"Well mayest thou fare," she says, "and thou shalt not do this deed for nothing."
He took his weapons and his horse, and rode up to Fleetlithe, and there met men who were coming down from Lithend. They were at home east in the Mark. They asked Atli whither he meant to go? He said he was riding to look for an old jade. They said that was a small errand for such a workman, "but still 'twould be better to ask those who have been about last night".
"Who are they?" says he.
"Killing-Kol," say they, "Hallgerda's house-carle, fared from the fold just now, and has been awake all night."
"I do not know whether I dare to meet him," says Atli, "he is bad-tempered, and may be that I shall let another's wound be my warning."
"Thou bearest that look beneath the brows as though thou wert no coward," they said, and showed him where Kol was.
Then he spurred his horse and rides fast, and when he meets Kol, Atli said to him—
"Go the pack-saddle bands well?"
"That's no business of thine, worthless fellow, nor of any one else whence thou comest."
Atli said—"Thou hast something behind that is earnest work, but that is to die".