The Story of Rolf and the Viking's Bow

by Allen French

  CHAPTER VII

  HOW HIARANDI RECEIVED THE LESSER OUTLAWRY

  Hiarandi travelled to the Althing all alone; he had a good horse andstout clothes, but in nothing was he noticeable, so that men whopassed him on the road gave him only the good-day, yet asked him notto join their company. And he saw how men of power rode with theirThingmen behind them, all in colored clothes and well armed. He sawHrut, the famous swordsman, how he rode with eleven full-grown sons athis back, and men besides, so that all thought that a grand sight. Andmany others rode to the Althing with great pride. Then Hiarandirecalled that his own father had ridden in holiday guise to bring hissuits; and as he compared his father's state with his own, he who wentalone and unnoticed, but at home was called the Unlucky, then hisheart was greatly cast down within him.

  He came to the Thingvalla, where all the plain was a busy hive of men.And he found humble lodging at a booth, and stabled his horse underthe cliff, and spent the night alone amid the throng. Then on themorrow, at midday, he went out to have speech with Snorri. At Snorri'sbooth he was told that Snorri was at talk with a client within.

  "Then I will wait," said Hiarandi, and sat down on a bench at thedoor. But it was bitter to him that he should sit there, a poorsuitor, at the door of his kinsman.

  Now he had not sat there long when he heard his own name spokenwithin, and he knew the voice of his neighbor Einar. And Einar wassaying, "Thou art not bound to Hiarandi in any way."

  Then he heard another voice, the voice of an old man--for Snorri wasadvanced in years--saying: "Small enough are the ties between myselfand Hiarandi."

  Then Hiarandi rose and walked away. And he forgot all he had promisedhis wife, and all she had said to him: how he should forget himself instruggling for her sake and Rolf's. But that melancholy came over himwhich was his greatest weakness.

  "I am too late," he said to himself, "for Einar is before me. My caseis lost, and my farm too; for on whose side Snorri is, on that sidehas fallen the judgment for this score of years. And the twists of thelaw are too hard for me to understand, since meseems right hath noplace in a law-finding. Yet I will defend myself as I may."

  Then on the morrow the Althing was opened, and the four Quarter Courtssat in their places, and the Fifth Court sat at the Hill of Laws. AndHiarandi, as he went to the court of the Westfirthers, saw where Einarwalked also thither with Snorri, keeping close by his elbow, andlaughing as he talked. Ondott also was there, slinking behind like afox. And on that very first day Hiarandi's case was called early.

  Now Einar had men of the law as his friends, and they had taught himwhat to say. And he opened the case, speaking loud and clearly, andcalled on Hiarandi to answer the charges. But Hiarandi stood up alone,without counsel, and spoke for himself. Soon he saw that the case wentagainst him. For Einar and his friends knew so much of the law thattheir wiles were many, and Hiarandi was soon confused, so that hisanswers were not wise. And Einar smiled where he stood, so that heconfused Hiarandi the more. Then Einar demanded judgment unlessHiarandi had more to say. And he was about to give up his case.

  Then came some one and stood at Hiarandi's elbow, and said: "Thoushouldst demand a stay in the proceedings."

  Hiarandi looked at the man, but he was muffled in a cloak, so that hisface was not to be seen. Then Hiarandi asked: "For what reason can Iask a stay?"

  The man replied: "It is always permitted to ask it, to get counsel."

  But Hiarandi said: "No counsel can save me here. Let an end come now."

  "Foolish art thou," answered the man. "Dost thou forget those at home?Do as I bid!"

  Then Hiarandi asked a stay, and it was granted him until the morrow.But when he turned to ask the man his advice, he was gone, andHiarandi could not see him anywhere. Then he went to beg help of thoseversed in the law, but they said he should have come sooner, for theywere now too busy to help him. Once more, thinking again of Asdis andRolf, he went to ask help of Snorri the Priest; but he was not at hisbooth, and men said he would be at the courts all day. At thatHiarandi went away again; and he wandered about the Thing-field,seeing no one whom he could ask for help, but beholding everywhere mentoo busy with their own affairs to heed him. At last toward dusk hiscourage forsook him once more, and he went and sat down on the bank ofthe river, believing his case lost. As he sat there the light grewdim, and of a sudden he saw at his side the man muffled in the cloak.

  "Now is seen," said the man, "the truth of the old saw: 'He thatpleadeth his own cause hath a fool for his client.' For a sound casehadst thou, but it is well-nigh ruined beyond remedy."

  "What should I have done?" asked Hiarandi.

  "Thou shouldst have asked aid of Snorri the Priest."

  "But he," said Hiarandi, "has been in talk with Einar, who sues me."

  "Since when," asked the man, "has Snorri been used to pledge himselfto all who come to him? Hast thou forgotten he is of thy kin?"

  "We are both come," said Hiarandi, "from the stock of Gisli theOutlaw. But if Gisli was his uncle, so also was Gisli the slayer ofhis father. So Snorri is both against us and for us by the tie ofblood; and he forgetteth and remembereth as he chooseth, or as hisinterest bids."

  Then said the man: "Thou givest him no good character. Yet at leastthou couldst have let him have the say, which way his interest lies."

  But Hiarandi answered in bitter mood: "Snorri casteth his weight whereis the greater power, that his own strength may grow."

  "He would not thank thee should he hear thee," answered the stranger."Yet methinks that even in matters which concern his own advancement,he should be free to choose for himself."

  "Now," asked Hiarandi, "shall I go to Snorri and crave his help?"

  "Nay," replied the cowled man, "now it is too late. For this eveningSnorri holdeth counsel on weighty matters concerning chiefs from thesouth firths, who are to meet him at his booth."

  "Why, then," asked Hiarandi, "didst thou persuade me to ask a stay ofjudgment? For my fate meets me after all."

  "Perhaps even I," said the man, "know more of the law than thou. Nowwilt thou be ruled by me?"

  "That I will," answered Hiarandi quickly.

  "Then shalt thou do thus and so," said the man. And he instructedHiarandi how he should speak on the next day. "And this shalt thou doeven though thou seest Snorri in company with Einar.--Nay, make noquestion, for else thou art ruined." And with this the man went away.

  In the morning all men go to the courts again; and Hiarandi marks howEinar walks with Snorri, and they seem merry together, though Einarlaughs the most. Nevertheless, Hiarandi stands up when his case iscalled, and does as the cowled man had said, for he demands of Einarwhat forfeiture he will name.

  "Either," said Einar, "that thou shalt pay down the worth of threehundreds in silver, or that thou shalt be outlawed."

  "Now," said Hiarandi, "it seems hard that so much shall be mypunishment. But wilt thou take this offer, that we handsel this caseto Snorri the Priest, and abide by his finding?"

  Einar hesitated. But many standing by said that was fair; moreover,that was a custom much followed. And again, Einar did not wish theoutlawing of Hiarandi; but he felt sure that Snorri would lay ablood-fine, which must force Hiarandi to sell his farm. And he thoughthis cause was sure, so he said after a moment:

  "I will."

  So they handselled the suit to Snorri, striking hands together beforethe judges, and agreeing to abide by his decision. Then Snorri stoodup to speak. Einar smiled at him that he might remind him of theircompanionship, but Snorri smiled not at all.

  "Thus it seems to me," he said, and all men listened while hespoke--for Snorri was one of those who had known the great men of oldtime, who had seen the great fight at the Althing after Njal'sBurning, and who had swayed its event. "Thus it seems to me," saidSnorri. "The case of Hiarandi was a good one at the beginning, yet hehas well-nigh spoiled it. But the case of Einar seems strong, yet itis weak. For he has named as witnesses two men of kin to the slainman; also he has not called a man who is nearer
neighbor than one hehas called. Also these men are neither landholders, nor money owners,nor owners of sheep or cattle; but they live in Einar's hall at hisexpense. Now let Einar say if all these things are not true."

  Then Einar had to speak; and he acknowledged that his witnesses, whoshould make the jury, were chosen as Snorri had said. Then Snorri setthose men out of the jury, and only six were left.

  "Seven men are needed to make the tale of the witnesses complete,"quoth Snorri. "Therefore it is plain that this case of the slayingshall fall to the ground, and no atonement shall be paid. But as tothe case of the striking of Ondott, that is another matter; and it isa case of contempt of the Thing, for one who goes to serve summons ina suit is free to go and come unscathed, and is under the protectionof the men of the Quarter. Therefore I doom Hiarandi to the lesseroutlawry, after this manner: he shall remain upon his farm for thespace of one year, nor go beyond its limits more than the length of abowshot, upon penalty of full outlawing. But shall he become a fulloutlaw, then his property, and the inheritance of his son, is not tobe forfeit, but only Hiarandi's life is to be in danger. And such ismy finding." Then Snorri sat him down.

  Then men murmured together, discussing the judgment; and all said thathe knew the law to its uttermost quibble, and he knew men as well, forwho told him that the jury was wrongly constituted? And Einar waswroth, complaining that Snorri was tender of his relative. ButHiarandi was glad, and a weight fell from him, for he saw how he hadbeen saved from all that threatened him. He went to Snorri to thankhim.

  Snorri took his thanks, and smiled at Hiarandi. "Now is clearly seen,"quoth he, "how much Snorri thinks of his own honor, and how little ofthat of his kinsmen."

  Hiarandi had nothing to answer.

  "And it is also plain," said Snorri, "how I always favor the rich, butcare nothing for poor men."

  "Now I see," said Hiarandi, "that thou wert the man in the cloak."

  "Mayest thou perceive as well," responded Snorri, "that thou hast afriend in the world who will help thee when he can." But he would takeno more thanks, advising Hiarandi to go home and set his affairs inorder, since from the rising of the Althing to its next sitting hemust not quit his farm.

  "And take heed," quoth Snorri, "that thou losest not thy life fromcarelessness, or from the wiles of thine enemies."

  Then Hiarandi betook himself home.