CHAPTER XX.

OF NJAL AND HIS CHILDREN.

There was a man whose name was Njal.  He was the son of Thorgeir Gelling, the son of Thorolf.  Njal’s mother’s name was Asgerda.  Njal dwelt at Bergthorsknoll in the land-isles; he had another homestead on Thorolfsfell.  Njal was wealthy in goods, and handsome of face; no beard grew on his chin.  He was so great a lawyer, that his match was not to be found.  Wise too he was, and foreknowing and foresighted.[7] Of good counsel, and ready to give it, and all that he advised men was sure to be the best for them to do.  Gentle and generous, he unravelled every man’s knotty points who came to see him about them.  Bergthora was his wife’s name; she was Skarphedinn’s daughter, a very high-spirited, brave-hearted woman, but somewhat hard-tempered.  They had six children, three daughters and three sons, and they all come afterwards into this story.

CHAPTER XXI.

UNNA GOES TO SEE GUNNAR.

Now it must be told how Unna had lost all her ready money.  She made her way to Lithend, and Gunnar greeted his kinswoman well.  She stayed there that night, and the next morning they sat out of doors and talked.  The end of their talk was that she told him how heavily she was pressed for money.

“This is a bad business,” he said.

“What help wilt thou give me out of my distress?” she asked.

He answered—­“Take as much money as thou needest from what I have out at interest”.

“Nay,” she said, “I will not waste thy goods.”

“What then dost thou wish?”

“I wish thee to get back my goods out of Hrut’s hands,” she answered.

“That, methinks, is not likely,” said he, “when thy father could not get them back, and yet he was a great lawyer, but I know little about law.”

She answered—­“Hrut pushed that matter through rather by boldness than by law; besides, my father was old, and that was why men thought it better not to drive things to the uttermost.  And now there is none of my kinsmen to take this suit up if thou hast not daring enough.”

“I have courage enough,” he replied, “to get these goods back; but I do not know how to take the suit up.”

“Well!” she answered, “go and see Njal of Bergthorsknoll, he will know how to give thee advice.  Besides, he is a great friend of thine.”

“’Tis like enough he will give me good advice, as he gives it to every one else,” says Gunnar.

So the end of their talk was, that Gunnar undertook her cause, and gave her the money she needed for her housekeeping, and after that she went home.

Now Gunnar rides to see Njal, and he made him welcome, and they began to talk at once.

Then Gunnar said—­“I am come to seek a bit of good advice from thee”.

Njal replied—­“Many of my friends are worthy of this, but still I think I would take more pains for none than for thee”.