eighbourhood." Thorliek said,
"Will the horses not be rather dear, then, for I have heard tell you are
thought rather guilty in this countryside?" Kotkell answers, "In this you
are hinting at the men of Laugar." Thorliek said that was true. Then
Kotkell said, "Matters point quite another way, as concerning our guilt
towards Gudrun and her brothers, than you have been told; people have
overwhelmed us with slander for no cause at all. Take the horses, nor let
these matters stand in the way. Such tales alone are told of you,
moreover, as would show that we shall not be easily tripped up by the folk
of this countryside, if we have your help to fall back upon." [Sidenote:
Thorliek shelters Kotkell] Thorliek now changed his mind in this matter,
for the horses seemed fair to him, and Kotkell pleaded his case
cunningly; so Thorliek took the horses, and gave them a dwelling at
Ludolfstead in Salmon-river-Dale, and stocked them with farming beasts.
This the men of Laugar heard, and the sons of Osvif wished to fall
forthwith on Kotkell and his sons; but Osvif said, "Let us take now the
counsel of Priest Snorri, and leave this business to others, for short
time will pass before the neighbours of Kotkell will have brand new cases
against him and his, and Thorliek, as is most fitting, will abide the
greatest hurt from them. In a short while many will become his enemies
from whom heretofore he has only had good will. But I shall not stop you
from doing whatever hurt you please to Kotkell and his, if other men do
not come forward to drive them out of the countryside or to take their
lives, by the time that three winters have worn away." Gudrun and her
brothers said it should be as he said. Kotkell and his did not do much in
working for their livelihood, but that winter they were in no need to buy
hay or food; but an unbefriended neighbourhood was theirs, though men did
not see their way to disturbing their dwelling because of Thorliek.

CHAP. XXXVII

About Hrut and Eldgrim, A.D. 995

One summer at the Thing, as Thorliek was sitting in his booth, a very
big man walked into the booth. [Sidenote: Eldgrim of Burgfirth] He
greeted Thorliek, who took well the greeting of this man and asked his
name and whence he was. He said he was called Eldgrim, and lived in
Burgfirth at a place called Eldgrimstead--but that abode lies in the
valley which cuts westward into the mountains between Mull and
Pigtongue, and is now called Grimsdale. Th