_Thorolf_.--In Thord's Hall all we, your men, would have to sit upon the lower bench. His men whom we have pursued, wounded, stripped of their clothes, and beaten whenever we engaged them, they would take revenge on us, under cover of him. All of us desire but one of two things, _to do battle_ until we gain peace, or else, to fall with such renown as is granted us. _Asbjorn_.--We will follow no other man whilst you live. _The followers of Kolbein_.--No, no other man! _Kolbein_.--Then your other choice is that all yeomen at their own expense guard in four parties the frontier during the remainder of winter. The first will have to be on the Skagafirth, to guard the road over the Kjol and the ways leading from Storasand. The second guard will have to be in Vididale, Vatnsdale, and Nupsdale to watch the paths over the Grimstungu-heath, and the one over Tvidaegra-heath. The third and fourth guards will have to be in Midfirth and Hrutafirth, and to protect the ways along the Holtavordu-heath, and those from the Dales and Strands. When the sea is safe two light-sailing vessels will have to be sent around the Skaw to reconnoitre the sea-way toward the west. _Broddi_.--Well, you have thought out everything, brother-in-law; to me this plan of war seems in every regard the best. _Thorolf_.--If it is followed, Thord will never return west alive over the Blanda River, should he attack us. _Asbjorn_.--Thord will be able to get over the Kjol Mountains or the Sprengisand Desert, down to the Eyafirth. There he will call upon his friends and attack us in the flank. _Thorolf_.--That is unthinkable. In order to reach either of these ways Thord would have to journey around the whole island, and then overcome Hjalti the bishop's son, and Gissur's men. I should think it likeliest that Hjalti would flee north over the Kjol should he be defeated, and come our way some little time before Thord, who would have to go by a farther way and would waste his time in getting the men of Eyafirth to rise. Kolbein's plan of war is the best that can be chosen. _Kolbein_.--It is most often Thorolf Bjarnason who best comprehends my plans. _Broddi_ (_aside, clinching his hand against his breast_).--Does _he_ understand them best? _Brand_.--All shall be done as you bid, kinsman Kolbein. I myself shall send three hundred men as guard into Hunathing. _Kolbein_.--Then all is well, kinsman Brand! _Salvor_.--You speak too much, my lord! _Kolbein_.--I must speak to-day; to-day to-morrow is not sure to me (_to the others_). The third matter is the apportionment of the districts after my death. _Salvor_.--Speaking irritates your wound, my lord, and you may become delirious. _Kolbein_.--Let come what may! I will that my kinsman Brand have Skagafirth and Hunathing after my death. But Eyafirth and all districts east of the Heath I give to--(_He becomes delirious. Lady_ HELGA _makes a motion and stops him_.) _Kolbein_.--See, wife, now fly the swans from Holar in Hjaltadale.