hin mouth of the axe.'

|| Some days that while tarried Einar in the town.

Now it came to pass that one day a folk-mote was held, for it had
befallen that a thief had been taken in the town, and it was at this
mote that he was to be brought to trial, & the King himself was present.

Aforetime had the man been in the service of Einar who had favoured him
more than a little. Now of this matter was Einar told, and deemed he
that the King would not be the more prone to liberate the man because
he, Einar, set store by him, so accordingly bade he his men arm
themselves and in force to proceed to the mote, and then took Einar the
man away by dint of sheer strength.

Thereafter mediated the friends of either in the matter, & the end
thereof came that it was agreed that a tryst should be appointed and
that the King & Einar should meet one another. There was a
council-chamber in the King's-House down by the river,Sec. and into this
chamber entered the King and with him therein were but few men; the
others left he standing without in the courtyard. Now the King had had a
shutter placed over the smoke-hole, & there was but a little opening.
Then did Einar come into the courtyard with his men, and said he to his
son Eindrid: 'Remain thou out here with the men, and then will there be
no danger for me.'

Wherefore did Eindrid take up his station without the door of the
council-chamber.

Now when Einar was entered into this room said he: 'Dark is it in the
King's council-chamber,' and even at that moment fell men upon him and
some stabbed him & some hewed at him, and when Eindrid heard the tumult
drew he his sword and rushed into the chamber whereon forthwith was he
felled beside his father.

Then did the King's men run towards the chamber and before the door
thereof, but the peasants were all at a loss because now to them
pertained no leader; yet did they urge one another on saying that it
were shame not to avenge their chief, but for all that did they naught,
& made no essay to fight. Then went the King out to his men, set them in
array, & caused his banner to be unfurled, but made he no onset &
thereafter bade he all his men go out to his ship, then rowed they down
the river and so out on the fjord.

Now apace was brought the intelligence of the death of Eindrid to
Bergliot his wife for she was in the lodging that she and Einar
inhabited in the town. Thence went she up unto the King's-House where
was gathered the peasan