They all bade him take the course he thought best, and then they took to their arms.
Now the earl comes up and called out to them, and bade them give themselves up.
Helgi said that they would defend themselves so long as they could.
Then the earl offered peace and quarter to all who would neither defend themselves nor Helgi; but Helgi was so much beloved that all said they would rather die with him.
Then the earl and his men fall on them, but they defended themselves well, and Njal's sons were ever where there was most need. The earl often offered peace, but they all made the same answer, and said they would never yield.
Then Aslak of Longisle pressed them hard and came on board their ship thrice. Then Grim said, "Thou pressest on hard, and 'twere well that thou gettest what thou seekest;" and with that he snatched up a spear and hurled it at him, and hit him under the chin, and Aslak got his death wound there and then.
A little after, Helgi slew Egil the earl's banner-bearer.
Then Sweyn, Earl Hacon's son, fell on them, and made men hem them in and bear them down with shields, and so they were taken captive.
The earl was for letting them all be slain at once, but Sweyn said that should not be, and said too that it was night.
Then the earl said, "Well, then, slay them to-morrow, but bind them fast to-night."