and that he is a great chieftain. [Sidenote: Hrut in Norway] He had in
his keep a great deal of money that belonged to his (half) brother,
Hrut, Herjolf's son. Many men would have it that Hoskuld's means would
be heavily cut into if he should be made to pay to the full the
heritage of his (Hrut's) mother. Hrut was of the bodyguard of King
Harald, Gunnhild's son, and was much honoured by him, chiefly for the
reason that he approved himself the best man in all deeds of manly
trials, while, on the other hand, Gunnhild, the Queen, loved him so
much that she held there was not his equal within the guard, either in
talking or in anything else. Even when men were compared, and noblemen
therein were pointed to, all men easily saw that Gunnhild thought that
at the bottom there must be sheer thoughtlessness, or else envy, if
any man was said to be Hrut's equal. [Sidenote: Hrut comes to Iceland]
Now, inasmuch as Hrut had in Iceland much money to look after, and
many noble kinsfolk to go and see, he desired to go there, and now
arrays his journey for Iceland. The king gave him a ship at parting,
and said he had proved a brave man and true. Gunnhild saw Hrut off to
his ship, and said, "Not in a hushed voice shall this be spoken, that
I have proved you to be a most noble man, in that you have prowess
equal to the best man here in this land, but are in wits a long way
before them". Then she gave him a gold ring and bade him farewell.
Whereupon she drew her mantle over her head and went swiftly home.
Hrut went on board his ship, and put to sea. He had a good breeze, and
came to Broadfirth. He sailed up the bay, up to the island, and,
steering in through Broadsound, he landed at Combness, where he put
his gangways to land. The news of the coming of this ship spread
about, as also that Hrut, Herjolf's son, was the captain. Hoskuld gave
no good cheer to these tidings, and did not go to meet Hrut. Hrut put
up his ship, and made her snug. He built himself a dwelling, which
since has been called Combness. Then he rode to see Hoskuld, to get