Said Hallvard with a grin: "That is likely to happen." Rolf gave them each a piece of money, and said: "Beware of that ewe." On a morning not long after came those two, leading the ewe. "Master, here have we found this ewe eating at thy ricks, nor know we whose it may be." Said Rolf: "The ewe is Einar's. Take it to him, and ask payment for the hay which has been eaten." So they take the ewe to Einar, and bring back silver. "Keep that for yourselves," Rolf said, "but will the ewe stay now at home?" "Her pen is not strong," Hallvard said. So on the morrow those two came again, bringing the ewe a second time; Rolf sent them for money as before. This time they brought back a gold arm-ring; so Rolf knew that Einar and Grani had taken with them nigh empty purses, and he was glad. He took the ring, giving the men silver, and said to them as before: "Will the ewe stay now at home?" Hallvard answered, "We left Grani strengthening the pen, but still it is not high." And on the morrow they brought the ewe, saying, "See how fat she hath gorged herself, master." Then said Rolf, "Go now and say to Einar: 'A third time hath thine ewe trespassed; now must thou pay not only damages, but the trespass fine, or else bring this to the courts.'" They went and brought back jewels, one arm-ring and two brooches; and Hallvard said, "All that he had Einar gave, rather than trust himself to the law." Rolf gave them money, saying: "If the ewe wanders a fourth time, she will become mine. Is her pen strong?" "Grani has no more wood to make the pen higher," answered Hallvard, "but he was tying her with a rope." "Belike the rope is not strong," said Rolf. And that seemed true; for on the morrow those two brought the ewe for the fourth time; they said she had again been eating at Rolfs ricks. "Go now," said Rolf. "Say to Einar: 'Pay me damages and another fine, or yield thine ewe.'" They went and returned, and said to Rolf: "The ewe is thine." Then Rolf gave them silver rings, and they were well content. But Frodi came to Rolf, and said: "What is this thou hast suffered those two to do to thy neighbor? Now Einar will have no milk for the winter." Rolf answered shortly: "He can use the pen of the ewe for firewood, and sell the hay for money." And he would speak no more of that. Now October passed, and November came, and still there was no snow; the land was colder for that. One day when Rolf stood and looked at the hut on the upland, Hallvard came to him and said, "Small cheer is there over yonder, master; yet I have heard that Grani has sold his hay, and it is soon to be fetched from his farm." Rolf answered: "See now how all their ricks stand in a line, and the wind is in that line, so that a fire which took the weathermost rick would burn them all. It was careless of Grani to set them so." "For fire might come by chance," said Hallvard, and he went and spoke with Hallmund.