loved him much. Kari hardly slept at all, for to him the play was
made; he did not sleep very soundly, and at last he got up and looked
out, and walked in the direction of the enchantment, and fell down
dead at once. Hrut awoke in the morning, as also did his household,
and missed his son, who was found dead a short way from the door. This
Hrut felt as the greatest bereavement, and had a cairn raised over
Kari. Then he rode to Olaf Hoskuldson and told him the tidings of what
had happened there. Olaf was madly wroth at this, and said it showed
great lack of forethought that they had allowed such scoundrels as
Kotkell and his family to live so near to him, and said that Thorliek
had shaped for himself an evil lot by dealing as he had done with
Hrut, but added that more must have been done than Thorliek had ever
could have wished. [Sidenote: Death of Kotkell and Grima] Olaf said
too that forthwith Kotkell and his wife and sons must be slain, "late
though it is now." Olaf and Hrut set out with fifteen men. But when
Kotkell and his family saw the company of men riding up to their
dwelling, they took to their heels up to the mountain. There Hallbjorn
Whetstone-eye was caught and a bag was drawn over his head, and while
some men were left to guard him others went in pursuit of Kotkell,
Grima, and Stigandi up on the mountain. Kotkell and Grima were laid
hands on on the neck of land between Hawkdale and Salmon-river-Dale,
and were stoned to death and a heap of stones thrown up over them, and
the remains are still to be seen, being called Scratch-beacon.
Stigandi took to his heels south over the neck towards Hawkdale, and
there got out of their sight. Hrut and his sons went down to the sea
with Hallbjorn, and put out a boat and rowed out from land with him,
and they took the bag off his head and tied a stone round his neck.
Hallbjorn set gloating glances on the land, and the manner of his look
was nowise of the goodliest. Then Hallbjorn said, "It was no day of
bliss when we, kinsfolk, came to this Combeness and met with Thorliek.