Death of Onund. Dispute among sons Onund and Erik

Onund and Aesa had two sons; the elder was named Thorgeir, the

younger Ofeig Grettir. Soon afterwards Aesa died and Onund

married a second wife, Thordis Thorgrim's daughter of Gnup in

Midfjord, a kinsman of Skeggi of Midfjord. By her Onund

had a son named Thorgrim, who grew up quickly to manhood, tall

and strong, wise and a good manager. Onund continued to live at

Kaldbak until his old age. He died a natural death and lies in

Treefoot's howe. He was the boldest and most active one-legged

man that ever came to Iceland.



Among Onund's sons Thorgrim was the foremost, although the others

were older. When he was twenty-five years old his hair was grey,

whence they nick-named him Greyhead. His mother Thordis married

again, taking as her second husband Audun Skokull. They had a

son named Asgeir of Asgeirsa. Thorgrim Greyhead and his brothers

had a large property, which they managed together without

dividing it up.



Erik lived, as was mentioned, at Arnes. He had married Alof,

the daughter of Ingolf of Ingolfsfjord, by whom he had a son

named Flosi, a very promising young man with many friends.



There came to that part of Iceland three brothers, named Ingolf,

Ofeig, and Eyvind, and took the three fjords which are called by

their names, where they lived. Eyvind had a son named Olaf. He

at first lived at Eyvindsfjord, but went later to Drangar. He

was a most capable man.



So long as their fathers were living no disputes arose among

these men; but when Eirik was dead it occurred to Flosi that

those of Kaldbak had no legal title to the lands which Eirik had

given to Onund. Out of this serious dissensions arose between

them. Thorgrim and his brothers continued in possession of the

lands as before, but they would not join in games together.

Thorgeir, the eldest brother, was managing the farm at

Reykjarfjord, and often rowed out fishing, as the fjords were

full of fish. The men of Vik now laid their plans. Flosi had a

man in Arnes named Thorfinn, and sent him to fetch Thorgeir's

head. This man hid himself in the boatshed. One morning when

Thorgeir was preparing to row out with two other men, one of whom

was named Brand, Thorgeir was walking ahead with a leather skin

on his back containing some drink. It was very dark, and as he

passed the boat-house Thorfinn sprang out upon him and dealt him

a blow with an axe between his shoulders. The axe went into

something and made a squeaking noise. Thorfinn let go his axe,

feeling quite sure that no bandages would be needed, and being

very anxious to escape as fast as he could. He ran North, and

reaching Arnes before the day had quite broken, said that he had

killed Thorgeir and that Flosi must protect him. The only thing

to be done was to offer some compensation in money. "That," he

said, "will be the best thing for us after such a terrible piece

of work."



Flosi said he must first learn more about it, and that he thought

Thorfinn seemed very frightened after his doughty deed.



We must now tell what had happened to Thorgeir. He turned round

when he was struck, but the blow had gone into the leather

bottle, and he was unhurt. They could make no search for the man

because it was dark, so they rowed on down the fjord to Kaldbak,

where they told what had happened. People made great game of the

affair and called him Thorgeir Bottleback, a name which stuck to

him ever after. A verse was made:



"In days gone by men bathed their blades

in the streaming gore of a foeman's wound.

But now a wretch of all honour bereft

reddens his dastard axe in whey."