And this spell I utter," says he, "that Thorliek shall from henceforth
have but few happy days, and that all who fill his place have a
troublous life there." And this spell, men deem, has taken great
effect. After that they drowned him, and rowed back to land.

[Sidenote: Hrut's anger against Thorliek] A little while afterwards
Hrut went to find Olaf his kinsman, and told him that he would not
leave matters with Thorliek as they stood, and bade him furnish him
with men to go and make a house-raid on Thorliek. Olaf replied, "It is
not right that you two kinsmen should be laying hands on each other;
on Thorliek's behalf this has turned out a matter of most evil luck. I
would sooner try and bring about peace between you, and you have often
waited well and long for your good turn." Hrut said, "It is no good
casting about for this; the sores between us two will never heal up;
and I should like that from henceforth we should not both live in
Salmon-river-Dale." Olaf replied, "It will not be easy for you to go
further against Thorliek than I am willing to allow; but if you do it,
it is not unlikely that dale and hill will meet."[4] Hrut thought he
now saw things stuck hard and fast before him; so he went home
mightily ill pleased; but all was quiet or was called so. And for that
year men kept quiet at home.

[Footnote 4: _i.e._, old age = Hrut, and youthful power=Olaf, the
greatest "goði" in the countryside.]




CHAP. XXXVIII