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==Chapter 150==
==Chapter 150==


'''TITLE.'''
'''OF KARI AND BJORN.'''


ENSKA
 
Now Kari talks to Bjorn and says, "We shall ride east across the fell and down into Skaptartongue, and fare stealthily over Flosi's country, for I have it in my mind to get myself carried abroad east in Alftafirth."
 
"This is a very riskful journey," said Bjorn, "and few would have the heart to take it save thou and I."
 
"If thou backest Kari ill," said his housewife, "know this, that thou shalt never come afterwards into my bed, and my kinsmen shall share our goods between us."
 
"It is likelier, mistress," said he, "that thou wilt have to look out for something else than this if thou hast a mind to part from me: for I will bear my own witness to myself what a champion and daredevil I am when weapons clash."
 
Now they rode that day east on the fell to the north of the Jokul, but never on the highway, and so down into Skaptartongue, and above all the homesteads to Skaptarwater, and led their horses into a dell, but they themselves were on the look-out, and had so placed themselves that they could not be seen.
 
Then Kari said to Bjorn, "What shall we do now if they ride down upon us here from the fell?"
 
"Are there not but two things to be done," said Bjorn; "one to ride away from them north under the crags, and so let them ride by us, or to wait and see if any of them lag behind, and then to fall on them."
 
They talked much about this, and one while Bjorn was for flying as fast as he could in every word he spoke, and at another for staying and fighting it out with them, and Kari thought this the greatest sport.
 
The sons of Sigfus rode from their homes the same day that they had named to Bjorn. They came to the Mark and knocked at the door there, and wanted to see Bjorn; but his mistress went to the door and greeted them. They asked at once for Bjorn, and she said he had ridden away down under Eyjafell, and so east under Selialandsmull, and on east to Holt, "for he has some money to call in thereabouts," she said.
 
They believed this, for they knew that Bjorn had money out at call there.
 
After that they rode east on the fell, and did not stop before they came to Skaptartongue, and so rode down along Skaptarwater, and baited their horses just where Kari had thought they would. Then they split their band. Kettle of the Mark rode east into Middleland, and eight men with him, but the others laid them down to sleep, and were not ware of aught until Kari and Bjorn came up to them. A little ness ran out there into the river; into it Kari went and took his stand, and bade Bjorn stand back to back with him, and not to put himself too forward, "but give me all the help thou canst."
 
"Well," says Bjorn, "I never had it in my head that any man should stand before me as a shield, but still as things are thou must have thy way; but for all that, with my gift of wit and my swiftness I may be of some use to thee, and not harmless to our foes."
 
Now they all rose up and ran at them, and Modolf Kettle's son was quickest of them, and thrust at Kari with his spear. Kari had his shield before him, and the blow fell on it, and the spear stuck fast in the shield. Then Kari twists the shield so smartly, that the spear snapped short off, and then he drew his sword and smote at Modolf; but Modolf made a cut at him too, and Kari's sword fell on Modolf's hilt, and glanced off it on to Modolf's wrist, and took the arm off, and down it fell, and the sword too. Then Kari's sword passed on into Modolf's side, and between his ribs, and so Modolf fell down and was dead on the spot.
 
Grani Gunnar's son snatched up a spear and hurled it at Kari, but Kari thrust down his shield so hard that the point stood fast in the ground, but with his left hand he caught the spear in the air, and hurled it back at Grani, and caught up his shield again at once with his left hand. Grani had his shield before him, and the spear came on the shield and passed right through it, and into Grani's thigh just below the small guts, and through the limb, and so on, pinning him to the ground, and he could not get rid of the spear before his fellows drew him off it, and carried him away on their shields, and laid him down in a dell.
 
There was a man who ran up to Kari's side, and meant to cut off his leg, but Bjorn cut off that man's arm, and sprang back again behind Kari, and they could not do him any hurt. Kari made a sweep at that same man with his sword, and cut him asunder at the waist.
 
Then Lambi Sigfus' son rushed at Kari, and hewed at him with his sword. Kari caught the blow sideways on his shield, and the sword would not bite; then Kari thrust at Lambi with his sword just below the breast, so that the point came out between his shoulders, and that was his deathblow.
 
Then Thorstein Geirleif's son rushed at Kari, and thought to take him in flank, but Kari caught sight of him, and swept at him with his sword across the shoulders, so that the man was cleft asunder at the chine.
 
A little while after he gave Gunnar of Skal, a good man and true, his deathblow. As for Bjorn, he had wounded three men who had tried to give Kari wounds, and yet he was never so far forward that he was in the least danger, nor was he wounded, nor was either of those companions hurt in that fight, but all those that got away were wounded.
 
Then they ran for their horses, and galloped them off across Skaptarwater as hard as they could, and they were so scared that they stopped at no house, nor did they dare to stay and tell the tidings anywhere.
 
Kari and Bjorn hooted and shouted after them as they galloped off. So they rode east to Woodcombe, and did not draw bridle till they came to Swinefell.
 
Flosi was not at home when they came thither, and that was why no hue and cry was made thence after Kari.
 
This journey of theirs was thought most shameful by all men.
 
Kari rode to Skal, and gave notice of these manslayings as done by his hand; there, too, he told them of the death of their master and five others, and of Grani's wound, and said it would be better to bear him to the house if he were to live.
 
Bjorn said he could not bear to slay him, though he said he was worthy of death; but those who answered him said they were sure few had bitten the dust before him. But Bjorn told them he had it now in his power to make as many of the Sidemen as he chose bite the dust; to which they said it was a bad look out.
 
Then Kari and Bjorn ride away from the house.


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 03:56, 4 August 2014


Chapter 150

OF KARI AND BJORN.


Now Kari talks to Bjorn and says, "We shall ride east across the fell and down into Skaptartongue, and fare stealthily over Flosi's country, for I have it in my mind to get myself carried abroad east in Alftafirth."

"This is a very riskful journey," said Bjorn, "and few would have the heart to take it save thou and I."

"If thou backest Kari ill," said his housewife, "know this, that thou shalt never come afterwards into my bed, and my kinsmen shall share our goods between us."

"It is likelier, mistress," said he, "that thou wilt have to look out for something else than this if thou hast a mind to part from me: for I will bear my own witness to myself what a champion and daredevil I am when weapons clash."

Now they rode that day east on the fell to the north of the Jokul, but never on the highway, and so down into Skaptartongue, and above all the homesteads to Skaptarwater, and led their horses into a dell, but they themselves were on the look-out, and had so placed themselves that they could not be seen.

Then Kari said to Bjorn, "What shall we do now if they ride down upon us here from the fell?"

"Are there not but two things to be done," said Bjorn; "one to ride away from them north under the crags, and so let them ride by us, or to wait and see if any of them lag behind, and then to fall on them."

They talked much about this, and one while Bjorn was for flying as fast as he could in every word he spoke, and at another for staying and fighting it out with them, and Kari thought this the greatest sport.

The sons of Sigfus rode from their homes the same day that they had named to Bjorn. They came to the Mark and knocked at the door there, and wanted to see Bjorn; but his mistress went to the door and greeted them. They asked at once for Bjorn, and she said he had ridden away down under Eyjafell, and so east under Selialandsmull, and on east to Holt, "for he has some money to call in thereabouts," she said.

They believed this, for they knew that Bjorn had money out at call there.

After that they rode east on the fell, and did not stop before they came to Skaptartongue, and so rode down along Skaptarwater, and baited their horses just where Kari had thought they would. Then they split their band. Kettle of the Mark rode east into Middleland, and eight men with him, but the others laid them down to sleep, and were not ware of aught until Kari and Bjorn came up to them. A little ness ran out there into the river; into it Kari went and took his stand, and bade Bjorn stand back to back with him, and not to put himself too forward, "but give me all the help thou canst."

"Well," says Bjorn, "I never had it in my head that any man should stand before me as a shield, but still as things are thou must have thy way; but for all that, with my gift of wit and my swiftness I may be of some use to thee, and not harmless to our foes."

Now they all rose up and ran at them, and Modolf Kettle's son was quickest of them, and thrust at Kari with his spear. Kari had his shield before him, and the blow fell on it, and the spear stuck fast in the shield. Then Kari twists the shield so smartly, that the spear snapped short off, and then he drew his sword and smote at Modolf; but Modolf made a cut at him too, and Kari's sword fell on Modolf's hilt, and glanced off it on to Modolf's wrist, and took the arm off, and down it fell, and the sword too. Then Kari's sword passed on into Modolf's side, and between his ribs, and so Modolf fell down and was dead on the spot.

Grani Gunnar's son snatched up a spear and hurled it at Kari, but Kari thrust down his shield so hard that the point stood fast in the ground, but with his left hand he caught the spear in the air, and hurled it back at Grani, and caught up his shield again at once with his left hand. Grani had his shield before him, and the spear came on the shield and passed right through it, and into Grani's thigh just below the small guts, and through the limb, and so on, pinning him to the ground, and he could not get rid of the spear before his fellows drew him off it, and carried him away on their shields, and laid him down in a dell.

There was a man who ran up to Kari's side, and meant to cut off his leg, but Bjorn cut off that man's arm, and sprang back again behind Kari, and they could not do him any hurt. Kari made a sweep at that same man with his sword, and cut him asunder at the waist.

Then Lambi Sigfus' son rushed at Kari, and hewed at him with his sword. Kari caught the blow sideways on his shield, and the sword would not bite; then Kari thrust at Lambi with his sword just below the breast, so that the point came out between his shoulders, and that was his deathblow.

Then Thorstein Geirleif's son rushed at Kari, and thought to take him in flank, but Kari caught sight of him, and swept at him with his sword across the shoulders, so that the man was cleft asunder at the chine.

A little while after he gave Gunnar of Skal, a good man and true, his deathblow. As for Bjorn, he had wounded three men who had tried to give Kari wounds, and yet he was never so far forward that he was in the least danger, nor was he wounded, nor was either of those companions hurt in that fight, but all those that got away were wounded.

Then they ran for their horses, and galloped them off across Skaptarwater as hard as they could, and they were so scared that they stopped at no house, nor did they dare to stay and tell the tidings anywhere.

Kari and Bjorn hooted and shouted after them as they galloped off. So they rode east to Woodcombe, and did not draw bridle till they came to Swinefell.

Flosi was not at home when they came thither, and that was why no hue and cry was made thence after Kari.

This journey of theirs was thought most shameful by all men.

Kari rode to Skal, and gave notice of these manslayings as done by his hand; there, too, he told them of the death of their master and five others, and of Grani's wound, and said it would be better to bear him to the house if he were to live.

Bjorn said he could not bear to slay him, though he said he was worthy of death; but those who answered him said they were sure few had bitten the dust before him. But Bjorn told them he had it now in his power to make as many of the Sidemen as he chose bite the dust; to which they said it was a bad look out.

Then Kari and Bjorn ride away from the house.

References


Kafli 150

Kári talar nú við Björn: „Við skulum ríða austur um fjall og ofan í Skaftártungu og fara leynilega um þingmannasveit Flosa því að eg ætla að koma mér utan austur í Álftafirði.“

Björn mælti: „Þetta er hættuför mikil og munu fáir hug til hafa nema þú og eg.“

Húsfreyja mælti: „Ef þú fylgir Kára illa þá skalt þú það vita að aldrei skalt þú koma í mína rekkju sinn síðan. Skulu frændur mínir gera fjárskipti með okkur.“

„Það er líkara, húsfreyja,“ segir hann, „að fyrir öðru þurfi ráð að gera en það beri til skilnaðar okkars því að eg mun bera mér vitni hver garpur eða afreksmaður eg er í vopnaskipti.“

Þeir ríða nú um daginn á fjall og aldrei almannaveg og ofan í Skaftártungu og fyrir ofan bæi alla til Skaftár og leiddu hesta sína í dæl nokkura. En þeir voru á njósn og höfðu svo um sig búið að þá mátti ekki sjá.

Kári mælti til Bjarnar: „Hvað skulum við til taka ef þeir ríða hér ofan að okkur af fjallinu?“

„Munu eigi tveir til,“ segir Björn, „annaðhvort að ríða undan norður með brekkunum og láta þá ríða um fram eða bíða ef nokkurir dveljast eftir og ráða þá að þeim.“

Margt töluðu þeir um þetta og hafði Björn í sínu orði hvort að hann vildi flýja sem harðast eða hitt að hann vildi bíða og taka í móti og þótti Kára að þessu allmikið gaman.

Þeir Sigfússynir riðu heiman þann dag sem þeir höfðu sagt Birni. Þeir komu í Mörk og drápu þar á dyr og vildu finna Björn en húsfreyja gekk til dyra og heilsaði þeim. Þeir spurðu þegar að Birni.

Hún sagði að hann var riðinn ofan undir Eyjafjöll og austur undir Seljalandsmúla og svo austur í Holt „því að hann á þar fjárheimtur,“ sagði hún.

Þeir trúðu þessu og vissu að Björn átti þar fé að heimta, riðu síðan austur á fjall og léttu eigi fyrr en þeir komu í Skaftártungu og riðu ofan með Skaftá og áðu þar sem þeir Kári ætluðu.

Skiptu þeir þá liði sínu. Ketill úr Mörk reið austur í Meðalland og átta menn með honum en hinir lögðust niður til svefns og urðu eigi fyrr við varir en þeir Kári komu að þeim.

Þar gekk nes lítið í ána fram. Gekk Kári þar í fram og bað Björn standa að baki sér og hafa sig eigi allmjög frammi „en ger mér gagn slíkt er þú mátt.“

„Hitt hafði eg ætlað,“ segir Björn, „að hafa engan mann að hlífiskildi mér en þó er nú þar komið að þú munt ráða verða. En með vitsmunum mínum og hvatleika má eg þó verða þér að gagni en óvinum okkrum ekki óskeinisamur.“

Þeir stóðu nú upp allir og hljópu að þeim og varð skjótastur Móðólfur Ketilsson og lagði spjóti til Kára. Kári hafði skjöldinn fyrir sér og kom þar í lagið og festi í skildinum. Kári snaraði þá skjöldinn svo fast að brotnaði spjótið. Hann brá þá sverði sínu og hjó til Móðólfs. Hann hjó í móti og kom sverðið Kára í hjaltið og stökk af í braut á úlfliðinn Móðólfi og tók af höndina og féll hún niður og svo sverðið. Hljóp þá sverðið Kára á síðuna Móðólfi og í millum rifjanna. Féll Móðólfur þá og var þegar dauður. Grani Gunnarsson þreif spjót og skaut að Kára en Kári skýtur niður við skildinum svo að fastur stóð í vellinum en tók með hinni vinstri hendi spjótið á lofti og skaut aftur að Grana og tók þegar skjöld sinn hinni vinstri hendi. Grani hafði skjöld fyrir sér. Kom spjótið í skjöldinn og gekk þegar í gegnum og kom í lærið Grana fyrir neðan smáþarmana og þar í gegnum og svo í völlinn og komst hann eigi af spjótinu fyrr en félagar hans drógu hann af og bjuggu um hann í dæl nokkurri með hlífum. Maður einn skaust að og ætlaði að höggva fót undan Kára og komst á hlið honum. Björn hjó af þessum manni höndina og skaust aftur síðan að baki Kára og fengu þeir honum engan geig gervan. Kári slæmdi til þessa manns sverðinu og hjó hann í sundur í miðju. Þá hljóp Lambi Sigurðarson að Kára og hjó til hans með sverði. Kári brá við flötum skildinum og beit ekki á. Kári lagði til hans sverðinu fyrir neðan brjóstið svo að út gekk meðal herðanna. Varð það hans bani. Þá hljóp að Kára Þorsteinn Geirleifsson og ætlaði á hlið Kára. Hann fékk séð Þorstein og slæmdi til hans sverðinu um þverar herðarnar svo að í sundur tók manninn. Litlu síðar hjó hann mann banahögg, Gunnar úr Skál, góðan bónda. Björn hafði særða þrjá menn þá er ætlað höfðu til að vinna á Kára og var þó aldrei svo frammi að honum væri nein raun í. Varð hann og ekki sár og hvorgi þeirra félaga á fundinum en þeir voru allir sárir er undan komust. Hljópu þeir þá á hesta sína og hleyptu út á Skaftá sem mest máttu þeir og urðu svo hræddir að þeir komu hvergi til bæja og hvergi þorðu þeir að segja tíðindin. Þeir Kári æptu að þeim er þeir hleyptu undan.

Þeir riðu austur í Skógahverfi og léttu eigi fyrr en þeir komu til Svínafells. Flosi var ekki heima er þeir komu þar og var því þaðan ekki eftir leitað. Öllum þótti þeirra ferð hin svívirðlegasta. Kári reið í Skál og lýsti þar vígum þessum á hendur sér. Sagði hann þar lát húsbónda og þeirra fimm og sár Grana og kvað betra mundu að færa hann til húss ef hann skyldi lifa. Björn kvaðst eigi nenna að drepa hann og kvað hann þó þess maklegan en þeir er svöruðu kváðu fá fúnað hafa fyrir honum


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