of fame to you to take away the horses while Thorliek lies in his bed and sleeps; you would keep best what you agreed upon if you go and meet himself before you drive the horses out of the countryside.”  Eldgrim said, “Go and warn Thorliek if you wish, for you may see I have prepared myself in such a manner as that I should like it well if we were to meet together, I and Thorliek,” and therewith he brandished the barbed spear he had in his hand.  He had also a helmet on his head, and a sword girded on his side, and a shield on his flank, and had on a chain coat.  Hrut said, “I think I must seek for something else than to go to Combeness for I am heavy of foot; but I mean not to allow Thorliek to be robbed if I have means thereto, no matter how little love there may go with our kinship.”  Eldgrim said, “And do you mean to take the horses away from me?” Hrut said, “I will give you other stud-horses if you will let these alone, though they may not be quite so good as these are.”  Eldgrim said, “You speak most kindly, Hrut, but since I have got hold of Thorliek’s horses you will not pluck them out of my hands either by bribes or threats.” [Sidenote:  He kills Eldgrim] Hrut replied, “Then I think you are making for both of us the choice that answers the worst.”  Eldgrim now wanted to part, and gave the whip to his horse, and when Hrut saw that, he raised up his halberd and struck Eldgrim through the back between the shoulders so that the coat of mail was torn open and the halberd flew out through the chest, and Eldgrim fell dead off his horse, as was only natural.  After that Hrut covered up his body at the place called Eldgrim’s-holt south of Combeness.  Then Hrut rode over to Combeness and told Thorliek the tidings.  Thorliek burst into a rage, and thought a great shame had been done him by this deed, while Hrut thought he had shown him great friendship thereby.  Thorliek said that not only had he done this for an evil purpose, but that, moreover, no good would come in return for it.  Hrut said that Thorliek must do what pleased him, and so they parted in no loving kindness.  Hrut was eighty years old when he killed Eldgrim, and he was considered by that deed to have added much to his fame.  Thorliek thought that Hrut was none the worthier of any good from him for being more renowned for this deed, for he held it was perfectly clear he would have himself have got the better of Eldgrim if they had had a trial of arms between them, seeing how little was needed to trip Eldgrim up. [Sidenote:  Kotkell’s enchantments] Thorliek now went to see his tenants Kotkell and Grima, and bade them do something to the shame of Hrut.  They took this up gladly, and said they were quite ready to do so.  Thorliek now went home.  A little later they, Kotkell and Grima and their sons, started on a journey from home, and that was by night.  They went to Hrut’s dwelling, and made great incantations there, and when the spell-working began, those within were at a loss to make out what could be the reason of it; but sweet