Kolskegg answered, "Thou wilt think it thy most bounden duty to make atonement for thy wife's wrong, and methinks it were best that thou farest to see Otkell, and makest him a handsome offer." "This is well spoken," says Gunnar, "and so it shall be." A little after Gunnar sent after Thrain Sigfus' son and Lambi Sigurd's son, and they came at once. Gunnar told them whither he meant to go, and they were well pleased. Gunnar rode with eleven men to Kirkby, and called Otkell out. Skamkell was there too, and said, "I will go out with thee, and it will be best now to have the balance of wit on thy side. And I would wish to stand closest by thee when thou needest it most, and now this will be put to the proof. Methinks it were best that thou puttest on an air of great weight." Then they, Otkell and Skamkell, and Hallkell, and Hallbjorn, went out all of them. They greeted Gunnar, and he took their greeting well. Otkell asks whither he meant to go? "No farther than here," says Gunnar, "and my errand hither is to tell thee about that bad mishap, how it arose from the plotting of my wife and that thrall whom I bought from thee." "'Tis only what was to be looked for," says Hallbjorn. "Now I will make thee a good offer," says Gunnar, "and the offer is this, that the best men here in the country round settle the matter." "This is a fair-sounding offer," said Skamkell, "but an unfair and uneven one. Thou art a man who has many friends among the householders, but Otkell has not many friends." "Well," says Gunnar, "then I will offer thee that I shall make an award, and utter it here on this spot, and so we will settle the matter, and my good-will shall follow the settlement. But I will make thee an atonement by paying twice the worth of what was lost." "This choice shalt thou not take," said Skamkell; "and it is unworthy to give up to him the right to make his own award, when thou oughtest to have kept it for thyself." So Otkell said, "I will not give up to thee, Gunnar, the right to make thine own award." "I see plainly," said Gunnar, "the help of men who will be paid off for it one day, I daresay; but come now, utter an award for thyself." Otkell leant toward Skamkell and said, "What shall I answer now?" "This thou shalt call a good offer, but still put thy suit into the hands of Gizur the White, and Geir the Priest, and then many will say this, that thou behavest like Hallkell, thy grandfather, who was the greatest of champions." "Well offered is this, Gunnar," said Otkell, "but still my will is thou wouldst give me time to see Gizur the White." "Do now whatever thou likest in the matter," said Gunnar; "but men will say this, that thou couldst not see thine own honour when thou wouldst have none of the choices I offer thee."