"All men know," began Ondott then, "that thou art poor, Hiarandi." And he saw Hiarandi flush with anger. Then he went on to propose that an exchange be made of Cragness for some parts of Einar's land, much less in value. And he spoke with such words that Hiarandi would feel insulted, and marked him grow ever redder in the face. When he had finished, Hiarandi burst out upon him. "Foolish are ye to suppose," cried Hiarandi, "that I will ever give up this stead which my fathers have settled. Let this matter come to the courts of law." Ondott spoke to Einar. "There is no reasoning with a madman. Thou must recite the summons." Then Einar, who knew the law well, spoke the summons, and named the deed which was done on his kinsman, and made Hiarandi answerable; and called him to appear before the Quarter Court at the Althing, there to justify the slaying, or pay the blood-fine, or be made an outlaw. Everything he said in due legal form, and Ondott and the two men were named as witnesses. Then he prepared to ride away, but Ondott spoke once more. "If thou canst not keep land, Hiarandi, better than thy father, then must thou lose this place in the end." Hiarandi could not restrain his wrath. He spoke no word; but he strode to Ondott, and smote with his staff. Ondott warded the blow, but the arm was broken at the wrist. Then Ondott cried to Hallvard and Hallmund: "Set upon him!" Those two drew their swords, and in that moment Hiarandi stood in danger of his life. But Rolf had strung his bow and set an arrow on the string. He drew the shaft to its head, and aimed at Einar, and cried: "Now Einar dies if my father is hurt!" [Illustration: "'Now Einar dies if my father is hurt'"] They drew away hastily, and dared do no more, for they knew the aim of the lad. Nothing more was done in violence; yet before he rode away did Ondott summon Hiarandi for that hurt to him. And there the matter rested, with two suits against Hiarandi. Then all was quiet until the time came for folk to ride to the Althing. CHAPTER VI OF WHAT HIARANDI SHOULD DO Hiarandi spoke not at all of the suits against him, yet he was continually gloomy. And one day he said: "Much better were it now, had I never lighted the beacon that night." "Thou knowest," responded Asdis, "that thou didst right." "Still," said Hiarandi, "summer gales oft bring wrecks, and one ship might pay the blood-fine for me." "For all that," Asdis answered, "thou hast not now the heart to stop lighting the beacon." Then on the second night thereafter came a storm; but nothing was said, except that Hiarandi bade the beacon be lighted. Yet he was gloomier than ever. One night Rolf asked him: "Why is it that thou art to answer for that deed which my uncle has done?" "One must answer for a kinsman's deed," answered his father, "when that kinsman is dead." "And what is the punishment," asked Rolf, "for slaying?" "A fine or outlawry," replied Hiarandi.