an outcast?' 'Of this I am not the cause,' said Aunund, 'that they are quarrelling. I have spent many a word and
begged Steinar to be reconciled with Thorstein; for in any
case I would have spared your son Thorstein disgrace: and
good cause for this is the loving friendship of old that has
been between us two, Egil, since we grew up here as next-door neighbours.' 'It will soon be clear,' said Egil, ‘whether
you speak this as truth or vain words; though I think this
latter can hardly be. I remember the days when either of
us had deemed it incredible that one should be accusing the
other, or that we should not control our sons from going on
with such folly as I hear this is like to prove. To me this
seems right counsel, while we both live and are so nearly
concerned with their quarrel, that we take this cause into
our own hands and quash it, and let not Tongue-Odd and
Einar match our sons together like fighting horses. Let them
henceforth find some other way than this of making money.'
Then stood up Aunund and spoke: 'Rightly say you, Egil; and it ill-beseems us to be at a Thing where our sons quarrel. Never shall that shame be ours, that we lacked the manhood to reconcile them. Now, Steinar, I will that you give this cause into my hands, and let me deal with it as I please.'
'I am not sure,' said Steinar, 'that I will so abandon my cause; for I have already sought me the help of great men. I will now only bring my cause to such an issue as shall content Odd and Einar.' Then Odd and Steinar talked together. Odd said, 'I will give you, Steinar, the help that I promised towards getting law, or for such issue of the cause as you may consent to accept. You will be mainly answerable for how your cause goes, if Egil is to be judge therein.'
Whereupon Aunund said: 'I need not leave this matter to the tongue of Odd. Of him I have had neither good nor bad; but Egil has done to me much that is very good. I trust him far more than others; and I shall have my way in this. It will be for your advantage not to have all of us on your hands. I have hitherto ruled for us both, and will do so still.' Steinar said, 'You are right eager about this cause, father; but I think we shall oft rue this.'
After this Steinar made over the cause to Aunund to
