So all men gave space; and the home-men and the guests, mingled
together, made a great circle round the spot where the bow should be
burnt with the bill. At only one place the ring was broken: the
shelving bank of the brook, where men might not stand. Then Thurid
rose and began to circle the fire. Thrice around it she walked, and
Snorri with the bow came down from the dais and stood near; but
Kolbein went and stood by Grani, and Frodi kept his place at the feet
of Einar. So when the cloaked woman had circled the fire three times,
she stopped and said to Snorri, "Give me the bow."
Snorri gave it her.
All watched to see what she would do, whether mutter spells or breathe
upon it. But she looked at it carefully from end to end, and
overlooked the string, and after that she raised it and shook it
aloft. Then first men saw any part of her, namely her arm, which was
not withered, but firm and large, like a man's. When she spoke her
voice was no longer cracked.
"Water hath not harmed thee, oh my bow! Thou art the same as when thou
slewest the baresark. Now shalt thou do a greater deed!"
And in a moment she set the end of the bow to her foot, and bent the
bow, and slipped the string along, and the bow was strung! There stood
the homefolk gazing, but the crone cast off the cloak. No woman was
she at all, but Rolf in his weapons!
Then Frodi laid his hand on Einar's knee, and said: "Sit still!"
Kolbein set a knife to Grani's throat, saying: "Thy life if thou
stirrest." And Snorri cried on high: "Where are ye, men of Tongue and
Swinefell?"
All those guests drew their short-swords; and it was seen that by
every one of the homefolk was a man of Snorri's or Kolbein's, or haply
two of them. They threatened death to all of Einar's folk.
Rolf looked around on his enemies, and there was not one that could
either fight or flee. So he took the quiver from Snorri, and looked
within it; he chose that arrow with the silver point, and snapped the
silken thread that bound it, and drew the arrow forth. At no man he
looked, but up to heaven. Then he set the arrow on the string; he drew
the bow and sped the shaft. High it flew, and far--across the brook,
across the mead. It passed through the upper branches of the little
oak, and fell to the ground three roods beyond.
Then in the sight of all Rolf bowed his head, nor for a while could he
speak at all.
But when at last he turned again toward that high seat where Einar
sat, his eye fell first on Ondott who stood by. Said Rolf: "Bring me
that fellow here!"
Yet when they would seize Ondott he slipped away, and fearing death
ran shrieking up the hill with men in chase. Such was his speed that
they caught him not, so great was his fright that he recked not where
he was going, He ran to the cliffs, nor saw them; from their top he
fell and died.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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