er it in the water, or else
set fire to it before your enemies can get here!'

'What is the use of doing anything?' answered Skarphedinn, 'for if it is
written that we should be burned, our foes will find some other fuel,
though I were to scatter this stack to the four winds;' and he went away
laughing.

All through the summer the old nurse was ever begging Njal to do away
with the stack of vetch, but the harvest was plentiful in the pastures
and the men never came home save to sleep.

'We can bring in that vetch stack any time,' they said.

* * * * *

The harvest was stored in the barns, and a good harvest it was. There
had been none such since the day that Gunnar had fared from Lithend with
Kolskegg, and had returned to his ruin. One day, when Grim and Helgi,
Njal's sons, had ridden away to Holar to see their children, who were at
nurse there, they heard strange tidings from some poor woman, that the
country side was stirring and that bands of men were gathering together,
and were seen riding along the same road.

At this news Grim and Helgi looked at each other.

'Let us go home to Bergthorasknoll,' said they.

Now they had told their mother they would sleep that night at Holar,
with their children, so she gave no thought to them; but in the evening,
when the hour had come to prepare supper, Bergthora bade every man
choose whatever dish he liked best, 'for,' said she, 'this is the last
food you will eat in this house!'

'Of a truth you must be ill to speak such words,' cried they.

'They are true words,' she said again; 'and that you may know them to be
true, I will give you a sign. Before the meat that is on the board
to-night is eaten, Grim and Helgi will be in the house!' and she held
her peace and went out.

When the food was prepared, Bergthora called to them, and all sat down
but Njal, who lingered in the doorway.

'What hinders you eating with the rest?' asked Bergthora; and Njal, as
he answered, put his hand before his eyes.

'A vision has come to me,' he said slowly--'the wall is thrown down, and
the board is wet with blood.'

At this the men's faces grew pale, and a strange look came into their
eyes, but Skarphedinn bade them be of good cheer, and to remember that,
whatever might befall, all men would look to them to bear themselves
bravely.

Then Grim and Helgi entered with their tidings, and every one had in his
mind what Bergthora had said, and knew that