Brynjolf rode at Thord, and smote at him with his axe.  He smote at him at the same time with his axe, and hewed in sunder the haft just above Brynjolf s hands, and then hewed at him at once a second time, and struck him on the collarbone, and the blow went straight into his trunk.  Then he fell from horseback, and was dead on the spot.

Thord met Hallgerda’a herdsman, and gave out the slaying as done by his hand, and said where he lay, and bade him tell Hallgerda of the slaying.  After that he rode home to Bergthorsknoll, and told Bergthora of the slaying, and other people too.

“Good luck go with thy hands,” she said.

The herdsman told Hallgerda of the slaying; she was snappish at it, and said much ill would come of it, if she might have her way.

CHAPTER XL.

GUNNAR AND NJAL MAKE PEACE ABOUT BRYNJOLF’S SLAYING.

Now these tidings come to the Thing, and Njal made them tell him the tale thrice, and then he said—­

“More men now become man-slayers than I weened.”

Skarphedinn spoke—­“That man, though, must have been twice fey,” he says, “who lost his life by our foster-father’s hand, who has never seen man’s blood.  And many would think that we brothers would sooner have done this deed with the turn of temper that we have.”

“Scant apace wilt thou have,” says Njal, “ere the like befalls thee; but need will drive thee to it.”

Then they went to meet Gunnar, and told him of the slaying.  Gunnar spoke and said that was little manscathe, “but yet he was a free man”.

Njal offered to make peace at once, and Gunnar said yes, and he was to settle the terms himself.  He made his award there and then, and laid it at one hundred in silver.  Njal paid down the money on the spot, and they were at peace after that.

CHAPTER XLI.

SIGMUND COMES OUT TO ICELAND.

There was a man whose name was Sigmund.  He was the son of Lambi, the son of Sighvat the Red.  He was a great voyager, and a comely and a courteous man; tall too, and strong.  He was a man of proud spirit, and a good skald, and well trained in most feats of strength.  He was noisy and boisterous, and given to jibes and mocking.  He made the land east in Hornfirth.  Skiolld was the name of his fellow-traveller; he was a Swedish man, and ill to do with.  They took horse and rode from the east out of Hornfirth, and did not draw bridle before they came to Lithend, in the Fleetlithe.  Gunnar gave them a hearty welcome, for the bonds of kinship were close between them.  Gunnar begged Sigmund to stay there that winter, and Sigmund said he would take the offer if Skiolld his fellow might be there too.

“Well, I have been so told about him,” said Gunnar, “that he is no better of thy temper; but as it is, thou rather needest to have it bettered.  This, too, is a bad house to stay at, and I would just give both of you a bit of advice, my kinsmen, not to fire up at the egging on of my wife Hallgerda; for she takes much in hand that is far from my will.”