the ship.”

Then said Hrut, “My wish is that thou shouldest take meal and timber, and whatever else thou needest out of the lading”.  So Hrut had his horses brought out, and he rode south, while Hauskuld rode home west.  Hrut came east to the Rangrivervales to Mord, and had a good welcome, and he told Mord all his business, and asked his advice what he should do.

“How much money is this heritage?” asked Mord, and Hrut said it would come to a hundred marks, if he got it all.

“Well,” said Mord, “that is much when set against what I shall leave behind me, and thou shalt go for it, if thou wilt.”

After that they broke their bargain, and Unna was to sit waiting for Hrut three years as his betrothed.  Now Hrut rides back to the ship, and stays by her during the summer, till she was ready to sail, and Hauskuld brought down all Hrut’s wares and money to the ship, and Hrut placed all his other property in Hauskuld’s hands to keep for him while he was away.  Then Hauskuld rode home to his house, and a little while after they got a fair wind and sail away to sea.  They were out three weeks, and the first land they made was Hern, near Bergen, and so sail eastward to the Bay.

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The story of Burnt Njal from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.