THE SCENE: The passage below underscores an important lesson: never steal an Icelander’s fish.
THE TEXT: One summer, it is said, Hall, the brother of Ingjald Saudisle-Priest, came to the Bjarn Isles to do some fishing. He got himself a place in a boat with a certain Thorolf who came from Breidafjord and was practically a penniless vagrant, but a brisk fellow for all that. Hall stayed there for some time, and thought himself much superior to all the others. One evening when Hall and Thorolf had landed and were about to divide the catch, Hall demanded that he should both divide and take the first choice, for he thought himself the better man. Thorolf refused to surrender his rights and became very abusive. Words were exchanged, and neither would give way; then Hall snatched up a gaff lying nearby and tried to drive it into Thorolf’s head, but people intervened and restrained him. Hall was in a rage but could do nothing this time, and the catch was left undivided. Thorolf went away that evening and Hall, because of his superior standing, took possession of the whole catch, including Thorolf’s share. Then he engaged another man in Thorolf’s place and went on fishing as before.
Thorolf resented all this bitterly, and felt he had been humiliated in his deadlings with Hall. He remained in the island, and was determined to put right the injustice that had been forced on him; but Hall had no fears for his own safety, because he was sure that no one would dare to try to challenge him so near his own home.
One fine day Hall went out fishing in the boat with two others. The fish were biting well that day, and as they rowed back in the evening they were in high spirits. Thorolf had been keeping watch on Hall’s movements during the day and was lying in wait for him at the landing-place that evening when they came in to land. Hall was rowing in the bow, and now he jumped overboard to make the boat fast; but as he waded ashore Thorolf was there to meet him, and struck at him at once. The blow caught Hall on the neck, just above the shoulder, and his head flew off. Thorolf turned and made off, while Hall’s companions ran over to the dead man.
– Laxdaela Saga, 13th Century AD
