“I think it is wise,” says Njal; “they will think thee there an honourable man, as thou art.”

“Wilt thou perhaps take my goods into thy keeping while I am away, for I wish my brother Kolskegg to fare with me; but I would that thou shouldst see after my household along with my mother.”

“I will not throw anything in the way of that,” says Njal; “lean on me in this thing as much as thou likest.”

“Good go with thee for thy words,” says Gunnar, and he rides then home.

The Easterling [the Norseman Hallvard] fell again to talk with Gunnar that he should fare abroad.  Gunnar asked if he had ever sailed to other lands?  He said he had sailed to every one of them that lay between Norway and Russia, and so, too, I have sailed to Biarmaland.[12]

“Wilt thou sail with me eastward ho?” says Gunnar.

“That I will of a surety,” says he.

Then Gunnar made up his mind to sail abroad with him.  Njal took all Gunnar’s goods into his keeping.

CHAPTER XXIX.

GUNNAR GOES ABROAD.

So Gunnar fared abroad, and Kolskegg with him.  They sailed first to Toensberg,[13] and were there that winter.  There had then been a shift of rulers in Norway, Harold Grayfell was then dead, and so was Gunnhillda.  Earl Hacon the Bad, Sigurd’s son, Hacon’s son, Gritgarth’s son, then ruled the realm.  The mother of Hacon was Bergliot, the daughter of Earl Thorir.  Her mother was Olof harvest-heal.  She was Harold Fair-hair’s daughter.

Hallvard asks Gunnar if he would make up his mind to go to Earl Hacon?

“No; I will not do that,” says Gunnar.  “Hast thou ever a long-ship?”

“I have two,” he says.

“Then I would that we two went on warfare; and let us get men to go with us.”

“I will do that,” says Hallvard.

After that they went to the Bay, and took with them two ships, and fitted them out thence.  They had good choice of men, for much praise was said of Gunnar.

“Whither wilt thou first fare?” says Gunnar.

“I wish to go south-east to Hisingen, to see my kinsman Oliver,” says Hallvard.

“What dost thou want of him?” says Gunnar.

He answered—­“He is a fine brave fellow, and he will be sure to get us some more strength for our voyage”.

“Then let us go thither,” says Gunnar.

So, as soon as they were “boun,” they held on east to Hisingen, and had there a hearty welcome.  Gunnar had only been there a short time ere Oliver made much of him.  Oliver asks about his voyage, and Hallvard says that Gunnar wishes to go a-warfaring to gather goods for himself.

“There’s no use thinking of that,” says Oliver, “when ye have no force.”

“Well,” says Hallvard, “then you may add to it.”

“So I do mean to strengthen Gunnar somewhat,” says Oliver; “and though thou reckonest thyself my kith and kin, I think there is more good in him.”