Then he went forward so mightily that Gunnar and his folk shrunk back before him, and he slew two of the men of those brothers, and thereafter turned to meet Gunnar, and smote at him, so that the shield was cleft asunder almost below the handle, and the stroke fell on his leg below the knee, and then he smote at him again, and that was his bane.

Now is it to be told of Grim Thorhallson that he went against Thorgeir, and they strove together long, for each was a hardy man.  Thorgeir saw the fall of his brother Gunnar, and was fain to draw off.  Grim ran after him, and followed him till Thorgeir stumbled, and fell face foremost; then Grim smote at him with an axe betwixt the shoulders, so that it stood deep sunken therein.

Then they gave peace to three of their followers who were left; and thereafter they bound up their wounds, and laid the burdens on the horses, and then fared home, and made these man-slayings known.

Atli sat at home with many men through the winter.  Thorbiorn Oxmain took these doings exceedingly ill, but could do naught therein because Atli was a man well befriended.  Grim was with him through the winter, and Gamli, his brother-in-law; and there was Glum, son of Uspak, another kinsman-in-law of his, who at that time dwelt at Ere in Bitra.  They had many men dwelling at Biarg, and great mirth was thereat through the winter.

CHAP.  XLIV.

The Suit for the Slaying of the Sons of Thorir of the Pass.

Thorbiorn Oxmain took on himself the suit for the slaying of the sons of Thorir of the Pass.  He made ready a suit against Grim and Atli, but they set forth for their defence onset and attack, to make those brothers fall unatoned.  The suit was brought to the Hunawater Thing, and men came thronging to both sides.  Atli had good help because he was exceeding strong of kin.

Now the friends of both stood forth and talked of peace, and all said that Atli’s ways were good, a peaceful man, but stout in danger none-the-less.

Now Thorbiorn deemed that by nought would his honour be served better than by taking the peace offered.  Atli laid down before-hand that he would have neither district outlawry nor banishment.

Then were men chosen for the judges.  Thorvald, son of Asgeir, on Atli’s side, and on Thorbiorn’s, Solvi the Proud, who was the son of Asbrand, the son of Thorbrand, the son of Harald Ring, who had settled all Waterness from the Foreland up to Bond-maids River on the west, but on the east all up to Cross-river, and there right across to Berg-ridge, and all on that side of the Bergs down to the sea:  this Solvi was a man of great stateliness and a wise man, therefore Thorbiorn chose him to be judge on his behoof.

Now they set forth their judgment, that half-fines should be paid for the sons of Thorir, but half fell away because of the onslaught and attack, and attempt on Atli’s life, the slaying of Atli’s house-carle, who was slain on Ramfirth-neck, and the slaying of those twain who fell with the sons of Thorir were set off one against the other.  Grim Thorhallson should leave dwelling in the district, but Atli alone should pay the money atonement.