Автор литература - Njal's Saga

together that were needful.

Now we must tell of the sons of Sigfus how they say to Flosi that

they will ride west to Fleetlithe to set their houses in order,

and get wares thence, and such other things as they needed.

“Kari is not there now to be guarded against,” they say, “if he

is in the north country as is said.”

“I know not,” answers Flosi, “as to such stories, whether there

be any truth in what is said of Kari’s journeyings; methinks, we

have often been wrong in believing things which are nearer to

learn than this. My counsel is that ye go many of you together,

and part as little as ye can, and be as wary of yourselves as ye

may. Thou, too, Kettle of the Mark shalt bear in mind that dream

which I told thee, and which thou prayedst me to hide; for many

are those in thy company who were then called.”

“All must come to pass as to man’s life,” said Kettle, “as it is

foredoomed; but good go with thee for thy warning.”

Now they spoke no more about it.

After that the sons of Sigfus busked them and those men with them

who were meant to go with them. They were eight in all, and then

they rode away, and ere they went they kissed Flosi, and he bade

them farewell, and said he and some of those who rode away would

not see each other more. But they would not let themselves be

hindered. They rode now on their way, and Flosi said that they

should take his wares in Middleland, and carry them east, and do

the same in Landsbreach and Woodcombe.

After that they rode to Skaptartongue, and so on the fell, and

north of Eyjafell Jokul, and down into Godaland, and so down into

the woods in Thorsmark.

Bjorn of the Mark caught sight of them coming, and went at once

to meet them.

Then they greeted each other well, and the sons of Sigfus asked

after Kari Solmund’s son.

“I met Kari,” said Bjorn, “and that is now very long since; he

rode hence north on Goose-sand, and meant to go to Gudmund the

Powerful, and methought if he were here now, he would stand in

awe of you, for he seemed to be left all alone.”

Grani Gunnar’s son said, “He shall stand more in awe of us yet

before we have done with him, and he shall learn that as soon as

ever he comes within spearthrow of us; but as for us, we do not

fear him at all, now that he is all alone.”

Kettle of the Mark bade them be still, and bring out no big

words.

Bjorn asked when they would be coming back.

“We shall stay near a week in Fleetlithe,” said they, and so they

told him when they should be riding back on the fell.

With that they parted.

Now the sons of Sigfus rode to their homes, and their households

were glad to see them. They were there near a week.

Now Bjorn comes home and sees Kari, and told him all about the

doings of the sons of Sigfus, and their purpose.

Kari said he had shown in this great faithfulness to him, and

Bjorn said, “I should have thought there was more risk of any

other man’s failing in that than of me if I had pledged my help

or care to any one.”

“Ah,” said his mistress, “but you may still be bad and yet not be

so bad as to be a traitor to thy master.”

Kari stayed there six nights after that.

149. OF KARI AND BJORN

Now Kari talks to Bjorn and says, “We shall ride east across the

fell and down into Skaptartongue, and fare stealthily over

Flosi’s country, for I have it in my mind to get myself carried

abroad east in Alftafirth.”

“This is a very riskful journey,” said Bjorn, “and few would have

the heart to take it save thou and I.”

“If thou backest Kari ill,” said his housewife, “know this, that

thou shalt never come afterwards into my bed, and my kinsmen

shall share our goods between us.”

“It is likelier, mistress,” said he, “that thou wilt have to look

out for something else than this if thou hast a mind to part from

me: for I will bear my own witness to myself what a champion and

daredevil I am when weapons clash.”

Now they rode that day east on the fell to the north of the

Jokul, but never on the highway, and so down into Skaptartongue,

and above all the homesteads to Skaptarwater, and led their

horses into a dell, but they themselves were on the look-out, and

had so placed themselves that they could not be seen.

Then Kari said to Bjorn, “What shall we do now if they ride down

upon us here from the fell?”

“Are there not but two things to be done,” said Bjorn; “one to

ride away from them north under the crags, and so let them ride

by us, or to wait and see if any of them lag behind, and then to

fall on them.”

They talked much about this, and one while Bjorn was for flying

as fast as he could in every word he spoke, and at another for

staying and fighting it out with them, and Kari thought this the

greatest sport.

The sons of Sigfus rode from their homes the same day that they

had named to Bjorn. They came to the Mark and knocked at the

door there, and wanted to see Bjorn; but his mistress went to the

door and greeted them. They asked at once for Bjorn, and she

said he had ridden away down under Eyjafell, and so east under

Selialandsmull, and on east to Holt, “for he has some money to

call in thereabouts,” she said.

They believed this, for they knew that Bjorn had money out at

call there.

After that they rode east on the fell, and did not stop before

they came to Skaptartongue, and so rode down along Skaptarwater,

and baited their horses just where Kari had thought they would.

Then they split their band. Kettle of the Mark rode east into

Middleland, and eight men with him, but the others laid them down

to sleep, and were not ware of aught until Kari and Bjorn came up

to them. A little ness ran out there into the river; into it

Kari went and took his stand, and bade Bjorn stand back to back

with him, and not to put himself too forward, “but give me all

the help thou canst.”

“Well,” says Bjorn, “I never had it in my head that any man

should stand before me as a shield, but still as things are thou

must have thy way; but for all that, with my gift of wit and my

swiftness I may be of some use to thee, and not harmless to our

foes.”

Now they all rose up and ran at them, and Modolf Kettle’s son was

quickest of them, and thrust at Kari with his spear. Kari had

his shield before him, and the blow fell on it, and the spear

stuck fast in the shield. Then Kari twists the shield so

smartly, that the spear snapped short off, and then he drew his

sword and smote at Modolf; but Modolf made a cut at him too, and

Kari’s sword fell on Modolf’s hilt, and glanced off it on to

Modolf’s wrist, and took the arm off, and down it fell, and the

sword too. Then Kari’s sword passed on into Modolf’s side, and

between his ribs, and so Modolf fell down and was dead on the

spot.

Grani Gunnar’s son snatched up a spear and hurled it at Kari, but

Kari thrust down his shield so hard that the point stood fast in

the ground, but with his left hand he caught the spear in the

air, and hurled it back at Grani, and caught up his shield again

at once with his left hand. Grani had his shield before him, and

the spear came on the shield and passed right through it, and

into Grani’s thigh just below the small guts, and through the

limb, and so on, pinning him to the ground, and he could not get