s a better defence. Now, we must
send for Askel, but Thorgeir shall come to thee at once, and a man with
him."

A little while after Thorgeir came, and then he took on him Flosi's
leadership and priesthood.

By that time Askel was come thither too, and then Flosi declared that he
had joined his Thing, and this was with no man's knowledge save theirs.

Now all is quiet till the day when the courts were to go out to try
suits.

CHAPTER CXLI.

NOW MEN GO TO THE COURTS.

Now the time passes away till the courts were to go out to try suits.
Both sides then made them ready to go thither, and armed them. Each side
put war-tokens on their helmets.

Then Thorhall Asgrim's son said--

"Walk hastily in nothing, father mine, and do everything as lawfully and
rightly as ye can, but if ye fall into any strait let me know as quickly
as ye can, and then I will give you counsel."

Asgrim and the others looked at him, and his face was as though it were
all blood, but great teardrops gushed out of his eyes. He bade them
bring him his spear, that had been a gift to him from Skarphedinn, and
it was the greatest treasure.

Asgrim said as they went away--

"Our kinsman Thorhall was not easy in his mind as we left him behind in
the booth, and I know not what he will be at."

Then Asgrim said again--

"Now we will go to Mord Valgard's son, and think of naught else but the
suit, for there is more sport in Flosi than in very many other men."

Then Asgrim sent a man to Gizur the white, and Hjallti Skeggi's son, and
Gudmund the powerful. Now they all came together, and went straight to
the court of Eastfirthers. They went to the court from the south, but
Flosi and all the Eastfirthers with him went to it from the north. There
were also the men of Reykdale and the Axefirthers with Flosi. There,
too, was Eyjolf Bolverk's son. Flosi looked at Eyjolf, and said--

"All now goes fairly, and may be that it will not be far off from thy
guess."

"Keep thy peace about it," says Eyjolf, "and then we shall be sure to
gain our point."

Now Mord took witness, and bade all those men who had suits of outlawry
before the court to cast lots who should first plead or declare his
suit, and who next, and who last; he bade them by a lawful bidding
before the court, so that the judges heard it. Then lots were cast as
to the declarations, and he, Mord, drew the lot to declare his suit
first.

Now Mord Valgard's son took witness the second