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'Well, said Gunnar, 'then I will offer atonement of twice the value of all that Otkell lost; but again it was Skamkell and not Otkell who replied: 'Beware, Otkell, of giving him the right of making the award when it belongs to you. And Otkell answered: 'I will fix the award myself, Gunnar.

'Yes, often, answered Otkell; 'they are the knife and belt of Malcolm the thrall. And they asked many men the same question, and they all knew them likewise. Then they went toward Mord the son of Valgard and took counsel with him, how to charge Gunnar's thrall with the theft and the burning; for they feared Gunnar, the mighty man of war.

'Then fix it, said Gunnar, who was waxing wroth at this delay; but once more Otkell turned to Skamkell, and asked what he should answer. 'Let the award be made by Gizur the white and Geir the priest, and this saying pleased Otkell. 'Do you as you will, replied Gunnar, 'but do not think that men will speak well of your refusing the choices that I gave you.

By ill-fortune the words which Njal had spoken when he bade Gunnar never to slay more than one man of the same race were noised abroad, and his enemies made a plan by which Gunnar should be forced to fight Thorgeir, son of Otkell, so that his doom might come upon him.

But after a little Gizur asked that Gunnar might forgive the wrongs Otkell had done him, and hold him his friend. At this Gunnar laughed out in scorn and answered: 'Let Skamkell be his friend. It is to him Otkell looks for counsel. They are fitting mates.

'And it is ill done when men's lives are at stake to send the biggest liar in Iceland on such an errand. 'If you are afraid now, what would you be if Gunnar's bill were singing, asked Otkell, who was always brave when there were none to slay, and whose courage always waxed great when there were none to fight. Hallbjorm laughed as he heard him.

A second thrust with the bill stretched Skamkell on the ground, and after him Otkell and three others. They slew eight men in all, Kolskegg aiding. After that they rode home, and as they went Gunnar said: 'I wonder if I am less base than others because I kill men less willingly than they.

When Njal heard that Otkell would not sell to Gunnar, he was very wroth and rode up into the hills with all his sons, and took meat from his storehouses and bound it upon five horses, and hay from his barns and bound it upon ten horses, and they drove them all to Lithend, which was Gunnar's house.

One day when the sun was shining Gunnar took his small axe, and a bag of corn, and set out to sow seed. And while he was stooping to do this, Otkell galloped past, on a wild horse that carried him faster than he would, and he did not see Gunnar. As ill-chance would have it, Gunnar raised himself at that moment from stooping over the furrow, and Otkell's spur tore his ear, and he was very wroth.

'I have come to buy meat and hay, if there is any in your storehouses, for mine are empty! said Gunnar. 'I have yet many storehouses untouched, answered Otkell, 'but I will sell you nothing. 'Will you give me them, then? asked Gunnar, 'and I will pay you back some time in what you will. 'I will neither give nor sell, said Otkell.