Now Thorbiorn hears that Ali is at Biarg; then he rode to Biarg with
two men, and called out Atli to talk with him. Atli went out and
welcomed him.

Thorbiorn said, "Still wilt thou take up afresh ill-will against me,
and trouble me, Atli. Why hast thou taken my workman? Wrongfully is
this done."

Atli answered, "It is not proven to me that he is thy workman, nor
will I withhold him from thee, if thou showest proofs thereof, yet am
I loth to drag him out of my house."

"Thou must have thy will now," said Thorbiorn; "but I claim the man,
and forbid him to work here; and I will come again another time, and I
know not if we shall then part better friends than now."

Atli said, "I shall abide at home, and take what may come to hand."

Then Thorbiorn rode home; but when the workmen come home in the
evening, Atli tells all the talk betwixt him and Thorbiorn, and bids
Ali go his way, and said he should not abide there longer.

Ali answered, "True is the old saw, over-praised and first to
fail. I deemed not that thou wouldst drive me away after I had
toiled here all the summer enough to break my heart, and I hoped that
thou wouldst stand up for me somehow; but this is the way of you,
though ye look as if good might be hoped from you. I shall be beaten
here before thine eyes if thou givest me not some defence or help."

Atli altered his mind at this talk of his, and had no heart now to