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DUELS. 243
geir, dwelt^ with his mother Gy6a. He found a
friendly reception with them and stayed in Blindheim
several days. During this time he noticed that
a great affliction rested upon the whole household,
but especially upon FriSgeir's sister ;
yet it was not
until he was on the eve of departure that Gy6a revealed
to him the cause of this sadness. A man
with%ie name of Ljot the Pale, a universally-hated
Berserk and duSllist (Ii61mgaungu-ma5r), had sued
for the daughter, and having been rejected, he had
challenged FriSgeir to a holmgang. On the follow-
ing day they were to meet (ganga a holm) on the
island Yorl, and Gy5a now begged of Egil, who was
an expert swordsman, that he would accompany her
son thither. Egil promised to do so, and remained
that day at Blindheim. " In the evening came the
friends of FriSgeir who had resolved to bear him
company ; there were many men assembled during
the night, and a great banquet. But on the day
after, FriSgeir made ready for the journey, and manymen
with him ; Egil was in his train. It was good
weather for traveliug. They set off and arrived at
the island. At the place of meeting there was a
broad embankment stretching along at a short dis-
tance from the sea ; upon this the holm-stead was
marked off, with stones laid in a circle round about
it. Now Ljot came along with his folk and made
ready for battle; he had both sword and shield.
Ljot was a very large and strong man, and a,8
he was walking forth along the embankment to
the place of combat, the Berserksgang came sud-
denly upon him ; he began to yell horribly and bite
bis ghield, FriSgeir wa? not large ; he vas glen