Egil’s Saga by E. R. Eddison Read Free Book Online Page A

other isles to search for him.
    That was about evening that twelve men rowed to Sheppey to search for Egil. Even so there were many isles near by. He saw the ship that fared to the isle. Now nine went up and split into search-parties. Egil had laid him down in the bushes and hidden him before the ship came to land. Now went three in each party, but three minded the ship. And when the search-parties were out of sight of the ship 1 then stood up Egil and went to the ship. But they that minded the ship knew nought afore Egil was come upon them.
    He hewed one his bane-wound forthright, but another took to running and there was there a certain bank to leap up: Egil hewed after him and took off his foot. But one leapt aboard the ship and pushed off with the quant-pole; but Egil drew in the rope and leapt out aboard the ship, and there was no long bandying of blows betwixt them before Egil slew him and bundled him overboard. Then took he oars and rowed away in the ship. Fared he all that night and the day after, and stayed not till he came to Thorir the Hersir’s.
    Now Oliver and his fellows the King let fare in peace as for these doings. But those men that were in Sheppey, they were there many nights, and slew cattle for their meat, took fire and made a cooking-place: they made it so great that it might be seen from home, laid fire in and made a beacon. But when that was seen, then folk rowed out to them. The King was by then away: fared he then to another feast.
    Oliver and his came home before Egil, and Thorir and Thorolf and their folk were new come home from the bridal. Oliver said the tidings: Bard’s slaying and those chances that there had befallen, but he wist nought of Egil’s farings, and Thorolf was all unmerry, and so too Arinbiorn. It seemed to them as if he would not come back again.
    But the morning after, came Egil home. Now when Thorolf was let know of this, then stood he up and went to find Egil andasked him in what manner he had come off, and what to tell of had befallen in his faring. Then quoth Egil a stave: 2
    So have I farewell’d Listland’s
Landwarder’s garth, and Gunnhild’s,
Rich in deeds (I’ll draw no
Darkling veil to hide them),
As that some three thanes there
Of Hlokk’s thriving rowan,
In Hell’s huge dwelling,
Hell-gone, end their goings.
    Arinbiorn deemed well of this work: said that his father’s duty it was to make peace for him with the King.
    Thorir saith, “That will be the talk of men, that Bard will have gotten his deserts in this, that he was slain. And yet goeth it over-much in Egil’s family, to look too little before them lest they stand in the King’s wrath; and that turneth out for most men a thing heavy to bear. Yet even so will I bring thee into atonement with the King as for this time”.
    Thorir went to see the King; but Arinbiorn was at home, and said one fate should go over them all. But when Thorir came to see the King, then made he offer for behalf of Egil, bade himself as surety, and the King’s doom. 3 King Eric was of the wrath-fullest, and nought easy was it to come to an agreement with him.
    The King spake and said that that would come true, even as his father had said, that ’twould be long ere one put trust in those kinsfolk: bade Thorir so devise as that, “albeit I do somewhat of peace-making, Egil be not long a dweller in my realm. But, for sake of thee, Thorir, will I take fee for those men”.
    The King made the fine such as seemed him good, but Thorir paid it all. Fared he then home.
    CHAPTER XLVI. THOROLF AND EGIL HARRY IN KURLAND.
    T HOROLF and Egil were with Thorir in good honour and esteem; but they made ready in the spring a great longship and found men thereto and fared in the summer east-away and harried and gat them fee and had many battles. They held withal out to Kurland, and lay by the land there for a half month’s peace and cheaping-mart. 1 But when that was ended, then took they to harrying and set on there at this stead and at