they ought to be slain. [Sidenote:  Kotkell’s horses] After that Kotkell and his went away with no other goods than four stud-horses.  The stallion was black; he was both great and fair and very strong, and tried in horse-fighting.  Nothing is told of their journey till they came to Combeness, to Thorliek, Hoskuld’s son.  He asked to buy the horses from them, for he said that they were exceeding fine beasts.  Kotkell replied, “I’ll give you the choice.  Take you the horses and give me some place to dwell in here in your neighbourhood.”  Thorliek said, “Will the horses not be rather dear, then, for I have heard tell you are thought rather guilty in this countryside?” Kotkell answers, “In this you are hinting at the men of Laugar.”  Thorliek said that was true.  Then Kotkell said, “Matters point quite another way, as concerning our guilt towards Gudrun and her brothers, than you have been told; people have overwhelmed us with slander for no cause at all.  Take the horses, nor let these matters stand in the way.  Such tales alone are told of you, moreover, as would show that we shall not be easily tripped up by the folk of this countryside, if we have your help to fall back upon.” [Sidenote:  Thorliek shelters Kotkell] Thorliek now changed his mind in this matter, for the horses seemed fair to him, and Kotkell pleaded his case cunningly; so Thorliek took the horses, and gave them a dwelling at Ludolfstead in Salmon-river-Dale, and stocked them with farming beasts.  This the men of Laugar heard, and the sons of Osvif wished to fall forthwith on Kotkell and his sons; but Osvif said, “Let us take now the counsel of Priest Snorri, and leave this business to others, for short time will pass before the neighbours of Kotkell will have brand new cases against him and his, and Thorliek, as is most fitting, will abide the greatest hurt from them.  In a short while many will become his enemies from whom heretofore he has only had good will.  But I shall not stop you from doing whatever hurt you please to Kotkell and his, if other men do not come forward to drive them out of the countryside or to take their lives, by the time that three winters have worn away.”  Gudrun and her brothers said it should be as he said.  Kotkell and his did not do much in working for their livelihood, but that winter they were in no need to buy hay or food; but an unbefriended neighbourhood was theirs, though men did not see their way to disturbing their dwelling because of Thorliek.

CHAP.  XXXVII

About Hrut and Eldgrim, A.D. 995

One summer at the Thing, as Thorliek was sitting in his booth, a very big man walked into the booth. [Sidenote:  Eldgrim of Burgfirth] He greeted Thorliek, who took well the greeting of this man and asked his name and whence he was.  He said he was called Eldgrim, and lived in Burgfirth at a place called Eldgrimstead—­but that abode lies in the valley which cuts westward into the mountains between Mull and Pigtongue, and