Then Flosi said to the sons of Sigfus—­

“Choose ye now a leader, whomsoever ye think best fitted; for some one man must needs be chief over the quarrel.”

Then Kettle of the Mark answered—­

“If the choice is to be left with us brothers, then we will soon choose that this duty should fall on thee; there are many things which lead to this.  Thou art a man of great birth, and a mighty chief, stout of heart, and strong of body, and wise withal, and so we think it best that thou shouldst see to all that is needful in the quarrel.”

“It is most fitting,” said Flosi, “that I should agree to undertake this as your prayer asks; and now I will lay down the course which we shall follow, and my counsel is, that each man ride home from the Thing and look after his household during the summer, so long as men’s haymaking lasts.  I, too, will ride home, and be at home this summer; but when that Lord’s day comes on which winter is eight weeks off, then I will let them sing me a mass at home, and afterwards ride west across Loomnips Sand; each of our men shall have two horses.  I will not swell our company beyond those which have now taken the oath, for we have enough and to spare if all keep true tryst.  I will ride all the Lord’s day and the night as well, but at even on the second day of the week, I shall ride up to Threecorner ridge about mid-even.  There shall ye then be all come who have sworn an oath in this matter.  But if there be any one who has not come, and who has joined us in this quarrel, then that man shall lose nothing save his life, if we may have our way.”

“How does that hang together,” said Kettle, “that thou canst ride from home on the Lord’s day, and come the second day of the week to Threecorner ridge?”

“I will ride,” said Flosi, “up from Skaptartongue, and north of the Eyjafell Jokul, and so down into Godaland, and it may be done if I ride fast.  And now I will tell you my whole purpose, that when we meet there all together, we shall ride to Bergthorsknoll with all our band, and fall on Njal’s sons with fire and sword, and not turn away before they are all dead.  Ye shall hide this plan, for our lives lie on it.  And now we will take to our horses and ride home.”

Then they all went to their booths.

After that Flosi made them saddle his horses, and they waited for no man, and rode home.

Flosi would not stay to meet Hall his father-in-law, for he knew of a surety that Hall would set his face against all strong deeds.

Njal rode home from the Thing and his sons.  They were at home that summer.  Njal asked Kari his son-in-law whether he thought at all of riding east to Dyrholms to his own house.

“I will not ride east,” answered Kari, “for one fate shall befall me and thy sons.”

Njal thanked him, and said that was only what was likely from him.  There were nearly thirty fighting men in Njal’s house, reckoning the house-carles.