CXXIX. Skarphedinn"s Death 241
Cx.x.x. Of Kari Solmund"s Son 245
Cx.x.xI. Njal"s and Bergthora"s Bones Found 248
Cx.x.xII. Flosi"s Dream 251
Cx.x.xIII. Of Flosi"s Journey and his Asking for Help 252
Cx.x.xIV. Of Thorhall and Kari 256
Cx.x.xV. Of Flosi and the Burners 260
Cx.x.xVI. Of Thorgeir Craggeir 262
Cx.x.xVII. Of Eyjolf Bolverk"s Son 262
Cx.x.xVIII. Of Asgrim, and Gizur, and Kari 267
Cx.x.xIX. Of Asgrim and Gudmund 270
CXL. Of the Declarations of the Suits 271
CXLI. Now Men go to the Courts 274
CXLII. Of Eyjolf Bolverk"s Son 284
CXLIII. The Counsel of Thorhall Asgrim"s Son 285
CXLIV. Battle at the Althing 290
CXLV. Of Kari and Thorgeir 299
CXLVI. The Award of Atonement with Thorgeir Craggeir 303
CXLVII. Kari comes to Bjorn"s House in the Mark 305
CXLVIII. Of Flosi and the Burners 307
CXLIX. Of Kari and Bjorn 309
CL. More of Kari and Bjorn 312
CLI. Of Kari, and Bjorn, and Thorgeir 315
CLII. Flosi goes Abroad 317
CLIII. Kari goes Abroad 318
CLIV. Gunnar Lambi"s Son"s Slaying 320
CLV. Of Signs and Wonders 323
CLVI. Brian"s Battle 324
CLVII. The Slaying of Kol Thorstein"s Son 330
CLVIII. Of Flosi and Kari 332
THE STORY OF BURNT NJAL.
CHAPTER I.
OF FIDDLE MORD.
There was a man named Mord whose surname was Fiddle; he was the son of Sigvat the Red, and he dwelt at the "Vale" in the Rangrivervales. He was a mighty chief, and a great taker up of suits, and so great a lawyer that no judgments were thought lawful unless he had a hand in them. He had an only daughter, named Unna. She was a fair, courteous and gifted woman, and that was thought the best match in all the Rangrivervales.
Now the story turns westward to the Broadfirth dales, where, at Hauskuldstede, in Laxriverdale, dwelt a man named Hauskuld, who was Dalakoll"s son, and his mother"s name was Thorgerda. He had a brother named Hrut, who dwelt at Hrutstede; he was of the same mother as Hauskuld, but his father"s name was Heriolf. Hrut was handsome, tall and strong, well skilled in arms, and mild of temper; he was one of the wisest of men--stern towards his foes, but a good counsellor on great matters. It happened once that Hauskuld bade his friends to a feast, and his brother Hrut was there, and sat next him. Hauskuld had a daughter named Hallgerda, who was playing on the floor with some other girls. She was fair of face and tall of growth, and her hair was as soft as silk; it was so long, too, that it came down to her waist. Hauskuld called out to her, "Come hither to me, daughter". So she went up to him, and he took her by the chin, and kissed her; and after that she went away.
Then Hauskuld said to Hrut, "What dost thou think of this maiden? Is she not fair?" Hrut held his peace. Hauskuld said the same thing to him a second time, and then Hrut answered, "Fair enough is this maid, and many will smart for it, but this I know not, whence thief"s eyes have come into our race". Then Hauskuld was wroth, and for a time the brothers saw little of each other.
CHAPTER II.
HRUT WOOS UNNA.
It happened once that those brothers, Hauskuld and Hrut, rode to the Althing, and there was much people at it. Then Hauskuld said to Hrut, "One thing I wish, brother, and that is, that thou wouldst better thy lot and woo thyself a wife."
Hrut answered, "That has been long on my mind, though there always seemed to be two sides to the matter; but now I will do as thou wishest; whither shall we turn our eyes?"
Hauskuld answered, "Here now are many chiefs at the Thing, and there is plenty of choice, but I have already set my eyes on a spot where a match lies made to thy hand. The woman"s name is Unna, and she is a daughter of Fiddle Mord one of the wisest of men. He is here at the Thing, and his daughter too, and thou mayest see her if it pleases thee."
Now the next day, when men were going to the High Court, they saw some well-dressed women standing outside the booths of the men from the Rangrivervales, Then Hauskuld said to Hrut--
"Yonder now is Unna, of whom I spoke; what thinkest thou of her?"
"Well," answered Hrut; "but yet I do not know whether we should get on well together."
After that they went to the High Court, where Fiddle Mord was laying down the law as was his wont, and alter he had done he went home to his booth.