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smithy and laid it down before the smithy door, and thenceforth he hammered iron on it. That stone
lies there yet, and much slag beside it; and the marks of the hammering may be seen on its upper face,
and it is a surf-worn boulder, unlike the other stones that are there. Four men nowadays could not lift a
larger mass. Skallagrim worked hard at smithying, but his house-carles grumbled thereat, and thought
it over early rising. Then Skallagrim composed this stave:
Who wins wealth by iron
Right early must rise:
Of the sea s breezy brother
Wind-holders need blast.
On furnace-gold glowing
My stout hammer rings,
While heat-feeding bellows
A whistling storm stir.
Chapter 31 - Of Skallagrim s children.
Skallagrim and Bera had a great many children, but at first they all died. Then they had a son, who was
sprinkled with water and named Thorolf. As a child he soon grew to be tall and was fair of
countenance. It was the talk of all that he would be just such another as Thorolf Kveldulf s son, after
whom he was named. Thorolf was far beyond children of his own age in strength. And as he grew to
manhood he became doughty in most accomplishments then in vogue among those who were well
trained. Thorolf was of a right cheery mood. Early did he come to such full strength as to be deemed
fit for warlike service with other men. He was soon a favourite with all, and his father and mother
loved him well. Skallagrim and his wife had two daughters; one was named Sunn, the other Thorunn.
They also were of great promise as they grew up. Then Skallagrim and his wife had yet another son.
He was sprinkled with water and named, and his name was Egil. But as he grew up it was soon seen
that he would be ill-favoured, like his father, with black hair. When but three years old he was as tall
and strong as other boys of six or seven. He was soon talkative and word-wise. Somewhat ill to
manage was he when at play with other lads.
That spring, Yngvar went to Borg, his errand being to bid Skallagrim to a feast at his house, he also
named for the party his daughter Bera and Thorolf her son, and any others that Skallagrim liked to
bring. Skallagrim promised to come. Yngvar then went home, prepared for the banquet, and had ale
brewed. But when the set time came that Skallagrim and Bera should go to the feast, Thorolf made
him ready to go with them, as also some house-carles, so that they were fifteen in all. Egil told his
father that he wished to go.
30
I am, said he, as much akin to Yngvar as is Thorolf.
You shall not go, said Skallagrim, for you know not how to behave yourself in company where
there is much drinking, you who are not good to deal with though you be sober.
Then Skallagrim mounted his horse and rode away, but Egil was ill content with his lot.
He went out of the yard, and found a draught horse of Skallagrim s, got on its back and rode after
Skallagrim s party. No easy way had he over the moor, for he did not know the road; but he kept his
eyes on the riders before him when copse or wood were not in the way. And this is to tell of his
journey, that late in the evening he came to Swan-ness, when men sat there a-drinking. He went into
the room, but when Yngvar saw Egil he received him joyfully, and asked why he had come so late.
Egil told of his words with Skallagrim. Yngvar made Egil sit by him, they two sat opposite Skallagrim
and Thorolf. For merriment over their ale they fell to reciting staves. Then Egil recited a stave:
Hasting I came to the hearth fire
Of Yngvar, right fain so to find him,
Him who on heroes bestoweth
Gold that the heather-worm guardeth.
Thou, of the snake s shining treasure
Always a generous giver,
Wilt not than me of three winters
Doughtier song-smith discover.
Yngvar praised this stave, and thanked Egil much therefor, but on the morrow he brought to Egil as
reward for the poem three sea-snail shells and a duck s egg. And next day at the drinking Egil recited
another stave about his poem s reward:
The wielder of keen-biting wound-fowl
Gave unto Egil the talker
Three silent dogs of the surf-swell,
Meet for the praise in his poem.
He, the skilled guide of the sea-horse,
Knowing to please with a present,
Gave as fourth gift to young Egil
Round egg, the brook-bird s bed-bolster.
Egil s poetry won him thanks from many men. No more tidings were there of that journey. Egil went
home with Skallagrim.
Chapter 32 - Of lord Brynjolf and Bjorn, his son.
There was in Sogn a lord named Bjorn, a rich man; he dwelt at Aurland. His son was Brynjolf, who
was sole heir to all his father s wealth. Brynjolf s sons were Bjorn and Thord. They were young when
what has been just told happened. Bjorn was a great traveller, sometimes on free-booting, sometimes
on trading voyages. He was a right doughty man. It so chanced that one summer Bjorn was present at a
banquet attended by many. He saw there a fair maiden who pleased him well. He asked of what family
she was, and was told that she was sister of lord Thorir Hroaldsson, and was named Thora, with the
by-name Lacehand. Bjorn made his suit and asked Thora to wife. But Thorir refused his offer, and
with this they parted. But that same autumn Bjorn took men and went with a cutter well equipt
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