Egil bade them go to that loft. But when they came to the staircase head they saw that the loft was
open. A light was inside, and servants, who were making the beds. Egil bade some stay outside and
watch that none came out. Egil ran into the loft, seized weapons, of which there was no lack. They
slew all the men that were in there, and they armed themselves fully. Aki went to a trapdoor in the
floor and opened it, telling them that they should go down by this to the store-room below. They got a
light and went thither. It was the goodman’s treasury; there were many costly things, and much silver.
There the men took them each a load and carried it out. Egil took under his arm a large mead-cask, and
bare it so.

But when they came to the wood, then Egil stopped, and he said:

’This our going is all wrong, and not warlike. We have stolen the goodman’s property without his
knowing thereof. Never ought that shame to be ours. Go we back to the house, and let him know what
hath befallen.’

All spoke against that, saying they would make for the ship.

Egil set down the mead-cask, then ran off, and sped him to the house. But when he came there, he saw
that serving-lads were coming out of the kitchen with dishes and bearing them to the dining-hall. In
the kitchen (he saw) was a large fire and kettles thereon. Thither he went. Great beams had been
brought home and lighted, as was the custom there, by setting fire to the beam-end and so burning it
lengthwise. Egil seized a beam, carried it to the dining-hall, and thrust the burning end under the
eaves, and so into the birch bark of the roof, which soon caught fire. Some fagot-wood lay hard by;
this Egil brought and piled before the hall-door. This quickly caught fire. But those who sate drinking
within did not find it out till the flame burst in round the roof. Then they rushed to the door; but there
was no easy way out, both by reason of the fagot-wood, and because Egil kept the door, and slew most
who strove to pass out either in the doorway or outside.

The goodman asked who had the care of the fire.

Egil answered, ’He has now the care of the fire whom you yester-even had thought least likely; nor
will you wish to bake you hotter than I shall kindle; you shall have soft bath before soft bed, such as
you meant to give to me and my comrades. Here now is that same Egil whom you bound hand and
foot to the post in that room you shut so carefully. I will repay you your hospitality as you deserve.’

At this the goodman thought to steal out in the dark, but Egil was near, and dealt him his death-blow,
as he did to many others. Brief moment was it ere the hall so burned that it fell in. Most of those who
were within perished.

But Egil went back to the wood, where he found his comrades, and they all went together to the ship.
Egil said he would have the mead-cask which he carried as his own special prize; it proved to be full
of silver. Thorolf and his men were overjoyed when Egil came down. They put out from land as soon
as day dawned; Aki and his two sons were with Egil’s following. They sailed in the summer, now far
spent, to Denmark, where they lay in wait for merchant-ships, and plundered when they got the
chance.