“Thralls are men of more mettle than of yore; they used to fly at each other and fight, and no one thought much harm of that; but now they will do naught but kill,” and as he said this he smiled.

Njal pulled down the purse of money which hung up in the booth, and went out; his sons went with him to Gunnar’s booth.

Skarphedinn said to a man who was in the doorway of the booth—­

“Say thou to Gunnar that my father wants to see him.”

He did so, and Gunnar went out at once and gave Njal a hearty welcome.  After that they began to talk.

“’Tis ill done,” says Njal, “that my housewife should have broken the peace, and let thy house-carle be slain.”

“She shall not have blame for that,” says Gunnar.

“Settle the award thyself,” says Njal.

“So I will do,” say Gunnar, “and I value those two men at an even price, Swart and Kol.  Thou shalt pay me twelve ounces in silver.”

Njal took the purse of money and handed it to Gunnar.  Gunnar knew the money, and saw it was the same that he had paid Njal.  Njal went away to his booth, and they were just as good friends as before.  When Njal came home, he blamed Bergthora; but she said she would never give way to Hallgerda.  Hallgerda was very cross with Gunnar, because he had made peace for Kol’s slaying, Gunnar told her he would never break with Njal or his sons, and she flew into a great rage; but Gunnar took no heed of that, and so they sat for that year, and nothing noteworthy happened.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

THE KILLING OF ATLI THE THRALL.

Next spring Njal said to Atli—­“I wish that thou wouldst change thy abode to the east firths, so that Hallgerda may not put an end to thy life”.

“I am not afraid of that,” says Atli, “and I will willingly stay at home if I have the choice.”

“Still that is less wise,” says Njal.

“I think it better to lose my life in thy house than to change my master; but this I will beg of thee, if I am slain, that a thrall’s price shall not be paid for me.”

“Thou shalt be atoned for as a free man; but perhaps Bergthora will make thee a promise which she will fulfil, that revenge, man for man, shall be taken for thee.”

Then he made up his mind to be a hired servant there.

Now it must be told of Hallgerda that she sent a man west to Bearfirth, to fetch Brynjolf the Unruly, her kinsman.  He was a base son of Swan, and he was one of the worst of men.  Gunnar knew nothing about it.  Hallgerda said he was well fitted to be a grieve.  So Brynjolf came from the west, and Gunnar asked what he was to do there?  He said he was going to stay there.

“Thou wilt not better our household,” says Gunnar, “after what has been told me of thee, but I will not turn away any of Hallgerda’s kinsmen, whom she wishes to be with her.”

Gunnar said little, but was not unkind to him, and so things went on till the Thing.  Gunnar rides to the Thing and Kolskegg rides too, and when they came to the Thing they and Njal met, for he and his sons were at the Thing, and all went well with Gunnar and them.