Now we must take up the story, and say that Gunnar was out of doors at Lithend, and sees his shepherd galloping up to the yard. The shepherd rode straight into the "town"; and Gunnar said, "Why ridest thou so hard?"
"I would be faithful to thee," said the man; "I saw men riding down along Markfleet, eight of them together, and four of them were in coloured clothes."
Gunnar said, "That must be Otkell."
The lad said, "I have often heard many temper-trying words of Skamkell's; for Skamkell spoke away there east at Dale, and said that thou sheddest tears when they rode over thee; but I tell it thee because I cannot bear to listen to such speeches of worthless men."
"We must not be word-sick," says Gunnar, "but from this day forth thou shall do no other work than what thou choosest for thyself."
"Shall I say aught of this to Kolskegg thy brother?" asked the shepherd.
"Go thou and sleep," says Gunnar; "I will tell Kolskegg."
The lad laid him down and fell asleep at once, but Gunnar took the shepherd's horse and laid his saddle on him; he took his shield, and girded him with his sword, Oliver's gift; he sets his helm on his head; takes his bill, and something sung loud in it, and his mother, Rannveig, heard it. She went up to him and said "Wrathful art thou now, my son, and never saw I thee thus before."
Gunnar goes out, and drives the butt of his spear into the earth, and throws himself into the saddle, and rides away,
His mother, Rannveig, went into the sitting-room, where there was a great noise of talking.