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

that.
    On a day, they set on by a certain great river-mouth; there there was withal a great forest. They took rede there for a going up aland, and split into bands of twelve men together. They went into the wood, and not long it was before the settled lands began. They robbed there and slew men, but the folk fled away and they found there no withstanding.
    But when the day was far spent, Thorolf let blow to his folk for going down to the sea again. Turned men back then into the wood, there where each was standing, and so soon only could the folk be counted when they were come down to the strand. But when Thorolf was come down, Egil was not come. And then it took to darken unto night, and it seemed to them that they had no means to search for him.
    Egil had gone over the wood, and twelve men with him, and they saw then great level spaces and settled land. One farmstead stood but a short way from them, and they set off to it, and when they came to it, leap they in into the house and were ware of no men there, but took those goods that were loose. There were there many houses and there was tarrying for them there a long while; but when they were come out and away from the buildings, then was the people come betwixt them and the wood, and set upon them. There was a high wood fence made betwixt them and the wood.
    Then spake Egil, that they should follow him, so that they might not go at them on all sides. Went Egil then first, and then each after other, so near that there was no coming betwixt them. The Kurlanders set on fast against them, and mostly with thrustand shot, but went not to a battle of handy-strokes. Egil and his knew nought before they were gotten beside the fence, but the fence went on either hand of them and they might find no way to go forward. The Kurlanders set on after them into that pen, but some set on from without and thrust with spears and swords through the fence, while some threw clothes over their weapons.
    They were wounded and next after that, laid hand on and all bound: led so home to the farmstead. That man who had that farmstead was a powerful and a wealthy. He had a son, well grown. And now it was talked on, what should they do with them. Said the bonder, that he thought that a good rede, if each were slain at the others’ feet. The bonder’s son said that it was now dark night, and they might not then have any sport with torturing 2 of them: he bade let them bide for morning. Then were they shot into a house and bound strongly; Egil was bound to a post, both hand and foot. And now was the house locked up strongly, but the Kurlanders went into the hall and took meat and were all merry and drank.
    Egil set to work and made trial of the post till he gat it loosened up out of the floor. Therewith fell the post: Egil rid himself of the post then. And now loosed he his hands with his teeth. But when his hands were loosed, loosed he the bands off his feet. And now loosed he his fellows.
    But when they were all loose, searched they about in the house, where it was likeliest to make a way out. The house was made with walls of great logs of timber, but at one end of the house was a flat shield-wainscot. 3 They leapt at that, and brake the wainscot. There was there another house that they came into. There were there too timber walls about it. Then heard they men’s speech under their feet below. Then searched they about, and found a trap-door in the floor. They opened that up: there was under it a deep hole. They heard thence the speech of men.
    And now Egil asked what men it might be there. That one named himself Aki, that spake with him. Egil asked if he would up out of the hole. Aki saith they would that willingly. Therewith Egil and his let down a rope into the hole (that one that they had been bounden with), and drew up there three men. Aki said that that was his two sons, and they were Danish men: had beentaken in war there that last summer. “I was”, said he, “well entreated i’ the winter. I