"So we think," says the earl, "but what makes thee think about that, or what is the matter with it?"
"The Scots," says Helgi, "must have taken your steward's life, and stopped all the messengers, that none should cross the Pentland Firth."
"Hast thou the second sight?" said the earl.
"That has been little proved," answers Helgi.
"Well," says the earl, "I will increase thy honour if this be so, otherwise thou shalt smart for it."
"Nay," says Kari, "Helgi is not that kind of man, and like enough his words are sooth, for his father has the second sight."
After that the earl sent men south to Straumey (2) to Arnljot, his steward there, and after that Arnljot sent them across the Pentland Firth, and they spied out and learnt that Earl Hundi and Earl Melsnati had taken the life of Havard in Thraswick, Earl Sigurd's brother-in-law. So Arnljot sent word to Earl Sigurd to come south with a great host and drive those earls out of his realm, and as soon as the earl heard that, he gathered together a mighty host from all the isles.
ENDNOTES:
(1) The mainland of Orkney, now Pomona. (2) Now Stroma, in the Pentland Firth.