ther, all red of hue. There was one horse very goodly, but little
tried: this horse Thorstein offered to give to Gunnlaug. He said he was
in no need of horses, as he was going away from the country; and so they
ride to other stud-horses. There was a grey horse with four mares, and
he was the best of horses in Burgfirth. This one, too, Thorstein offered
to give Gunnlaug, but he said, "I desire these in no wise more than the
others; but why dost thou not bid me what I will take?"

"What is that?" said Thorstein.

"Helga the Fair, thy daughter," says Gunnlaug.

"That rede is not to be settled so hastily," said Thorstein; and
therewithal got on other talk. And now they ride homewards down along
Long-water.

Then said Gunnlaug, "I must needs know what thou wilt answer me about
the wooing."

Thorstein answers: "I heed not thy vain talk," says he.

Gunnlaug says, "This is my whole mind, and no vain words."

Thorstein says, "Thou shouldst first know thine own will. Art thou not
bound to fare abroad? and yet thou makest as if thou wouldst go marry.
Neither art thou an even match for Helga while thou art so unsettled,
and therefore this cannot so much as be looked at."

Gunnlaug says, "Where lookest thou for a match for thy daughter, if
thou wilt not give her to the son of Illugi the Black; or who are they
throughout Burg-firth who are of more note than he?"

Thorstein answered: "I will not play at men-mating," says he, "but if
thou wert such a man as he is, thou wouldst not be turned away."

Gunnlaug said, "To whom wilt thou give thy daughter rather than to me?"

Said Thorstein, "Hereabout are many good men to choose from. Thorfin of
Red-Mel hath seven sons, and all of them men of good manners."

Gunnlaug answers, "Neither Onund nor Thorfin are men as good as my
father. Nay, thou thyself clearly fallest short of him--or what hast
thou to set against his strife with Thorgrim the Priest, the son of
Kiallak, and his sons, at Thorsness Thing, where he carried all that was
in debate?"

Thorstein answers, "I drave away Steinar, the son of Onund Sioni, which
was deemed somewhat of a deed."

Gunnlaug says, "Therein thou wast holpen by thy father Egil; and, to end
all, it is for few bonders to cast away my alliance."

Said Thorstein, "Carry thy cowing away to the fellows up yonder at the
mountains; for down here, on the Meres, it shall avail thee nought."

Now in the evening they come home; but next morning Gunnlaug rod