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t)UELS. 249
own way then !' said Bersi. It was a law of the holmgang
(holmgongn-log) that the felld should be five
ells between the skirts, with holes in the corners ;
these holes they were to set wooden pins (hsslar)
with heads upon them, called i;j6snur. The man
who made the preparations was to go to the tjosnur
in such a manner that he could see the sky between
his legs, and to hold his ear-lobes while he repeated
a prayer (formali)—which was afterwards adopted
in the sacrificial ceremony called tj6snu-bl6t. There
should be three terraces (reitar) made around the
felld, each a foot broad, and outside of them, four
stakes. These were called hoslur (hesli-stengur,
hazel stakes), and the arena was said to be Jmzelled
(far er voUr haslaSr) when thus prepared. Each
combatant shall have three shields, and when these
are wOrn out tbey shall step in upon the felld, in
case they have pressed off from it before. After this
they shall defend themselves with their (offensive)
weapons only. He who has been challenged shall
have the first stroke. Should either be wounded so
that blood falls upon the felld, then tLere is no obli-
gation to fight longer. Should either step with one
foot beyond the hoslur, in technical language he
gives way (ferr han a hsel, lit. takes to his heels), but
if with both, he flies (rennr). A man shall hold a
shield before each of the combatants. He who is
most severely wounded shall pay as holm-fine
(holmlausn) three marks of silver. Thorgils held the
shield for his brother Kormak, and Thord Arndisson
for Bersi. Bersi struck first and clove Kormak's
shield ; the latter repaid Bersi in the same manner,
in