Thrain was a short time out on the sea, and so came to Iceland, and fared home to his house. Hrapp went along with Thrain, and was with him that year; but the spring after, Thrain got him a homestead at Hrappstede, and he dwelt there; but yet he spent most of his time at Gritwater. He was thought to spoil everything there, and some men even said that he was too good friends with Hallgerda, and that he led her astray, but some spoke against that.
Thrain gave the Vulture to his kinsman, Mord the Reckless; that
Mord slew Oddi Haldor's son, east in Gautawick by Berufirth.
All Thrain's kinsmen looked on him as a chief.
88. EARL HACON FIGHTS WITH NJAL'S SONS.
Now we must take up the story, and say how, when Earl Hacon missed Thrain, he spoke to Sweyn his son, and said, "Let us take four long-ships, and let us fare against Njal's sons and slay them, for they must have known all about it with Thrain."
"'Tis not good counsel," says Sweyn, "to throw the blame on guiltless men, but to let him escape who is guilty."
"I shall have my way in this," says the earl.
Now they hold on after Njal's sons, and seek for them, and find them under an island.
Grim first saw the earl's ships and said to Helgi, "Here are war ships sailing up, and I see that here is the earl, and he can mean to offer us no peace."
"It is said," said Helgi, "that he is the boldest man who holds his own against all comers, and so we will defend ourselves."