"Heardest thou," asks Njal, "how Gunnar offered him full atonement? Then I gave back Gunnar his right to do all lawful deeds."
"That is right and good law," says Mord, "but how does the matter stand if Gunnar has laid the slaying of Hjort at Kol's door, when it was the Easterling that slew him?"
"That was right and lawful," says Njal, "when he chose him as the slayer before witnesses."
"That was lawful and right, no doubt," says Mord; "but for what did Gunnar summon them all as outlaws?"
"Thou needest not to ask about that," says Njal, "when they went out to deal wounds and manslaughter."
"Yes," says Mord, "but neither befell Gunnar."
"Gunnar's brothers," said Njal, "Kolskegg and Hjort, were there, and one of them got his death and the other a flesh wound."
"Thou speakest nothing but what is law," says Mord, "though it is hard to abide by it."
Then Hjallti Skeggis son of Thursodale, stood forth and said—
"I have had no share in any of your lawsuits; but I wish to know whether thou wilt do something, Gunnar, for the sake of my words and friendship."