"Malcolm the thrall," says Otkell. "Then more shall see and know them than we two," says Skamkell, "for true will I be to thee in counsel." They showed them to many men, and all knew them. Then Skamkell said, "What counsel wilt thou now take?" "We shall go and see Mord Valgard's son," answers Otkell, "and seek counsel of him." So they went to Hof, and showed the pretty things to Mord, and asked him if he knew them? He said he knew them well enough, but what was there in that? "Do you think you have a right to look for anything at Lithend?" "We think it hard for us," says Skamkell, "to know what to do, when such mighty men have a hand in it." "That is so, sure enough," says Mord, "but yet I will get to know those things, out of Gunnar's household, which none of you will ever know." "We would give thee money," they say, "if thou wouldst search out this thing." "That money I shall buy full dear," answered Mord, "but still, perhaps, it may be that I will look at the matter." They gave him three marks of silver for lending them his help. Then he gave them this counsel, that women should go about from house to house with small ware, and give them to the housewives, and mark what was given them in return. "For," he says, "'tis the turn of mind of all men first to give away what has been stolen, if they have it in their keeping, and so it will be here also, if this hath-happened by the hand of man. Ye shall then come and show me what has been given to each in each house, and I shall then be free from farther share in this matter, if the truth comes to light." To this they agreed, and went home afterwards. Mord sends women about the country, and they were away half a month. Then they came back, and had big bundles. Mord asked where they had most given them? They said that at Lithend most was given them, and Hallgerda had been most bountiful to them. He asked what was given them there. "Cheese," say they. He begged to see it, and they showed it to him, and it was in great slices. These he took and kept. A little after, Mord fared to see Otkell, and bade that he would bring Thorgerda's cheese-mould; and when that was done, he laid the slices down in it, and lo! they fitted the mould in every way. Then they saw, too, that a whole cheese had been given to them. Then Mord said, "Now may ye see that Hallgerda must have stolen the cheese;" and they all passed the same judgment; and then Mord said, that now he thought he was free of this matter. After that they parted. Shortly after Kolskegg fell to talking with Gunnar and said, "Ill is it to tell, but the story is in every man's mouth, that Hallgerda must have stolen, and that she was at the bottom of all that great scathe that befell at Kirkby." Gunner said that he too thought that must be so. "But what is to be done now?"