is not at home.”  Then Thorgils asked where he was.  The man answered, “He is at his out-dairy called Sarp.”  Thorgils asked where that was, and what men were with him.  He said his son Hardbien was there, and two other men, both outlaws, whom he had taken in to shelter.  Thorgils bade him show the nearest way to the dairy, “for I want to meet Helgi at once, when I can get to him and plead my errand to him.”  The house-carle did so and showed him the way, and after that they parted.  Thorgils returned to the wood to his companions, and told them what he had found out about Helgi.  “We must tarry here through the night, and not go to the dairy till to-morrow morning.”  They did as he ordained, and in the morning Thorgils and his band rode up through the wood till they were within a short way from the dairy.  Then Thorgils bade them get off their horses and eat their morning meal, and so they did, and kept them for a while.

CHAP.  LXIII

The Description of his Enemies brought to Helgi

[Sidenote:  Helgi and his shepherd] Now we must tell what happened at the dairy where Helgi was, and with him the men that were named before.  In the morning Helgi told his shepherd to go through the woods in the neighbourhood of the dairy and look out for people passing, and take heed of whatever else he saw, to tell news of, “for my dreams have gone heavily to-night.”  The lad went even as Helgi told him.  He was away awhile, and when he came back Helgi asked what he had seen to tell tidings of.  He answered, “I have seen what I think is stuff for tidings.”  Helgi asked what that was.  He said he had seen men, “and none so few either, and I think they must have come from beyond this countryside.”  Helgi spoke:  “Where were they when you saw them, and what were they doing, or did you take heed of the manner of raiment, or their looks?” He answered, “I was not so much taken aback at the sight as not to mind those matters, for I knew you would ask about them.”  He also said they were but short away from the dairy, and were eating their morning meal.  Helgi asked if they sat in a ring or side by side in a line.  He said they sat in a ring, on their saddles. [Sidenote:  The description of Helgi’s enemies] Helgi said, “Tell me now of their looks, and I will see if I can guess from what they looked like who the men may be.”  The lad said, “There sat a man in a stained saddle, in a blue cloak.  He was great of growth, and valiant-looking; he was bald in front and somewhat ‘tooth-bare.’” Helgi said, “I know that man clearly from your tale.  There you have seen Thorgils Hallason, from west out of Hord-Dale.  I wonder what he wants with us, the hero.”  The lad spoke:  “Next to him sat a man in a gilded saddle; he had on a scarlet kirtle, and a gold ring on his arm, and a gold-embroidered fillet was tied round his head.  This man had yellow hair, waving down over his shoulders; he was fair of hue, with a knot on his nose, which was somewhat turned