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Page 50
He stayed there for the night, and in the morning went out to
work with Atli's men, and toiled as if he had hands everywhere.
So he continued all the summer; Atli took no notice of him, but
allowed him his food, for he was pleased with the man's work.
Soon Thorbjorn learned that Ali was at Bjarg. He rode thither
with two others and called to Atli to come out and speak with
him. Atli went out and greeted him.
"You want to begin again provoking me to attack you, Atli," he
said. "Why have you taken away my workman? It is a most
improper thing to do."
Atli replied: "It is not very clear to me that he is your
workman. I do not want to keep him if you can prove that he
belongs to your household; but I cannot drive him out of my
house."
"You must have your way now," said Thorbjorn; "but I claim the
man and protest against his working for you. I shall come again,
and it is not certain that we shall then part any better friends
than we are now."
Atli rejoined: "I shall stay at home and abide whatever comes to
hand."
Thorbjorn then went off home. When the workmen came back in the
evening Atli told them of his conversation with Thorbjorn and
said to Ali that he must go his own ways, for he was not going to
be drawn into a quarrel for employing him.
Ali said: "True is the ancient saying: The over-praised are the
worst deceivers. I did not think that you would have turned me
off now after I had worked here till I broke in the summer. I
thought that you would have given me protection. Such is your
way, however you play the beneficent. Now I shall be beaten
before your very eyes if you refuse to stand by me."
Atli's mind was changed after the man had spoken; he no longer
wanted to drive him away.
So the time passed until the hay-harvest began. One day a little
before midsummer Thorbjorn Oxmain rode to Bjarg. He wore a
helmet on his head, a sword was girt at his side, and in his hand
was a spear which had a very broad blade. The weather was rainy;
Atli had sent his men to mow the hay, and some were in the North
at Horn on some work. Atli was at home with a few men only.
Thorbjorn arrived alone towards midday and rode up to the door.
The door was shut and no one outside. Thorbjorn knocked at the
door and then went to the back of the house so that he could not
be seen from the door. The people in the house heard some one
knocking and one of the women went out. Thorbjorn got a glimpse
of the woman, but did not let himself be seen, for he was seeking
another person. She went back into the room and Atli asked her
who had come. She said she could see nobody outside. As they
were speaking Thorbjorn struck a violent blow on the door. Atli
said:
"He wants to see me; perhaps he has some business with me, for
he seems very pressing."
Then he went to the outer door and saw nobody there. It was
raining hard, so he did not go outside, but stood holding both
the door-posts with his hands and peering round. At that moment
Thorbjorn sidled round to the front of the door and thrust his
spear with both hands into Atli's middle, so that it pierced him
through. Atli said when he received the thrust: "They use broad
spear-blades nowadays."
Then he fell forward on the threshold. The women who were inside
came out and saw that he was dead. Thorbjorn had then mounted
his horse; he proclaimed the slaying and rode home. Asdis, the
mistress of the house, sent for men; Atli's body was laid out and
he was buried beside his father. There was much lamentation over
his death, for he was both wise and beloved. No blood-money was
paid for his death, nor was any demanded, for his representative
was Grettir, if he should ever return to Iceland. The matter
rested there during the summer. Thorbjorn gained little credit
by this deed, but remained quietly at home.
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