_Brand_.--Is it your opinion that we can overcome my kinsman Kolbein with less force than he has himself? _Broddi_.--The fortifications at Holar are impregnable now. Together with your men we have more than three hundred men, and I have moved victuals into the fort from the bishop's residence which ought to last us for three weeks. _Brand_.--You have robbed the bishop's see! _Broddi_.--No, I have come by the victuals in an honest manner. You know that warriors may take as their own all food they find. I should like to see my brother-in-law Kolbein attack us by scaling these ramparts of ice, and see his men tumble down from above, and the ice coloring red under them. _Jorun_.--My husband shudders at that sport; he is sick in his soul. _Broddi_ (_seizing_ BRAND).--There is no time now to have a sick soul. We shall have to fight. As soon as my brother-in-law Kolbein has made an onset at our fort and lost many men he will himself see fit to obtain conditions of peace from us. _Brand_.--That will he never! _Broddi_.--Maybe, maybe. _Brand_.--It will cost many lives to attack and defend Holar this time. Ought we to sacrifice them all merely to lengthen our own lives by a few years? _Broddi_.--Lives? Worth, each, one or two hundred ounces of silver! Brand, you do not know the joy there is in fighting! Every man in the fort has sworn to fall at his post. And I shall spare no effort, so that he who will set down an account of it will be able to say with truth that our last defence was the most glorious ever told of in sagas, and that the fame thereof shall last while there live men in this land. _Brand_.--I shall come to Holar, unless I find better counsel which you approve of. (ALF OF GROF, DEACON SIGURD, _and_ HELGI SKAFTASON _lead in the_ CLERK HELGI _between them. He has a bandage over his eyes_.) _The Clerk Helgi_.--Pax vobiscum! May Brand Kolbeinsson hear my voice? _Brand_.--He is here. _Helgi_.--What other persons are here? _Brand_.--Broddi Thorleifsson and Jorun, my wife! _Helgi_.--It is without the knowledge of Kolbein the Young and to bear word from Bishop Botolf that I am here. Will all of you keep silent about my coming here? _All_.--Yes. _Helgi_.--Then take the bandage from my eyes! _Broddi_.--No. What happenings are there at Flugumyr? _Helgi_.--I am no spy. My errand is to hand you the bishop's letter, Brand Kolbeinsson. (_Holds out the parchment, which_ BRAND _seizes_.) _Brand_.--Have you other messages besides? _Helgi_.--No! (_Stretches forth both his hands_.) Give me your hands, my sons. (BRAND _and_ BRODDI _clasp them_.) The very next time Asbjorn Illugason meets you, Broddi, he means to exchange blows with you. _Broddi_.--Glad I am that Kolbein, my brother-in-law, at least does not bid some contemptible wretch to dispatch me. (HELGI SKAFTASON _leads out the_ CLERK HELGI.) The bishop's letter! The bishop's letter!