he, "because I mean this fight to be my last."

After that, they parted in friendly wise: Steinar went home, and
Cormac fared to Mel.


CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Steingerd Leaves Bersi.

Next it is told of Bersi. His wound healed but slowly. Once on
a time a many folk were met to talk about that meeting and what
came of it, and Bersi made this song: --

(42)
"Thou didst leave me forlorn to the sword-stroke,
Strong lord of the field of the serpent!
And needy and fallen ye find me,
Since my foeman ye shielded from danger.
Thus cunning and counsel are victors,
When the craft of the spear-shaft avails not;
But this, as I think, is the ending,
O Thord, of our friendship for ever!"

A while later Thord came to his bedside and brought back the
luck-stone; and with it he healed Bersi, and they took to their
friendship again and held it unbroken ever after.

Because of these happenings, Steingerd fell into loathing of
Bersi and made up her mind to part with him; and when she had got
everything ready for going away she went to him and said: --