dwelling] But in the following spring Ingun, Thord's mother, came west
from Skalmness. Thord greeted her warmly: she said she wished to place
herself under his protection, and said that Kotkell and his wife and
sons were giving her much trouble by stealing her goods, and through
witchcraft, but had a strong support in Hallstein the Priest. Thord
took this matter up swiftly, and said he should have the right of
these thieves no matter how it might displease Hallstein. He got
speedily ready for the journey with ten men, and Ingun went west with
him. [Sidenote: The drowning of Thord] He got a ferry-boat out of
Tjaldness. Then they went to Skalmness. Thord had put on board ship
all the chattels his mother owned there, and the cattle were to be
driven round the heads of the firths. There were twelve of them
altogether in the boat, with Ingun and another woman. Thord and ten
men went to Kotkell's place. The sons of Kotkell were not at home. He
then summoned Kotkell and Grima and their sons for theft and
witchcraft, and claimed outlawry as award. He laid the case to the
Althing, and then returned to his ship. Hallbjorn and Stigandi came
home when Thord had got out but a little way from land, and Kotkell
told his sons what had happened there. The brothers were furious at
that, and said that hitherto people had taken care not to show them in
so barefaced a manner such open enmity. Then Kotkell had a great
spell-working scaffold made, and they all went up on to it, and they
sang hard twisted songs that were enchantments. And presently a great
tempest arose. Thord, Ingun's son, and his companions, continued out
at sea as he was, soon knew that the storm was raised against him. Now
the ship is driven west beyond Skalmness, and Thord showed great
courage with seamanship. The men who were on land saw how he threw
overboard all that made up the boat's lading, saving the men; and the
people who were on land expected Thord would come to shore, for they
had passed the place that was the rockiest; but next there arose a