When two shields had been hacked to splinters, Bersi bade Thorkel take the third; but he would not.

Bersi still had a shield, and a sword that was long and sharp.
Said Thorkel, "The sword ye have, Bersi, is longer than lawful." "That shall not be," cried Bersi; and took up his other sword, Whitting, two-handed, and smote Thorkel his deathblow.

Then sang he:-- (43) "I have smitten Toothgnasher and slain him, And I smile at the pride of his boasting.
One more to my thirty I muster, And, men! say ye this of the battle:-- In the world not a lustier liveth Among lords of the steed of the oar-bench; Though by eld of my strength am I stinted To stain the black wound-bird with blood." After these things Vali bade Bersi to the holmgang, but he answered in this song:-- (44) "They that waken the war of the mail-coats, For warfare and manslaying famous, To the lists they have bid me to battle, Nor bitter I think it not woeful.
It is sport for yon swordsmen who goad me To strive in the Valkyries' tempest On the holme; but I fear not to fight them-- Unflinching in battle am I!" The were even about to begin fighting, when Thord came and spoke to them saying:--"Woeful waste of life I call it, if brave men shall be smitten down for the sake of any such matters.

I am ready to make it up between ye two." To this they agreed, and he said:--"Vali, this methinks is the most likely way of bringing you together.

Let Bersi take thy sister Thordis to wife.