On that day Steinar's cattle were late in coming home; and when there seemed no hope of their coming,
Steinar took his horse and saddled it, and fully armed himself.
He then rode to Borg.
And when he came there he found men to speak to, and asked where Thorstein was.
It was told him that he was sitting within.
Then Steinar asked that he should come out; he had (he said) an errand with him.
Which when Thorstein heard, he took his weapons and went out to the door.
Then he asked Steinar what was his errand.
'Have you slain Thrand my thrall?'
said Steinar.
'Truly I have,' said Thorstein;
'you need not put that upon any other man.'
'Then I see,' said Steinar,
'that you mean to guard your land with the strong hand,
since you have slain my two thralls:
yet methinks this is no great exploit.
Now will I offer you in this a far better choice,
if you wish to guard your land by force:
I shall not trust other men with the driving of my cattle,
but be you sure of this, the cattle shall be on your land
both night and day.'
'So it is,'
said Thorstein, 'that I slew last summer your thrall,
whom you set to feed cattle on my land,
but afterwards let you have the feed as you would up to the winter.
Now have I slain another thrall of yours,
for the same fault as the former.
Again you shall have the feed from now through the summer,
as you will. But next summer, if you feed on my land,
and set men to drive your cattle thither,
then will I go on slaying for you every man that tends them,
though it be yourself.
I will act this every summer while you hold to the manner
of grazing that you have begun.'