Bjørn. You must be crazy! I won't touch him.
Halla. My dear brother-in-law made me a promise last spring that he would wrestle with Kari here at the folds. It was a wager, and now he is backing out of it. What do you say to that?
Bjørn. An honest man does not play with a thief.
Halla. He is no more thief than you are. Should you be a thief, because I said so? (To the people.) He is only too glad to get out of the glima. He is a coward! He is a coward!
(Loud or suppressed laughter all around.)
Bjørn. Never before has Bjørn Bergsteinsson been called a coward. (Takes off his coat.)
(Kari throws off his coat. The crowd draws back, leaving an open space. The "glima" begins. Bjørn pushes Kari out to the back, and the people follow. The heads of the wrestlers are seen; then they disappear to the left. A moment of silence, then a sudden outcry.)
All. Kari has won! Kari has won! (Silence again.) Bjørn is hurt! Exeunt some of the crowd.
Kari. I think he has had enough. (Goes to Halla.)
A Peasant. Bjørn had his leg broken. We must help him.