foundered his horse. So they turned to Thorveig the spaewife's
farmsteading, and found that Bersi was gone aboard her boat.

She had said to Bersi, "I wish thee to take a little gift from
me, and good luck follow it."

This was a target bound with iron; and she said she reckoned
Bersi would hardly be hurt if he carried it to shield him, --
"but it is little worth beside this steading thou hast given me."
He thanked her for the gift, and so they parted. Then she got
men to scuttle all the boats on the shore, because she knew
beforehand that Cormac and his folk were coming.

When they came and asked her for a boat, she said she would do
them no kindness without payment; -- "Here is a rotten boat in
the boathouse which I would lend for half a mark."

Thorgils said it would be in reason if she asked two ounces of
silver. Such matters, said Cormac, should not stand in the way;
but Thorgils said he would sooner ride all round the water-head.
Nevertheless Cormac had his will, and they started in the boat;
but they had scarcely put off from shore when it filled, and they
had hard work to get back to the same spot.

"Thou shouldst pay dearly for this, thou wicked old hag," said
Cormac, "and never be paid at all."

That was no mighty trick to play them, she said; and so Thorgils
paid her the silver; about which Cormac made this song: --