fifteen men; Bersi also rode to the holm with as many. Cormac
came there first, and told Thorgils that he would sit apart by
himself. So he sat down and ungirt the sword.

Now, he never heeded whether the sun shone upon the hilt, for he
had girt the sword on him outside his clothes. And when he tried
to draw it he could not, until he set his feet upon the hilts.
Then the little worm came, and was not rightly done by; and so
the sword came groaning and creaking out of the scabbard, and the
good luck of it was gone.


CHAPTER TEN
The Fight On Leidarholm.

After that Cormac went to his men. Bersi and his party had come
by that time, and many more to see the fight.

Cormac took up Bersi's target and cut at it, and sparks flew out.

Then a hide was taken and spread for them to stand on. Bersi
spoke and said, "Thou, Cormac, hast challenged me to the
holmgang; instead of that, I offer thee to fight in simple sword-
play. Thou art a young man and little tried; the holmgang needs
craft and cunning, but sword-play, man to man, is an easy game."

Cormac answered, "I should fight no better even so. I will run
the risk, and stand on equal footing with thee, every way."

"As thou wilt," said Bersi.