Now Egil and his twelve had gone through a wood and then saw wide plains and tillage. Hard by them
stood a house. For this they made, and when they came there they ran into the house, but could see no
one there. They took all the loose chattels that they came upon. There were many rooms, so this took
them a long time. But when they came out and away from the house, an armed force was there
between them and the wood, and this attacked them. High palings ran from the house to the wood; to
these Egil bade them keep close, that they might not be come at from all sides. They did so. Egil went
first, then the rest, one behind the other, so near that none could come between.

The Courlanders attacked them vigorously, but mostly with spears and javelins, not coming to close
quarters. Egil’s party going forward along the fence did not find out till too late that another line of
palings ran along on the other side, the space between narrowing till there was a bend and all progress
barred. The Courlanders pursued after them into this pen, while some set on them from without,
thrusting javelins and swords through the palings, while others cast clothes on their weapons. Egil’s
party were wounded, and after that taken, and all bound, and so brought home to the farmhouse.

The owner of that farm was a powerful and wealthy man; he had a son grown up. Now they debated
what they should do with their prisoners. The goodman said that he thought this were best counsel, to
kill them one on the heels of another. His son said that the darkness of night was now closing in, and
no sport was thus gotten by their torture; he bade them be let bide till the morning. So they were thrust
into a room and strongly bound. Egil was bound hand and foot to a post. Then the room was strongly
locked, and the Courlanders went into the dining-hall, ate, drank, and were merry.

Egil strained and worked at the post till he loosed it up from the floor. Then the post fell, and Egil
slipped himself off it. Next he loosed his hands with his teeth. But when his hands were loose, he
loosed therewith the bonds from his feet. And then he freed his comrades; but when they were all
loosed they searched round for the likeliest place to get out. The room was made with walls of large
wooden beams, but at one end thereof was a smooth planking. At this they dashed and broke it
through. They had now come into another room; this too had walls of wooden beams. Then they heard
men’s voices below under their feet. Searching about they found a trapdoor in the floor, which they
opened. Thereunder was a deep vault; down in it they heard men’s voices. Then asked Egil what men
were these. He who answered named himself Aki. Would he like to come up, asked Egil. Aki
answered, they would like it much.

Then Egil and his comrades lowered into the vault the rope with which they had been bound, and drew
up thence three men. Aki said that these were his two sons, and they were Danes, who had been made
prisoners of war last summer.

’I was,’ he said, ’well treated through the winter, and had the chief care of the goodman’s property; but
the lads were enslaved and had a hard lot. In spring we made up our minds to run away, but were
retaken. Then we were cast into this vault.’

’You must know all about the plan of this house,’ said Egil; ’where have we the best hope to get out?’

Aki said that there was another plank partition: ’Break you up that, you will then come into a corn-
store, whereout you may go as you will.’

Egil’s men did so; they broke up the planking, came into the granary, and thence out. It was pitch
dark. Then said Egil’s comrades that they should hasten to the wood. But Egil said to Aki, ’If you
know the house here, you can show us the way to some plunder.’

Aki said there was no lack of chattels. ’Here is a large loft in which the goodman sleeps; therein is no
stint of weapons.’