agreed to, and said she would rely on his foresight. This Thord was
surnamed the Cat, and was father of the poet Stúf. After that Gest
Oddleifson went to see Hallstein, and gave him choice of two things,
either that he should send away these wizards or he said that he would
kill them, "and yet it comes too late." Hallstein made his choice at once,
and bade them rather be off, and put up nowhere west of Daleheath, adding
that it was more justly they ought to be slain. [Sidenote: Kotkell's
horses] After that Kotkell and his went away with no other goods than four
stud-horses. The stallion was black; he was both great and fair and very
strong, and tried in horse-fighting. Nothing is told of their journey till
they came to Combeness, to Thorliek, Hoskuld's son. He asked to buy the
horses from them, for he said that they were exceeding fine beasts.
Kotkell replied, "I'll give you the choice. Take you the horses and give
me some place to dwell in here in your neighbourhood." Thorliek said,
"Will the horses not be rather dear, then, for I have heard tell you are
thought rather guilty in this countryside?" Kotkell answers, "In this you
are hinting at the men of Laugar." Thorliek said that was true. Then
Kotkell said, "Matters point quite another way, as concerning our guilt
towards Gudrun and her brothers, than you have been told; people have
overwhelmed us with slander for no cause at all. Take the horses, nor let
these matters stand in the way. Such tales alone are told of you,
moreover, as would show that we shall not be easily tripped up by the folk
of this countryside, if we have your help to fall back upon." [Sidenote:
Thorliek shelters Kotkell] Thorliek now changed his mind in this matter,
for the horses seemed fair to him, and Kotkell pleaded his case
cunningly; so Thorliek took the horses, and gave them a dwelling at
Ludolfstead in Salmon-river-Dale, and stocked them with farming beasts.
This the men of Laugar heard, and the sons of Osvif wished to fall
forthwith on Kotkell and his sons; but Osvif said, "Let us take now the
counsel of Priest Snorri, and leave this business to others, for short