Njal spoke and said, “‘slow and sure,’ says the proverb, mistress! and so it is with many things, though they try men’s tempers, that there are always two sides to a story, even when vengeance is taken”.

But at even when Njal was come into his bed, he heard that an axe came against the panel and rang loudly, but there was another shut bed, and there the shields were hung up, and he sees that they are away.  He said, “who have taken down our shields?”

“Thy sons went out with them,” says Bergthora.

Njal pulled his shoes on his feet, and went out at once, and round to the other side of the house, and sees that they were taking their course right up the slope; he said, “whither away, Skarphedinn?”

“To look after thy sheep,” he answers.

“You would not then be armed,” said Njal, “if you meant that, and your errand must be something else.”

Then Skarphedinn sang a song—­

  Squanderer of hoarded wealth,
  Some there are that own rich treasure,
  Ore of sea that clasps the earth,
  And yet care to count their sheep;
  Those who forge sharp songs of mocking,
  Death songs, scarcely can possess
  Sense of sheep that crop the grass;
  Such as these I seek in fight;

and said afterwards—­

“We shall fish for salmon, father.”

“’Twould be well then if it turned out so that the prey does not get away from you.”

They went their way, but Njal went to his bed, and he said to Bergthora, “Thy sons were out of doors all of them, with arms, and now thou must have egged them on to something”.

“I will give them my heartfelt thanks,” said Bergthora, “if they tell me the slaying of Sigmund.”

CHAPTER XLV.

THE SLAYING OF SIGMUND AND SKIOLLD.

Now they, Njal’s sons, fare up to Fleetlithe, and were that night under the Lithe, and when the day began to break, they came near to Lithend.  That same morning both Sigmund and Skiolld rose up and meant to go to the stud-horses; they had bits with them, and caught the horses that were in the “town” and rode away on them.  They found the stud-horses between two brooks.  Skarphedinn caught sight of them, for Sigmund was in bright clothing.  Skarphedinn said, “See you now the red elf yonder, lads?” They looked that way, and said they saw him.

Skarphedinn spoke again:  “Thou, Hauskuld, shalt have nothing to do with it, for thou wilt often be sent about alone without due heed; but I mean Sigmund for myself; methinks that is like a man; but Grim and Helgi, they shall try to slay Skiolld”.

Hauskuld sat him down, but they went until they came up to them.  Skarphedinn said to Sigmund—­

“Take thy weapons and defend thyself; that is more needful now, than to make mocking songs on me and my brothers.”