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DUELS. 245
sword-room ; but Egil was just as quickly after him
and was not sparing in Ms blows. In this manner
Ljot passed out over the boundary stones and far
along the embankment. Thus the first round was
ended and Ljot demanded rest. Egil let it be so ;
they stood still and rested a while. It was a law of
the holmgang, at that time, that when one party demanded
anything of the. other and conquered, he
should have as reward of victory (sigrmal), whatever
he had demanded ; but should he be overcome, he
was to acquit himself with so much property as
might be agreed upon ; and if he fell on the holm,
then all his possessions were forfeited, and the one
who slew him was to inherit after him. Egil now
caused Ljot to make ready :
' I wish we may now
put an ..end to this holmgang!' Ljot sprang hastily
up. Egil ran up to him, hewed at him straightway,
and came so near his life that he gave way and ex-
posed himself, for his shield slipped from him.
Then Egil hewed at Ljot ; the blow struck him above
the knee and took off his foot. Ljot fell and died
immediately. His death was but little mourned, for
he had been a most, turbulent man. He was a
Swede by birth, and had no kinsmen in Norway.
He had come thither and had accumulated property
by holmgang, as he had slain many good citizens to
whom he had given the choice- between holmgang
and a relinquishment of their lands and allodial pos-
sessions. He had in this manner become very
wealthy, both in lands and movables."*
* Egil's S. 67-.