Now Swan began to speak, and gasped much.  “Now Oswif’s fetches are seeking us out.”  Then up sprung Thiostolf, but Swan said, “Go thou out with me, there won’t be need of much”.  So they went out both of them, and Swan took a goatskin and wrapped it about his own head, and said, “Become mist and fog, become fright and wonder mickle to all those who seek thee”.

Now, it must be told how Oswif, his friends, and his men are riding along the ridge; then came a great mist against them, and Oswif said, “This is Swan’s doing; ’twere well if nothing worse followed”.  A little after a mighty darkness came before their eyes, so that they could see nothing, and then they fell off their horses’ backs, and lost their horses, and dropped their weapons, and went over head and ears into bogs, and some went astray into the wood, till they were on the brink of bodily harm.  Then Oswif said, “If I could only find my horse and weapons, then I’d turn back”; and he had scarce spoken these words than they saw somewhat, and found their horses and weapons.  Then many still egged the others on to look after the chase once more; and so they did, and at once the same wonders befell them, and so they fared thrice.  Then Oswif said, “Though the course be not good, let us still turn back.  Now, we will take counsel a second time, and what now pleases my mind best, is to go and find Hauskuld, and ask atonement for my son; for there’s hope of honour where there’s good store of it.”

So they rode thence to the Broadfirth dales, and there is nothing to be told about them till they come to Hauskuldstede, and Hrut was there before them.  Oswif called out Hauskuld and Hrut, and they both went out and bade him good-day.  After that they began to talk.  Hauskuld asked Oswif whence he came.  He said he had set out to search for Thiostolf, but couldn’t find him.  Hauskuld said he must have gone north to Swanshol, “and thither it is not every man’s lot to go to find him”.

“Well,” says Oswif, “I am come hither for this, to ask atonement for my son from thee.”

Hauskuld answered—­“I did not slay thy son, nor did I plot his death; still it may be forgiven thee to look for atonement somewhere”.

“Nose is next of kin, brother, to eyes,” said Hrut, “and it is needful to stop all evil tongues, and to make him atonement for his son, and so mend thy daughter’s state, for that will only be the case when this suit is dropped, and the less that is said about it the better it will be.”

Hauskuld said—­“Wilt thou undertake the award?”

“That I will,” says Hrut, “nor will I shield thee at all in my award; for if the truth must be told thy daughter planned his death.”

Then Hrut held his peace some little while, and afterwards he stood up, and said to Oswif—­“Take now my hand in handsel as a token that thou lettest the suit drop”.