The Story of Rolf and the Viking's Bow

by Allen French

  CHAPTER VI

  OF WHAT HIARANDI SHOULD DO

  Hiarandi spoke not at all of the suits against him, yet he wascontinually gloomy. And one day he said:

  "Much better were it now, had I never lighted the beacon that night."

  "Thou knowest," responded Asdis, "that thou didst right."

  "Still," said Hiarandi, "summer gales oft bring wrecks, and one shipmight pay the blood-fine for me."

  "For all that," Asdis answered, "thou hast not now the heart to stoplighting the beacon."

  Then on the second night thereafter came a storm; but nothing wassaid, except that Hiarandi bade the beacon be lighted. Yet he wasgloomier than ever.

  One night Rolf asked him: "Why is it that thou art to answer for thatdeed which my uncle has done?"

  "One must answer for a kinsman's deed," answered his father, "whenthat kinsman is dead."

  "And what is the punishment," asked Rolf, "for slaying?"

  "A fine or outlawry," replied Hiarandi.

  "Tell me of outlawry," begged Rolf. "For I hear of outlaws who liveand work among men, and of those who flee into hiding, and of thosewho go overseas."

  "There are outlaws of many kinds," answered Hiarandi. "Some outlawsare condemned not to leave a district, or even a farm; but some mustleave Iceland or else defend their lives. But most outlawries are likethis, that a man must go abroad three winters, and then he is free toreturn. If he stays, his enemies may slay him if they can, and no manmay ask atonement. Thus they who burned Njal in his house did fareabroad; but on the other hand Gisli our ancestor lived in hiding, andwould not go. And Grettir the Strong, as all men know, lives to-day anoutlaw, in one district or another; and no man has taken him, thoughthere is a great price set upon his head."

  "If thou art made outlaw," asked Rolf, "what wilt thou do?"

  "Ask me not," said Hiarandi. "For the matter troubles me. If I goabroad, how will ye all live? And it will profit you nothing if I stayand am slain. Yet if I am made outlaw, and go not, my goods and thefarm are forfeit."

  As greatly as Hiarandi feared the outcome of these suits, so werethose at Fellstead pleased by their hopes. And no one heard thecarline Thurid, who sang to herself when she heard Ondott boast:

  "He laughs too soon Who doth forget, Soursop blood Binds kinsmen yet."

  But Asdis thought rightly in the matter. For she said to Hiarandi:"What wilt thou do for thy defence at law? Is there no lawyer to helpthee?"

  "Help is offered," answered her husband, "to those who have money. AndI have none."

  "Then wilt thou ask help of Snorri the Priest? There is no other togive thee counsel."

  "Not close," replied Hiarandi, "is the tie of blood between us, andsmall is the friendship. Moreover, Snorri draws ever to those who waxin fortune, and such is Einar; and he helps little those whosefortunes wane, and such am I."

  "Now," cried Asdis, "be not as a man who sees his own doom, and stirsnot to help himself. Where is thy manhood? Bestir thyself for my sakeand Rolfs, and do what thou canst for our good! Now promise me thatthou wilt ask help of Snorri."

  Thus she stirred Hiarandi to shake off his gloom, so that he promised.And when the time came for him to ride to the Althing, he went with abetter heart.