Shady-vale, which runs up from Waterdale. Thorhall was the son of
Grim, son of Thorhall, the son of Fridmund, who settled Shady-vale.
Thorhall had a wife hight Gudrun. Grim was their son, and Thurid their
daughter; they were well-nigh grown up.

Thorhall was a rich man, but mostly in cattle, so that no man had so
much of live-stock as he. He was no chief, but an honest bonder he
was. Much was that place haunted, and hardly could he get a shepherd
that he deemed should serve his turn. He sought counsel of many men
as to what he might do therewith, but none gave him a rede that might
serve him. Thorhall rode each summer to the Thing, and good horses
he had. But one summer at the Althing, Thorhall went to the booth
of Skapti Thorodson the Lawman. Skapti was the wisest of men, and
wholesome were his redes when folk prayed him for them. But he and his
father differed thus much, that Thorod was foretelling, and yet was
called under-handed of some folk; but Skapti showed forth to every
man what he deemed would avail most, if it were not departed from,
therefore was he called "Father-betterer."

Now Thorhall went into Skapti's booth, and Skapti greeted him well,
for he knew that he was a man rich in cattle, and he asked him what
were the tidings.

Thorhall answered, "A wholesome counsel would I have from thee."

"Little am I meet for that," said Skapti; "but what dost thou stand in
need of?"

Thorhall said, "So is the matter grown to be, that but a little while
do my shepherds avail me; for ever will they get badly hurt; but