'tooth-bare.'"
Helgi said, "I know that man clearly from your tale. There you have
seen Thorgils Hallason, from west out of Hord-Dale. I wonder what he
wants with us, the hero." The lad spoke: "Next to him sat a man in a
gilded saddle; he had on a scarlet kirtle, and a gold ring on his arm,
and a gold-embroidered fillet was tied round his head. This man had
yellow hair, waving down over his shoulders; he was fair of hue, with
a knot on his nose, which was somewhat turned up at the tip, with very
fine eyes--blue-eyed and swift-eyed, and with a glance somewhat
restless, broad-browed and full-cheeked; he had his hair cut across
his forehead. He was well grown as to breadth of shoulders and depth
of chest. He had very beautiful hands, and strong-looking arms. All
his bearing was courteous, and, in a word, I have never seen a man so
altogether doughty-looking. He was a young-looking man too, for his
lips had grown no beard, but it seemed to me he was aged by grief."
Then Helgi answers: "You have paid a careful heed, indeed, to this
man, and of much account he must needs be; yet this man, I think, I
have never seen, so I must make a guess at it who he is. There, I
think, must have been Bolli Bollison, for I am told he has in him the
makings of a man." [Sidenote: The description continued] Then the lad
went on: "Next there sat a man on an enamelled saddle in a yellow
green kirtle; he had a great finger ring on his hand. This man was
most goodly to behold, and must still be young of age; his hair was
auburn and most comely, and in every way he was most courtly." Helgi
answers, "I think I know who this man is, of whom you have now been
telling. He must be Thorleik Bollison, and a sharp and mindful man you
are." The lad said again, "Next sat a young man; he was in a blue
kirtle and black breeches, and his tunic tucked into them. This man
was straight-faced, light of hair, with a goodly-featured face,
slender and graceful." Helgi answered, "I know that man, for I must
have seen him, though at a time when he was quite young; for it must
be Thord Thordson, fosterling of Snorri the Priest. And a very courtly
band they have, the Westfirthers. What is there yet to tell?" Then the
lad said, "There sat a man on a Scotch saddle, hoary of beard and very
sallow of hue, with black curly hair, somewhat unsightly and yet
warrior like; he had on a grey pleated cape." Helgi said, "I clearly
see who that man is; there is Lambi, the son of Thorbjo