Egil set down the mead-cask, then ran off,
and sped him to the house.
But when he came there,
he saw that serving-lads were coming
out of the kitchen with dishes and bearing
them to the dining-hall.
In the kitchen (he saw) was a
large fire and kettles thereon.
Thither he went.
Great beams had been brought
home and lighted,
as was the custom there,
by setting fire to the beam-end and so
burning it lengthwise.
Egil seized a beam,
carried it to the dining-hall,
and thrust the burning end under the eaves,
and so into the birch bark of the roof,
which soon caught fire.
Some fagot-wood lay hard by;

this Egil brought and piled before the hall-door.
This quickly caught fire.
But those who sate drinking within
did not find it out till
the flame burst in round the roof.
Then they rushed to the door;
but there was no easy way out,
both by reason of the fagot-wood,
and because Egil kept the door,
and slew most who strove to pass out either in
the doorway or outside.