62 



FOSTER-BROTHERHOOD. 



and the loops raised so high that a man could s^o under them. 

 This Thorgeir (Havarsson) and Thormod (Bersason) did " 

 (Fostbrsedra Saga, I). 1 



Gisli was at a Thing with his brother-in-law Vestein. There 

 were also a Godi named Thorgriin, and Gisli's brother Thorkel. 

 Gisli said : 



" ' I think it right that we should bind our friendship still 

 closer than before, and we four swear one another foster-brother- 

 hood.' To this they consented, and went on Eyrarhvolsoddi 

 (point or tongue of land), and there cut from the ground a 

 loop of turf, both ends being attached to the ground, and under 

 this placed a spear inlaid with ornaments, so long that a man 

 could reach with his hand to the spear-nail (i.e., the nail 

 fastening the spear-point to the handle). Under this were to 

 go the four, Thorgrim, Gisli, Thorkel, and Vestein. They 

 then drew blood from themselves, and let it run together into 

 the mould, which had been cut under the loop of turf, and 

 mixed together the earth and the blood ; thereupon they all 

 fell on their knees and swore an oath that each should avenge 

 the other like a brother, and called all the gods as witnesses. 

 They all shook hands " {Gisli Siirsson's Saga, p. II). 2 



When Angantyr and Beli were fighting, the latter became 

 exhausted, and would have been killed by the former but for 

 Thorstein, who came forward, and said : 



" ' I think it right, Angantyr, that you should stop fighting, 

 for I see that Beli is exhausted, and I will not be so mean as 

 to help him against thee, but if thou becornest his slayer I will 

 challenge thee to a holmganga, and I think we are not less 

 unequal than thou and Beli ; I would kill thee in that holm- 

 ganga, and it would be a great loss if both of you were to die. 

 Now will I offer thee this condition, if thou givest Beli his life, 

 that we swear each other poster- brotherhood.' Angantyr said : 

 * It seems to me a fair offer, that I become the foster-brother 

 of Beli, but it is a great boon for me to become thy foster- 

 brother.' This was then agreed upon. They let blood flow 

 from the hollow of their hands, and went under a sod, and 

 swore oaths that each one should avenge the other, if any one 

 of them was slain with weapons " (Thorstein Vikingsson, c. 21). 



It was usual to swear an oath that whoever survived his foster- 



The Saga is called Fostbradra Saga 

 (Foster-brothers' Saga) after them. 



2 Cf. also Stuvlaug Starfsami, c. 13, 

 and Herd's Saga, c. 12. 



