Gunnar asks if Njal were at home; and he was told that he was at home; then he let them saddle his horse, and those brothers rode over to Bergthorsknoll.

Njal was glad at their coming, and begged them to stay there that night, and Gunnar told him of his voyages.

Njal said he was a man of the greatest mark, “and thou hast been much proved; but still thou wilt be more tried hereafter; for many will envy thee”.

“With all men I would wish to stand well,” says Gunnar.

“Much bad will happen,” says Njal, “and thou wilt always have some quarrel to ward off.”

“So be it, then,” says Gunnar, “so that I have a good ground on my side.”

“So will it be too,” says Njal, “if thou hast not to smart for others.”

Njal asked Gunnar if he would ride to the Thing.  Gunnar said he was going to ride thither, and asks Njal whether he were going to ride; but he said he would not ride thither, “and if I had my will thou wouldst do the like”.

Gunnar rode home, and gave Njal good gifts, and thanked him for the care he had taken of his goods, Kolskegg urged him on much to ride to the Thing, saying, “There thy honour will grow, for many will flock to see thee there”.

“That has been little to my mind,” says Gunnar, “to make a show of myself; but I think it good and right to meet good and worthy men.”

Hallvard by this time was also come thither, and offered to ride to the Thing with them.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

GUNNAR’S WOOING.

So Gunnar rode, and they all rode.  But when they came to the Thing they were so well arrayed that none could match them in bravery; and men came out of every booth to wonder at them.  Gunnar rode to the booths of the men of Rangriver, and was there with his kinsmen.  Many men came to see Gunnar, and ask tidings of him; and he was easy and merry to all men, and told them all they wished to hear.

It happened one day that Gunnar went away from the Hill of Laws, and passed by the booths of the men from Mossfell; then he saw a woman coming to meet him, and she was in goodly attire; but when they met she spoke to Gunnar at once.  He took her greeting well, and asks what woman she might be.  She told him her name was Hallgerda, and said she was Hauskuld’s daughter, Dalakoll’s son.  She spoke up boldly to him, and bade him tell her of his voyages; but he said he would not gainsay her a talk.  Then they sat them down and talked.  She was so clad that she had on a red kirtle, and had thrown over her a scarlet cloak trimmed with needlework down to the waist.  Her hair came down to her bosom, and was both fair and full.  Gunnar was clad in the scarlet clothes which King Harold Gorm’s son had given him; he had also the gold ring on his arm which Earl Hacon had given him.

So they talked long out loud, and at last it came about that he asked whether she were unmarried.  She said, so it was, “and there are not many who would run the risk of that”.