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} - - div.clearpage, div.cleardoublepage - { margin: 10% 0; border: none; border-top: 1px solid gray; } - - .vfill { margin: 5% 10% } -} - -@media print { - div.clearpage { page-break-before: always; padding-top: 10% } - div.cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 10% } - - .vfill { margin-top: 20% } - h2.title { margin-top: 20% } -} - -/* DIV */ -pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } -</style> -<title>GRETTIR THE OUTLAW</title> -<link rel="coverpage" href="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<meta name="DC.Creator" content="S. Baring-Gould" /> -<meta name="PG.Title" content="Grettir the Outlaw" /> -<meta name="DC.Language" content="en" /> -<meta name="PG.Producer" content="Al Haines" /> -<meta name="PG.Rights" content="Public Domain" /> -<meta name="MARCREL.ill" content="M. Zeno Diemer" /> -<meta name="DC.Created" content="1889" /> -<meta name="PG.Released" content="2015-03-31" /> -<meta name="PG.Id" content="48622" /> -<meta name="DC.Title" content="Grettir the Outlaw A Story of Iceland" /> - -<link href="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" rel="schema.DCTERMS" /> -<link href="http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/" rel="schema.MARCREL" /> -<meta content="Grettir the Outlaw A Story of Iceland" name="DCTERMS.title" /> -<meta content="/home/ajhaines/grettir/grettir.rst" name="DCTERMS.source" /> -<meta content="en" scheme="DCTERMS.RFC4646" name="DCTERMS.language" /> -<meta content="2015-04-01T04:32:48.197686+00:00" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.modified" /> -<meta content="Project Gutenberg" name="DCTERMS.publisher" /> -<meta content="Public Domain in the USA." name="DCTERMS.rights" /> -<link href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/48622" rel="DCTERMS.isFormatOf" /> -<meta content="S. Baring-Gould" name="DCTERMS.creator" /> -<meta content="M. Zeno Diemer" name="MARCREL.ill" /> -<meta content="2015-03-31" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.created" /> -<meta content="width=device-width" name="viewport" /> -<meta content="Ebookmaker 0.4.0a5 by Marcello Perathoner <webmaster@gutenberg.org>" name="generator" /> -</head> -<body> -<div class="document" id="grettir-the-outlaw"> -<h1 class="center document-title level-1 pfirst title"><span class="x-large">GRETTIR THE OUTLAW</span></h1> - -<!-- this is the default PG-RST stylesheet --> -<!-- figure and image styles for non-image formats --> -<!-- default transition --> -<!-- default attribution --> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="clearpage"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="align-None container language-en pgheader" id="pg-header" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States -and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no -restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the </span><a class="reference internal" href="#project-gutenberg-license">Project Gutenberg License</a><span> included with -this ebook or online at </span><a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a><span>. If you -are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws -of the country where you are located before using this ebook.</span></p> -<p class="noindent pnext"></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<div class="align-None container" id="pg-machine-header"> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>Title: Grettir the Outlaw -<br /> A Story of Iceland -<br /> -<br />Author: S. Baring-Gould -<br /> -<br />Release Date: March 31, 2015 [EBook #48622] -<br /> -<br />Language: English -<br /> -<br />Character set encoding: UTF-8</span></p> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-start-line"><span>*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK </span><span>GRETTIR THE OUTLAW</span><span> ***</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-produced-by"><span>Produced by Al Haines.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span></span></p> -</div> -<div class="align-None container coverpage"> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 65%" id="figure-81"> -<img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="Cover art" src="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">Cover art</span></div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container frontispiece"> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 61%" id="figure-82"> -<span id="thorkell-and-the-outlawed-grettir-leave-the-assize"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="THORKELL AND THE OUTLAWED GRETTIR LEAVE THE ASSIZE." src="images/img-front.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">THORKELL AND THE OUTLAWED GRETTIR LEAVE THE ASSIZE.</span></div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container titlepage"> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold xx-large">Grettir the Outlaw</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">A Story of Iceland</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">by</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="large">S. BARING-GOULD</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="small">Author of "John Herring" "Mehalah" "Iceland: its Scenes and Sagas" &c.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><em class="italics medium">WITH SIX PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS BY M. ZENO DIEMER</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED -<br />LONDON GLASGOW AND DUBLIN -<br />1889</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">PREFACE.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>TO MY YOUNG READERS.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It is now just thirty years since I first began to read the -"Saga of Grettir the Strong" in Icelandic. At that time I -had only a Danish grammar of Icelandic and an Icelandic-Danish -dictionary, and I did not know a word of Danish. So -I had to learn Danish in order to learn Icelandic.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was laborious work making out the Saga, and every line -when I began took me some time to understand. Moreover, -I had not much time at my disposal, for then I was a master -in a school.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, after I had worked a little way into the Saga, I -became intensely interested in it myself, and it struck me that -my boys whom I taught might like to hear about Grettir. So -I tried every day to translate, after school hours, a chapter, -hardly ever more at first, and sometimes not even as much -as that. Then, when on half-holidays I proposed a walk -to some of my scholars, they were keen to hear the story -of Grettir. Well, Grettir went on for some months in this -way, a fresh instalment of the tale coming every half-holiday, -and it was really wonderful how interested and delighted the -boys were with the story. Nor was I less so; the labour of -translation which was so great at first became rapidly lighter, -and I was as much interested in the adventures of the hero as -were the boys. The other day I met an old pupil of mine, -and almost the first thing he said to me was: "Oh! do you -remember Grettir? Thirty years ago! Fancy! I am a -married man and have boys of my own, and I have often tried to -tell them the story which made such an impression on me, but -I cannot remember all the incidents nor their order. I do -wish you would write it as a story for boys. I should like to -read it myself again, and my boys would love it." "Very -well," I said, "I will do so."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now my boy readers must understand that I have told them -the story in my own words and in my own way. I went to -Iceland in 1861, and went over nearly every bit of the ground -made famous by the adventures of Grettir. Consequently, I -am able to help out and illustrate the tale by what I actually -saw. In the original book there is a great deal more than I -have attempted to retell, but much has to do with the ancestors -of Grettir, and there are other incidents introduced of no -great importance and very confusing to the memory. So I -have taken the leading points in the story, and given them.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>S. BARING-GOULD.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">CONTENTS.</span></p> -<p class="noindent pnext"><span class="small">CHAP.</span></p> -<ol class="upperroman simple"> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#winter-tales">Winter Tales</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#how-grettir-played-on-the-ice">How Grettir played on the Ice</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#of-the-ride-to-thingvalla">Of the Ride to Thingvalla</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-doom-day">The Doom-day</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-voyage">The Voyage</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-red-rovers">The Red Rovers</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-story-of-the-sword">The Story of the Sword</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#of-the-bear">Of the Bear</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-slaying-of-biorn">The Slaying of Biorn</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#of-grettir-s-return">Of Grettir's Return</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-horse-fight">The Horse-fight</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#of-the-fight-at-the-neck">Of the Fight at the Neck</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#how-grettir-and-audun-made-friends">How Grettir and Audun made Friends</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-vale-of-shadows">The Vale of Shadows</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#how-grettir-fought-with-glam">How Grettir fought with Glam</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#how-grettir-sailed-to-norway">How Grettir Sailed to Norway</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-hostel-burning">The Hostel-burning</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-ordeal-by-fire">The Ordeal by Fire</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-winter-in-norway">The Winter in Norway</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#of-what-befell-at-biarg">Of what Befell at Biarg</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-return-of-grettir">The Return of Grettir</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-slaying-of-oxmain">The Slaying of Oxmain</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#at-learwood">At Learwood</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-foster-brothers">The Foster-brothers</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#how-grettir-was-well-nigh-hung">How Grettir was well nigh Hung</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#in-the-desert">In the Desert</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#on-the-great-eagle-lake">On the Great Eagle Lake</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#on-the-fell">On the Fell</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-fight-on-the-river">The Fight on the River</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-mysterious-vale">A Mysterious Vale</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-death-of-hallmund">The Death of Hallmund</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#of-another-attempt-against-grettir">Of Another Attempt against Grettir</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#at-sandheaps">At Sandheaps</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#how-grettir-was-driven-about">How Grettir was Driven About</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#on-the-isle">On the Isle</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#of-grettir-on-heron-ness">Of Grettir on Heron-ness</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#of-hoering-s-leap">Of Hœring's Leap</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#of-the-attempt-made-by-grettir-s-friends">Of the Attempt made by Grettir's Friends</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#of-the-old-hag">Of the Old Hag</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#how-the-log-came-to-drangey">How the Log came to Drangey</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-end-of-the-outlaw">The End of the Outlaw</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#how-asdis-received-the-news">How Asdis received the News</a></p> -</li> -<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#how-dromund-kept-his-word">How Dromund kept his Word</a></p> -</li> -</ol> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#epilogue">Epilogue</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">ILLUSTRATIONS.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#thorkell-and-the-outlawed-grettir-leave-the-assize">Thorkell and the outlawed Grettir leave the Assize</a><span>, </span><em class="italics">Frontis</em><span>.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#grettir-challenges-kormak-and-his-party">Grettir challenges Kormak and his Party</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#grettir-defends-himself-from-the-mob">Grettir defends Himself from the Mob</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#grettir-attacked-in-the-rift-by-thorir-s-party">Grettir attacked in the Rift by Thorir's Party</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#fording-the-quivering-flood">Fording the quivering flood</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#illugi-defends-the-dying-grettir">Illugi defends the dying Grettir</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 100%" id="figure-83"> -<span id="pedigree-of-the-family-of-asmund-of-biarg"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="PEDIGREE OF THE FAMILY OF ASMUND OF BIARG" src="images/img-010.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">PEDIGREE OF THE FAMILY OF ASMUND OF BIARG</span></div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="winter-tales"><span class="bold x-large">GRETTIR THE OUTLAW.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER I.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">WINTER TALES.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The Birthplace of Grettir—The Peopling of -Iceland—A History of Quarrels—Stories Round -the Hearth—Biarg—The Great Blue Bay—The -Boy Grettir—The Saga of Onund Treefoot—The -Northern Pirates—The Fight with King -Harald—Onund's Wound—After the Battle</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It was night—drawing on to midnight—in -summer, that I who write this book -arrived at the little lonely farm of Biarg, -on the Middle River, in the north of Iceland. -It was night, near on midnight, and yet I could -hardly call it night, for the sky overhead was -full of light of the clearest amethyst, and every -stock and stone was distinctly visible. Across the -valley rose a rugged moor, and above its shoulder a -snow-clad mountain, turned to rosy gold by the -night sun. As I stood there watching the mist form -on the cold river in the vale below, all at once I -heard a strange sound like horns blowing far away -in the sky, and looking up, I saw a train of swans -flying from west to east, bathed in sunlight, their -wings of silver, and their feathers as gold.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>I had come all the way from England to see Biarg, -for there was born, about the year A.D. 997, a man -called Grettir, whose history I had read, and which -interested me so much that I was resolved to see -his native home, and the principal scenes where his -stormy life was passed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The landscape was the same as that on which -Grettir's childish eyes had looked more than eight -hundred and fifty years ago. The same outline of -dreary moor, the same snowy ridge of mountain -standing above it, catching the midnight summer -sun, the same mist forming over the river; but the -house was altogether different. Now there stood -only a poor heap of farm-buildings, erected of turf -and wood, where had once been a noble hall of -wood, with carved gable-ends, surrounded by many -out-houses.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Before we begin on the story of Grettir, it will be -well to say a few words about its claim to be history.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Iceland never was, and it is not now, a much-peopled -island. The farmhouses are for the most part -far apart, and the farms are of very considerable -extent, because, owing to the severity of the climate, -very little pasturage is obtained over a wide extent -of country for the sheep and cattle. The population -lives round the coast, on the fiords or creeks of the -sea, or on the rivers that flow into these fiords. -The centre of the island is occupied by a vast waste -of ice-covered mountain, and desert black as ink -strewn with volcanic ash and sand, or else with a -region of erupted lava that is impassable, because -in cooling it has exploded, and forms a country of -bristling spikes and gulfs and sharp edges, very -much like the wreck of a huge ginger-beer bottle -factory.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>What are now farmhouses were the halls and -mansions of families of noble descent. Indeed, the -original settlers in Iceland were the nobles of -Norway who left their native land to avoid the tyranny -of Harold Fairhair, who tried to crush their power -so as to make himself a despotic king in the land.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>These Norse nobles came in their boats to Iceland, -bringing with them their wives, children, their -thralls or slaves, and their cattle; and they settled -all round the coast. The present Icelanders are -descended from these first colonists.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, the history of Iceland for a few hundred -years consists of nothing but the history of the -quarrels of these great families. Iceland was without -any political organization, but it had an elected -lawman or judge, and every year the heads of the -families rode to Thingvalla, a plain in the south-west, -where they brought their complaints, carried on -their lawsuits, and had them settled by the judge. -There was no army, no navy, no government in -Iceland for a long time; also no foreign wars, and -no internal revolutions.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>These noble families settled in the valleys and upon -the fiords thought a good deal of themselves, and -they carefully preserved, at first orally then in -writing, the record of their pedigrees, and also the -tradition of the famous deeds of their great men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In summer there is no night; in winter, no day. -In winter there is little or nothing to be done but -sit over the fire, sing songs, and tell yarns. Now, -in winter the Icelanders told the tales of the brave -men of old in their families, and so the tradition -was handed on from father to son, the same stories -told every winter, till all the particulars became -well known. At the same time there can be no -doubt that little embellishments were added, some -exaggerations were indulged in, and here and there -the grand deed of some other man was grafted into -the story of the family hero. About two hundred -or two hundred and fifty years after the death of -Grettir, his history was committed to writing, and -then it became fixed—nothing further was added to -it, and we have his story after having travelled -down over two hundred years as a tradition. That -was plenty of time for additions and emendations, -and the hobgoblin and ghost stories that come into -his life are some of these embellishments. But the -main facts of his life are true history. We are able -to decide this by comparing his story with those of -other families in the same part of the island, and to -see whether they agree as to dates, and as to the -circumstances narrated in them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the north-west of Iceland is an immense bay -called the Huna-floi, which branches off into several -creeks, the largest of which is called the Ramsfirth, -and the next to that is the Middlefiord. Into this -flows a river that has its rise in the central desert, in -a perfect tangle of lakes. Three rivers issuing from -these lakes unite just above Biarg, and pour their -waters a short morning's ride lower through sands -into the Middlefirth.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The valley is not cheerful, running from north to -south. Biarg lies on the east side, and faces the -western sun. The moor which lies behind it, and -forms the hill on the other side of the river, is not -broken and picturesque, and if it were not for the -peak of Burfell, covered with snow a good part of -the year, the view from Biarg would be as -uninteresting as any to be found in the land. But then, -when one rides down to the coast, or ascends the -moor, what a splendid view bursts on the sight! -The great Polar Sea is before one, intensely blue, -not with the deep ultramarine of the Mediterranean, -but with the blue of the nemophyla or forget-me-not, -rolling in from the mysterious North; and -across the mighty bay of the Huna-floi can be seen -the snowy mountains of that extraordinary peninsula -which runs out to the north-west of Iceland, and is -only just not converted into an island because -connected with Iceland by a narrow strip of land. That -great projection is like a hand with fiords between -the fingers of land, and glacier-mountains where are -the knuckles; but the wrist is very narrow indeed, -only about one English mile across, and there lies a -trough along this junction, with a little stream and a -lake in it. Now, at this wrist, as we may call it, lies -the farm of Eyre, where, somewhat later, lived the -sister of Grettir, who married a man that farmed -there, named Glum.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Looking away across the great blue bay, the -mountains of the hand may be seen rising out of the -sea, and looking like icebergs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir the Strong was the son of a well-to-do -bonder, or yeoman, who lived at Biarg, and was -descended from some of the great nobles of Norway. -His father's name was Asmund with the Grey-head, -and his mother's name was Asdis.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had a brother called Atli, a gentle, kindly -young fellow, who never wittingly quarrelled with -anyone, and was liked by all with whom he had to -do. He had also two sisters—one was called -Thordis, and she was married to Glum of Eyre—but -neither come into the story; and he had another -sister called Rannveig, who was married to Gamli of -Melar, at the head of Ramsfirth. He had also a -little brother called Illugi, of whom more hereafter. -Grettir was not a good-looking boy; he had reddish -hair, a pale face full of freckles, and light blue -eyes. He was broad-built, not tall as a boy, though -in the end he grew to be a very big man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was not considered a good-tempered or sociable -boy. He seemed lazy and sullen; he liked to -sit by the fire without speaking to anyone, listening -to what was said, and brooding over what he had -heard.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>If his father set him a task, he did it so -unwillingly, and so badly that Asmund Greyhead regretted -having set him to do anything.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, during the winter, as we have already seen, -when there is but a very little daylight, and the -nights are vastly long, when, moreover, the whole -land is deep in snow, so that there is no farm-work -that can be done, and no travelling about to visit -neighbours, it was, and is still, usual in Iceland for -those in the house to tell tales, or sagas, as they -are called. Some of these sagas relate to the old -gods of the Norsemen, some are fabulous stories of -old heroes who never existed, or, if they did exist, -have had all sorts of fantastic legends tacked on to -their histories; but other sagas are the tales of the -doings of ancestors of the family.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, among the sagas that Grettir used to hearken -to with greatest delight was that of old Onund -Treefoot, his great-grandfather, who first settled in -Iceland. And this was the tale:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Onund, the son of Ufeigh Clubfoot, son of Ivar -the Smiter, was a mighty Viking in Norway; that is, -he went about every summer harrying the coasts of -England, Ireland, and Scotland. He joined with -three friends, and they had five ships together, and -one summer they sailed to the Hebrides—which -were then called the Sudereys, or southern isles. -The Bishop of the Isle of Man is still called Bishop -of Sodor and Man, because his diocese originally -included the Sudereys. Then out against them came -Kiarval, king of the Hebrides, with five ships, and -they gave him battle, and there was a hard fray. -But the men of Onund were the mightiest warriors. -On each side many fell, but the end of the battle -was that the king fled with only one ship. So -Onund took the four vessels and great spoil, and he -wrought great havoc on the coast, plundering and -burning, and so in the fall of the year returned to -Norway. In the history of England, and in that of -Scotland and of Ireland, we read of the terrible -annoyance given to the natives of Great Britain and -Ireland by the northern pirates; and, indeed, they -conquered Dublin, and established a kingdom there, -and also took to themselves Orkney. Well, when -Onund returned to Norway he did not find that -matters were pleasant there; for King Harald the -Unshorn had begun to establish himself sole king in -Norway. Hitherto there had been many small -kings and earls; but Harald had taken an oath -that he would not cut or trim his hair till he had -subdued all under his power, and made himself -supreme throughout the land.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A great many bonders and all the little kings -united against him, and there was a great battle -fought at Hafrsfiord—the greatest battle that had -as yet been fought in Norway. Onund was in the -battle along with his friend, King Thorir Longchin, -and he set his ship alongside of that of King Longchin. -King Harald ran his ship up alongside of that -of Longchin, grappled it, and boarded it. There was a -furious fight, and Harald sent on board his Bearsarks, -a set of half-mad ruffians, who wore not bear but -wolf skins, and who were said to lead charmed lives, -so that no weapon would wound them. Thorir -Longchin and all his men were killed; and then -King Harald cut away the ship and ran up against -that of Onund. Onund was in the fore part, and -he fought manfully. As the grappling-irons of -Harald caught his ship, Onund made a sweep with -his longsword at the man who threw the irons, and -in so doing he put his leg over the bulwark. Then -one on the king's ship threw a spear at Onund. -He saw it flung, and leaned his head back to let it -fly over him, and as he did so one on the king's -ship smote at him with a battle-axe, and the axe -fell on his leg below the knee and shore his leg off. -Then Onund fell back on board his own vessel, and -his men carried him across into that of a friend -named Thrand, who lay alongside of him on the -other board. And Thrand had a great cauldron -there of pitch boiled, and Onund set his knee in the -boiling pitch, and never blinked nor uttered a cry. -That staunched the blood. If he had not done this -he would have bled to death.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, Thrand saw that King Harald was gaining -the mastery everywhere, so he fled away with his -ship and sailed west.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Onund was healed of his wound, but ever after -he walked with a wooden leg, and that is why he -got the name of Onund Treefoot.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After the battle of Hafrsfiord, Onund could only -return to Norway by stealth, and he could not -recover his lands there, so he deemed it wisest for -him to sail away and seek a home elsewhere. That -is how he left Norway and settled in Iceland.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And when King Harald saw himself lord and -master through all the land, then he had his hair -trimmed and combed, and it was so long and so -beautiful, that ever after he who had been called -"The Unshorn" went by the name of "Fairhair," -and in history he is known as King Harald Fairhair.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="how-grettir-played-on-the-ice"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER II.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">HOW GRETTIR PLAYED ON THE ICE.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">An Evil Boyhood—Golf on the Ice—Grettir Quarrels -with Audun—A Threat of Vengeance</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>There are several tales told of Grettir when he -was a boy, which show that he was a rough -and unkindly lad. He was set by his father to keep -geese on the moors, and this made him angry, so he -threw stones at the geese and killed or wounded -them all.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The old man suffered from lumbago, and in winter -when unwell asked his wife and the boys to rub his -back by the fire; but when Grettir was required to -do this, he lost his temper, and on one occasion he -snatched up a wool-carding comb and dug it into -his old father's back.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Many other things he did which made those at -home not like him, and there was not much love -lost between him and his father. The fact was that -Grettir was a headstrong, wilful fellow, and bitterly -had he to pay in after life for this youthful -wilfulness and obstinacy. It was these qualities, untamed -in him, that wrecked his whole life, and it may be -said brought ruin and extinction on his family. -There were great and good qualities in Grettir's -nature, but they did not show when he was young; -only much suffering and cruel privations brought -out in the end the higher and nobler elements that -were in him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It is so with all who have any good in them, if -by early discipline it is not manifested, then it is -brought out by the rough usage of misfortune in -after life.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And now I will give one incident of Grettir's -boyhood. It was a favourite amusement for young -fellows at that time to play golf on the ice, and in -winter, when the Middlefirth was frozen over, large -parties assembled there for the sport.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One winter a party was arranged for a match on -the ice, and a good many lads came to Middlefirth -from Willowdale, a valley only separated from the -Middlefirth by a long shoulder of ugly moor. The -Willowdales-men had a much better sheet of water, -a very large lake called Hop, into which their river -flowed, before discharging itself into the sea; and -the return match was to be played on Hop.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Among the young fellows who came from Willowdale -was Audun, a fine, strapping fellow; frank, -well-built, good-looking, and amiable.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the parties were assembled at the place, -there they were paired off according to age and -strength; and on this occasion I am speaking of, -Grettir, who was fourteen, was set to play with -Audun, who was two years older than he, and a -head taller.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Audun struck the ball and it flew over Grettir's -head, and he missed it, and it went skimming away -over the ice to a great distance, and Grettir had to -run after it. Some of those who were looking on -laughed. Then Grettir's anger was roused. He got -the ball and came back carrying it, till he was -within a few yards of Audun, and then, instead of -dropping the ball, and striking it with his golfing-stick, -he suddenly threw it with all his force against his -adversary, and struck him between his eyes, so that -it half-stunned him, and cut the skin. Audun -whirled his golfing-bat round, and struck at Grettir, -who dodged under and escaped the blow. Then -Audun and Grettir grappled each other, and wrestled -on the ice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Every one thought that Audun would have the -stumpy, thick-set boy down in a trice, but it was -not so; Grettir held his ground;—they swung this -way, that way; now one seemed about to be cast, -and then the other, and although Audun was almost -come to a man's strength, he could not for a long -time throw Grettir. At last Grettir slipped on a -piece of ice where some had been sliding, and went -down. His blood was up, so was that of Audun; and -the fight would have been continued with their sticks, -had not Grettir's brother Atli thrown himself -between the combatants and separated them. Atli held -his brother back, and tried to patch up the quarrel.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You need not hold me like a mad dog," said -Grettir. "Thralls wreak their vengeance at once, -cowards never."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Audun and Grettir were distant cousins. They -were not allowed to play against each other any -more, and the rest went on with their game.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="of-the-ride-to-thingvalla"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER III.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">OF THE RIDE TO THINGVALLA.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Thorkel Mani's Find—Thorkel Krafla—The Halt -at Biarg—A Bad Prospect—Among the Lakes—The -Lost Meal-bags—Suspicion Confirmed—The Slaying -of Skeggi—The Song of the Battle-ogress—Grettir -Chooses to take his Trial</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>There lived in Waterdale, a day's journey from -Biarg, an old bonder, named Thorkel Krafla. -He was the first Icelander who became a Christian.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In heathen times, among the Northmen as among -the Romans, it was allowable for parents to expose -their children to death, if they did not want to have -the trouble of rearing them. Now Thorkel had -been so exposed, with a napkin over his face. It so -happened that a great chief called Thorkel Mani -was riding along one day, thinking about the gods -that he had been taught to believe in, who drank -and got drunk, and fought each other, and, being a -grave, meditative man, he could not make out what -these rollicking, fighting gods could have had to do -with the world,—with the creation of sun, moon, -and stars, and the earth with its yield. He thought -to himself, "There must be some God above these -tipsy, quarrelsome deities; and this higher God -must love men, and be good and kind to men."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he thought this, he heard a little whimpering -noise from behind a stone; he got off his horse, and -went to see what produced this noise, and found -there a poor little baby, that with its tiny hands -had rumpled up the kerchief which had been spread -over its nose and mouth. Thorkel Mani took up -the deserted babe in his arms, and looking up to -heaven, to the sun, said, "If the good God, who is -high over all, called this little being into life, gave -it eyes and mouth and ears and hands and feet, He -surely never intended His handiwork to be cast out -as a thing of no value, to die. For the love of Him -I will take this child."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorkel Mani rode home, carrying the baby -in his arms; and he called it by his own name, -Thorkel; but to distinguish it from himself, it was -given the nickname Krafla, which means to rumple, -because the babe had rumpled up the kerchief, so -as to let its cries be heard. So the child grew up, -and kept the name through life of Thorkel Rumple. -This Thorkel became a very great man, and -Godi, or magistrate, of the Waterdale; and, as I -have said, he was the first man to become a -Christian, when missionaries of the gospel came to -Iceland.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Very soon after Grettir's birth Christianity -became general, and in the year 1000 was sanctioned by -law; but there were few Christian priests in the land, -so that the knowledge of the truth had not spread -much, and taken hold and transformed men's lives. -Thorkel Rumple was now very old. He was the -bosom friend of Asmund, and every year when in -the spring he rode to the great assizes at Thingvalla, -he always halted at least one night at Biarg. Not -only were Asmund and he men of like minds, and -friends, but they were also connected. In the spring -of the year 1011, Thorkel arrived as usual at Biarg, -attended by a great many men, and he was most -warmly received by Asmund and his wife. He -remained with them three nights, and he and -they fell a-talking about the prospects of the two -young men, Atli and Grettir. Asmund told his -kinsman that Atli was a quiet, amiable fellow, -now at man's estate, and likely to prove a good -farmer; a man who would worthily succeed him at -Biarg when he died, and keep the honour of the -family untarnished, and would enlarge the estate.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! I see," said Thorkel. "A useful man, good -and respectable, like yourself. But what about -Grettir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Asmund hesitated a moment before answering; -but presently he said, "I hardly know what to say -of him. He is unruly, sullen, makes no friends, and -he has been a constant cause of vexation to me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorkel answered, "That is a bad prospect; -however, let him come with me to Thingvalla, and I -shall be able to see on the journey of what stuff he -is made."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>To this Asmund agreed; and right glad was -Grettir to think he was to go to the great law-gathering.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorkel had sixty men with him, and he rode in -some state; for, as already said, he was a great man. -The way led over the great desolate waste, called -the Two-days-ride; but as on this expanse there were -few halting-places, the grass most scanty, and not -sufficient to allow of a stay, the party rode across it -down to the settled lands nearer the coast as quickly -as they could, and reached Fleet-tongue in time to -sleep; so they took the bridles off their horses, and -let them graze with their saddles on. Their road -had lain among the lakes, from which issued the -rivers that united above Biarg. In each lake floated -a pair of swans. Often they heard the loud hoarse -cry of the great northern diver; but there was -hardly any grass, for the moor lies high, is swept -by the icy blasts from the glacier mountains to the -south, and is made up of black sand. Before them -all day had stood towering into the sky the Eyreksjokull, -a mountain with perfectly precipitous sides of -black basalt, domed over with glittering ice. It -resembles an immense bridecake. At one place this -mountain in former times had gaped, and poured -forth a fiery stream of lava that ran to the lakes, -and for a while converted them to steam. One can -still see whence this great fiery river issued from -the mountain. Little did Grettir think then as he -passed under it, a boy of fourteen, that, for the three -most lonely, wretched years of his life, that great -glacier-crowned mountain was to be the one object -on which his eye would rest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The men were all very tired after their long ride, -and they slept till late next morning, lying about -on the scant herbage, around a fire made of the roots -of trailing willows that they had dug out of the -sand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When they awoke many of the horses had strayed, -and some had rolled in the sand, burst their girths -and shaken off their saddles. But they could not -have gone any great distance, for they were all -hobbled. In Iceland thick woollen ropes are put -round the legs of the horses, below the hocks, and -twisted together into a knot with a knuckle-bone. -This serves as a secure hobble, and the wool being -soft does not gall the skin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was customary in those days for every one to -take his own provisions with him, and most of those -who went to the great assize carried meal-bags -athwart their saddles. Grettir found his horse at -last, but not his meal-bag, which had come off, and -was lost; for the saddle was turned under the belly -of his cob.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The horses could not have strayed far, not only -because they were hobbled, but also because the -Tongue where they had been turned loose was a -narrow strip of land between two rivers; but then -the slope was considerable in places, and the -meal-bag might have rolled down into the water.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As Grettir was running about hunting for his bag, -he saw another man in the same predicament. What -is more, he saw that the rest of the party, impatient -to get on their way, would tarry no longer for them, -and were defiling down the hill to cross the river.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir was in great distress. Just then he saw -the man run very directly in one course, and at the -same moment Grettir saw something white lying -under a mass of lava. It was towards this that the -fellow was running. Grettir ran towards it also. It -was a meal-sack. The man reached it first, and -threw it over his shoulder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What have you got there?" asked Grettir, coming up panting.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My meal-sack," answered the fellow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let me look at it," said Grettir. "It may be -mine, not yours. Let me look before you -appropriate it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This the man refused to do.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir's suspicion was confirmed, and he made a -catch at the sack, and tried to drag it away from -the fellow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, yes!" sneered the man—who was a servant -at a farm called The Ridge, in Waterdale, and his -name Skeggi,—"Oh, yes! you Middlefirthers think -you will have everything your own way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is not it," answered Grettir. "Let each -man take his own. If the sack be yours, keep it; -if mine, I will have it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is a pity Audun is not here," scoffed the -serving-man, "or he would trip up your heels and -throttle you, as he did on the ice when golfing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But as he is not here," retorted Grettir, "you -are not like to get the better of me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Skeggi suddenly took his axe by the haft and -hewed at Grettir's head. Grettir saw what he was -at, and instantly put up his left hand and caught -the handle below where Skeggi's hand held it; -wrenched it out of his grasp, and struck him with -it, so that his skull was cleft. The thing was done -in a moment, and Grettir had done it in self-preservation -and without premeditation. He was but a -boy of fourteen, and this was a full-grown stout -churl.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir at once seized the meal-bag, saw it was -his own, and threw it across his saddle. Then he -rode after the company. Thorkel Krafla rode at the -head of his party, and he had no misgiving that -anything untoward had taken place.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But, when Grettir came riding up with his meal-bag, -the men asked him if he had left Skeggi still -in search of his. Grettir answered in song:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"A rock Troll did her burden throw</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Down on Skeggi's skull, I trow.</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>O'er the battle-ogress saw I flow</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Ruby rivers all aglow.</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>She her iron mouth a-gape</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Did the life of Skeggi take."</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>This sounds like nonsense; to understand it one -must have a notion of what constituted poetry in -the minds of Icelanders and Northmen. With them -the charm of poetry consisted in never calling -anything by its right name, but using instead of it some -far-fetched similitude or periphrasis. Thus—the -burden of the rock Troll is iron. The Troll is the -spirit of the mountain, and the heaviest thing found -in the mountain is iron. The battle-ogress is the -axe which bites in battle. The verses that the Norse -poets sang were a series of conundrums, and the -hearers puzzled their brains to make out the sense. -This time they soon understood what Grettir meant, -and the men turned and went back to the Tongue, -and there found Skeggi dead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir went on to Thorkel, and in few words, -and to the point, told how things had fallen out. -He was not the aggressor. He had merely defended -himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorkel was much troubled, and he told Grettir -that he might either come on to the assize or go -home; that this act of man-slaughter would be -investigated at the law-gathering, and judgment given -upon it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir agreed to go on, and see how matters -would turn out for him.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-doom-day"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER IV.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE DOOM-DAY.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The Lava Plain—The Law of Man-slaughter—Grettir's -Sentence—The Grettir Stone</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>That evening they arrived at Thingvalla.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The great plain of Thingvalla is entirely composed -of lava. At some remote period before Iceland -was colonized a beautiful snowy cone of mountain, -called "The Broad Shield," poured forth a deluge -of molten rock, which ran in a fiery river down a -valley for some miles, half-choking it up, and then -spread out over a wide plain where anciently there -had been a great lake. Then all cooled, but after -the cooling, or whilst it was in process, there came -a great crack, crack. The great mass of lava must -have been poured over some subterranean caverns; -at any rate the whole plain snapped and sank down -a good many feet, the lava becoming cracked and -starred like glass. Nowadays, one cannot cross the -plain because it is all traversed with these fearful -cracks, chasms the bottom of which is filled with -black water. Where the plain sank deepest there -water settled and formed the beautiful Thingvalla -Lake.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the side of one of the cracks where the plain -broke off and sank is a very curious pinnacle of -black rock, and this was called the Hanging Rock, -as criminals were hung from it over the chasm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In one place two of the cracks unite, and there is -a high mound of blistered lava covered with turf -and flowers between them. That is called the Law -Hill, because the judge and his assessors sat there, -and no one could get to them, nor could the accused -get away across the chasms.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now it was the law at this time in Iceland that -when any man had been killed his nearest relatives -came to the assize, and the slayer appeared by -proxy and offered blood-money—that is to say, to -pay a fine to the relations, and so patch up the -quarrel. But if they refused the money then they -were at liberty to pursue and kill him. There were -no police then. If the relations wanted to have -the criminal punished they must punish him themselves.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Upon this occasion the case was discussed in -the court on the finger of rock between the two -chasms, the people standing on the further sides of -these gulfs, listening, but unable to come a step -nearer; and Thorkel appeared for Grettir and offered -to pay the blood-money. The relations of the dead -Skeggi, after a little fuss, agreed to accept a certain -sum, and Thorkel at once paid it. But the court -ordered that, as Grettir had acted with undue -violence, and as there was no evidence except his word -that Skeggi had made the first attack, he should be -outlawed, and leave Iceland for three winters. If -he set his foot in Iceland till three winters had -passed, his life was forfeit. He was allowed a -moderate and reasonable time for finding a ship that -would take him out of the country.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the assize was over all rode home, and the -way that Thorkel and Grettir went was up the -valley that had been half-choked with the lava that -rolled down from Broad Shield. They came to a -small grassy plain with a gently-sloping hill rising -out of it, a place where games took place, the women -sitting up the slope and watching the men below. -Here Grettir is said to have heaved an enormous -stone. The stone is still shown, and I have seen it. -I also know that Grettir never lifted it; for it has -clearly been brought there by a glacier. But this -is an instance of the way in which stories get -magnified in telling. No doubt that Grettir did "put" -there some big stone, and as it happened that at this -spot there was a great rock standing by itself balanced -on one point, in after days folks concluded that this -must have been the stone thrown by Grettir.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-voyage"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER V.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE VOYAGE.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Preparations for a Voyage—His Grandfather's -Sword—A Bitter Jester—Vain Reproaches—Haflid's -Stratagem—The Tables Turned—Shipwrecked</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Grettir, then, was doomed by the court to leave -his native land whilst only a boy, and remain -in banishment for three years—that is to say, till -he was eighteen. He was not over sorry for this, -as he was tired of being at home, and he wanted to -see the world.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a man called Haflid who had a ship in -which he intended to sail that autumn to Norway, -and Asmund sent to him to ask him to take Grettir -out with him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Haflid answered that he had not heard a good -account of the boy, and did not particularly wish -to have him in his boat; but he would stretch a -point, because of the regard he had for old Asmund, -and he would take him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir got ready to start; but Asmund would -not give him much wherewith to trade when abroad, -except some rolls of home-made wadmall, a coarse -felty cloth, and a stock of victuals for his voyage. -Grettir asked his father to give him some weapon; -but the old man answered that he did not trust him -with swords and axes, he might put them to a bad -use, and it would be better he went without till he -had learned to control his temper and keep a check -on his hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So Grettir parted from his father without much -love on either side; and it was noticed when he -left home that, though there were plenty of folks -ready to bid him farewell, hardly anyone said that -he hoped to see him come home again—a certain -token that he was not liked by those who had seen -most of him. But indeed he had taken no pains to -oblige anyone and obtain the regard and love of -anyone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His mother was an exception. She went along -the road down the valley with him, wearing a long -cloak; and when they were alone, at some distance -from the house, she halted and drew out a sword -from under her cloak, and handing it to Grettir, -said: "This sword belonged to grandfather, and -many a hard fight has it been in, and much good -work has it done. I give it to you, and hope it -may stand you in good stead."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir was highly pleased, and told his mother -that he would rather have the sword than anything -else that could be given him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Haflid received Grettir in a friendly manner, and -he went at once on board; the ship's anchor was -heaved, and forth they went to sea.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, directly Grettir got on board he looked -about for a place where he could be comfortable, -and chose to make a berth for himself under a boat -that was slung on deck; then he put up his wadmall, -making a sort of felt lining or wall round against -the wind and spray, leaving open only the side -inwards, and inside he piled his provisions and -whatever he had; then he lay down there and did not -stir from his snuggery. Now, it was the custom in -those days for every man who went in a ship to -help in the navigation; but Grettir would not only -do nothing, but from his den he shouted or sang -lampoons—that is, spiteful songs, making fun of -every man on board. They were not good-natured -jokes, but bitter, stinging ones.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Naturally enough the other men were annoyed, and -they were not slow to tell Grettir what they thought -of him. He made no other reply than a lampoon.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After the ship had lost sight of land a heavy sea -was encountered, and unfortunately the vessel was -rather leaky and hardly seaworthy in dirty weather. -The weather was squally and very cold, so that the -men suffered much. Moreover, they had to bale -out the water from the hold, and this was laborious -work. They had not pumps in those days.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The gale increased, and the crew and passengers -had been engaged for several days and nights in -baling without intermission, but Grettir would not -help. He lay coiled up in his wadmall under the -boat, peering out at the men and throwing irritating -snatches of song at them. This exasperated them -to such an extent that they determined to take him -and throw him overboard. Haflid heard what they -said, and he went to Grettir and reproached him, -and told him what was menaced.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let them try to use force if they will," said -Grettir. "All I can say is that I sha'n't go -overboard alone as long as my sword will bite."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How can you behave as you do?" said Haflid. -"Keep silence at least, and do not madden the men -with your mockery and sneers."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I cannot hold my tongue from stabbing," said Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well, then, stab on, but stab me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No; you have not hurt me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I say, stab me. Then, if the fellows hear you -sing or say something spiteful of me, and I disregard -it, they will not mind so much the ill-natured things -you say of them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir considered a moment, and then, remembering -that he had heard of something ridiculous -that had once occurred to Haflid, he composed a -verse about it and shouted it derisively at Haflid -as he walked away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just listen to him," said Haflid to the men. -"Now he is slandering and insulting me. He is -an ill-conditioned cur, so ill-conditioned that I will -not stoop to take notice of his insolence. And if -you take my advice you will disregard him as I do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," said the men, "if you shrug your shoulders -and pay no regard to his bark, why should we?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So Haflid, by his tact, smoothed over this -difficulty, and averted a danger from Grettir's head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The weather slowly began to mend, and the sun -shone out between the clouds; but the wind was -still strong, and the leak gained on the ship, for her -bottom was rotten. Now that the sun shone, the -poor women who had been aboard and under cover -during the gale, crawled forth and came to the side -where the boat was, and where was a little shelter, and -there sat sewing; whilst Grettir still lay, like a dog -in his hutch, within. Then the men began to laugh, -and say that Grettir had found suitable company at -last—he was not a man among men, but a milksop -among women. This was turning the tables on him, -and this roused him. Out he came crawling from -his den, and ran aft to where the men were baling, -and asked to be given the buckets. The way in -which it was done was for one to go down into the -hold into the water, and fill a tub or cask and hoist -it over his head to another man, who carried it up -on deck and poured it over the bulwarks. Grettir -swung himself down into the hold, and filled and -heaved so fast that there had to be two men set to -carry up the baling casks, and then two more, four -in all attending to him. At one time he even kept -eight going, so vigorously did he work;—but then -he was fresh, and they exhausted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the men saw what a strong, active fellow -Grettir was, they praised him greatly, and Grettir, -unaccustomed to praise, was delighted and worked -on vigorously, and thenceforth was of the utmost -assistance in the ship.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They still had bad weather, thick mist, in which -they drifted and lost their bearings, and one night -unawares they ran suddenly on a rock, and the -rotten bottom of the ship was crushed in. They -had the utmost difficulty in rescuing their goods -and getting the boat ready; but fortunately they -were able to put all the women and the loose goods -into the boat, man her, and row off before the ship -went to pieces. They came to a sandy island, ran -the boat ashore, and disembarked in the cold and -wet and darkness.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-red-rovers"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VI.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE RED ROVERS.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Rescued from the Holm—The Sullen Guest—The -Outlawed Rovers—Yule-tide Gatherings—The -Suspicious Craft—Grettir Guides the Rovers—The -Worst Ruffians in Norway—Grettir Entertains -the Band—A Crew of Revellers—When the Wine -is in—Thorfin's Treasures—Prisoners and -Unarmed—Mad with Drink and Fury—One Against -Twelve—In Hot Pursuit—The Slaughter in the -Boat-shed—The Last of the Band—Wearied with -Slaying—Thorfin's Return—A Moment of -Perplexity—Better than a Dozen Men—The Gift -of the Sword</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>One morning, after a night of storm on the coast -of Norway, the servants ran into the hall of -a wealthy bonder, named Thorfin, to tell him that -during the night a ship had been wrecked off the -coast, and that the crew and passengers were crowded -on a little sandy holm, and were signalling for help.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The bonder sprang up and ran down to the shore. -He ordered out a great punt from his boat-house, -and jumping in with his thralls, rowed to the holm -to rescue those who were there.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>These were, I need not tell you, the crew and -passengers of Haflid's merchant vessel. Thorfin took -the half-frozen wretches on board his boat and rowed -them to his farm, after which he returned to the -islet and brought away the wares. In the meantime -his good housewife had been lighting fires, preparing -beds, brewing hot ale with honey to sweeten it, and -making every preparation she could think of for the -sufferers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Haflid and the rest of the merchants or chapmen -who had sailed with him remained at the farm a -week, whilst the women were recovering from the -cold and exposure and their goods were being dried -and sorted. Then they departed, with many thanks -for the hospitality shown them, on their way to -Drontheim.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir, however, remained. Thorfin, the master -of the house, did not much like him. He did not -ask him to stay; but then he had not the lack of -hospitality to bid him depart. In the farm Grettir -never offered to lend a hand in any of the work; -he never joined in conversation, he sat over the fire -warming himself, and ate and drank heartily.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorfin was much abroad, hunting or seeing after -the wood-cutting, and he often asked Grettir to come -with him. But he was granted no other answer -than a shake of the head and a growl. Now the -bonder was a merry, kindly-hearted fellow, and he -liked to have all about him cheerful. It is no -wonder, then, that Grettir, morose and indolent, found -no favour with him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Yule drew near, and Thorfin busked him to depart, -with a number of his attendants, to keep the festival -at one of his farms distant a good day's journey. -His wife was unable to accompany him, as his eldest -daughter was ill and needed careful nursing. Grettir -he did not invite, as his sullenness would have acted -as a damper on the joviality of the banquet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The farmer started for his house where he was -going to spend Yule some days before. A large -company of guests were invited to meet him, so he -took thirty serving-men to attend on him and them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Norway was at this time being brought into order -by Earl Erik, who was putting down with a high -hand the bands of rovers who had been the terror -of the country. He had outlawed all these men, -and that meant that whoever killed them could not -be fined or punished in any way for the slaying. -Now Thorfin, the farmer with whom Grettir was -staying, had been very active against these rovers, -and they bore him a grudge. Among the worst of -them were two brothers, Thorir wi' the Paunch and -Bad Ogmund. They had not yet been caught, and -they defied the power of the Earl. They robbed -wherever they went, burned farms over the heads -of the sleeping inmates, and with the points of their -spears drove the shrieking victims back into the -flames when they attempted to escape.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Christmas Eve was bright and sunny, and the -sick girl was sufficiently recovered to be brought -out to take the air on the sunny side of the great -hall, leaning on her mother's arm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir spent the whole day out of doors, not in -the most amiable mood at being shut out from the -merry-makings, and left to keep house with the -women and eight dunderheaded churls. He fed his -discontent by sitting on a headland watching the -boats glide by, as parties went to convivial -gatherings at the houses of their friends. The deep blue -sea was speckled with sails, as though gulls were -plunging in the waters. Now a stately dragon-ship -rolled past, her fearful carved head glittering with -golden scales, her sails spread like wings before the -breeze, and her banks of oars dipping into the sea -and flashing as they rose. Now a wherry was rowed -by laden with cakes and ale, and the boatmen's song -rang merrily through the crisp air.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The day began to decline, and Grettir was on the -point of returning to the farm, when the strange -proceedings of a craft at no great distance attracted -his attention. He noticed that she stole along in -the shadows of the islets, keeping out of sight as -much as possible. Grettir could make out of her -just this much, that she was floating low in the -water, and was built for speed. As she stranded -the rowers jumped on the beach. Grettir counted -them, and found they were twelve, all armed men. -They burst into Thorfin's boat-house, thrust out his -punt, and in its place drew in their own vessel, and -pulled her up on the rollers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mischief was a-brewing—that was clear. So -Grettir went down the hill, and sauntered up to the -strangers, with his hands in his pockets, kicking the -pebbles before him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who is your leader?" he asked curtly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am. What do you want with me?" answered -a stout coarse man—"Thorir, whom they nickname -'wi' the Paunch.' Here is my brother Ogmund. -I reckon that Thorfin knows our names well enough. -Don't you think so, brother? We have come here -to settle a little outstanding reckoning. Is he at home?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are lucky fellows," laughed Grettir, "coming -here in the very nick of time. The bonder is away -with all his able-bodied and fighting men, and won't -be back for a couple of days. His wife and daughter -are, however, at the farm. Now is your time if -you have old scores to wipe off; for he has left all -his things that he values unprotected, silver, clothing, -ale, and food in abundance."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorir listened, then turning to Ogmund he said, -"This is as I had expected. But what a chatterbox -this fellow is, he lets out everything without being -asked questions."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Every man knows the use of his tongue," said -Grettir. "Now, follow me, and I will do what I can -for you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The rovers at once followed. Then Grettir took -fat Thorir by the hand and led him to the farm, -talking all the way as hard as his tongue could wag. -Now the housewife happened at the time to be in -the hall, and hearing Grettir thus talking, she was -filled with surprise, and called out to know whom he -had with him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have brought you guests for Yule," said Grettir. -"We shall not keep it in as dull a fashion as we -feared. Here come visitors uninvited, but merry, -uncommon merry."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who are they?" asked the housewife.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thorir wi' the Paunch and Ogmund the Bad, -and ten of their comrades."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then she cried out: "What have you done? These -are the worst ruffians in all Norway. Is this the -way you repay the kindness Thorfin has shown you -in housing and keeping you here, without it's -costing you anything?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Stay your woman's tongue!" growled Grettir. -"Now bestir yourself and bring out dry clothes for -the guests."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the housewife ran away crying, and her sick -daughter, who saw the house invaded by ill-looking -men all armed, hid herself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," said Grettir, "as the women are too -scared to attend on you, I will do what is necessary; -so give me your wet clothes, and let me wipe your -weapons and set them by the fire lest they get rusted."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are a different fellow from all the rest in -the house."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not belong to the house. I am a stranger, -an Icelander."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then I don't mind taking you along with us -when we go away."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"As you will," answered the young fellow; "only -mind, I don't behave like this to every one."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the freebooters gave him their weapons, and he -wiped the salt water from them, and laid them aside -in a warm spot. Next he removed their wet garments, -and brought them dry suits which he routed out of -the clothes-chests belonging to Thorfin and his men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>By this time it was night. Grettir brought in -logs and faggots of fir branches, and made a roaring -fire that filled the great hall with ruddy light and -warmth. In those days the halls were long buildings -with a set of hearths running down the middle, -and benches beside the fires.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, then, my men," said Grettir, "come to the -table and drink, for I doubt not you are thirsty with -long rowing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We are ready," said they. "But where are the cellars?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, if you please, I will bring you ale."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Certainly, you shall attend on us," said Thorir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir went and fetched the best and -strongest ale in Thorfin's cellars, and poured it out -for the men. They were very tired and thirsty, -and they drank eagerly. Grettir did not stint them -in meat or drink, and at last he took his place by -them, and recited many tales that made them laugh, -he also sang them songs; but they were becoming -fast too tipsy to rack their brains to find out the -meaning in the poetry.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Not one of the house-churls showed his face in -the hall that evening; they slunk about the farm, -in the stables and sheds, frightened and trembling.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then said Thorir: "I'll tell you what, my men. -I like this young chap, and I doubt our finding -another so handy and willing. What say you all to -our taking him into our band?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The pirates banged their drinking-horns on the -table in token of approval. Then Grettir stood up -and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I thank you for the offer, and if you are in the -same mind to-morrow morning when the ale is no -longer in your heads, I will strike hands and go -with you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let us drink brotherhood at once," shouted the -rovers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not so," said Grettir calmly. "I will not -have it said that I took advantage of you when -you were not sober. It is said that when the wine -is in the wit is out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They all protested that they would be of the same -mind next morning, but Grettir stuck to his decision. -They were now becoming so tipsy that he proposed -they should go to bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But first of all," said he, "I think you will like -to run your eyes over Thorfin's storehouse where he -keeps all his treasures."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That we shall!" roared Thorir, staggering to his -feet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir took a blazing firebrand from the -hearth, and led the way out of the hall into the -night.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The storehouse was detached from the main -buildings. It was very strongly built of massive -logs, firmly mortised together. The door also was -very solid, and the whole stood on a strong stone -basement, and a flight of stone steps led up to the -door. Adjoining the storehouse was a lean-to -building divided off from it by a partition of planks.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sharp frosty air of night striking on the faces -of the revellers increased their intoxication, and -they became very riotous, staggering against each -other, uttering howls and attempting to sing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Drawing back the bolt Grettir flung the door -open, and showed the twelve rovers into the -treasury; and he held the flaming torch above his head -and showed the silver-mounted drinking-horns, the -embroidered garments, the rich fur mantles, gold -bracelets, and bags filled with silver coins obtained -from England. The drunken men dashed upon the -spoil, knocking each other over and quarrelling for -the goods they wanted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the midst of this noise and tumult Grettir -quietly extinguished the torch, stepped outside and -ran the bolt into its place; he had shut them all—all -twelve, into the strong-room, and not one of -them had his weapons about him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir ran to the farm door and shouted -for the housewife. But she would not answer, as she -mistrusted him; and no wonder, for he had seemed -to be hand and glove with the pirates.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come, come!" shouted Grettir, "I have caught -all twelve, and all I need now are weapons. Call up -the thralls and arm them. Quick! not a moment -must be lost."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There are plenty of weapons here," answered the -poor woman, emerging from her place of concealment. -"But, Grettir, I mistrust you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Trust or no trust," said Grettir, "I must have -weapons. Where are the serving-men? Here, -Kolbein! Swein! Gamli! Rolf! Confound the rascals, -where are they skulking?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Over Thorfin's bed hangs a great barbed spear," -said the housewife. "You will also find a sword -and helmet and cuirass. No lack of weapons, only -pluck to wield them is needed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir seized the casque and spear, girded on the -sword and dashed into the yard, begging the woman -to send the churls after him. She called the eight -men, and they came up timidly—that is to say, four -appeared and took the weapons, but the other four, -after showing their faces, ran and hid themselves -again, they were afraid to measure swords with the -terrible rovers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the meantime the pirates had been trying the -door, but it was too massive for them to break -through, so they tore down the partitions of boards -between the store and the lean-to room at the side. -They were mad with drink and fury. They broke -down the door of the side-room easily enough, and -came out on the platform at the head of the stone -steps just as Grettir reached the bottom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorir and Ogmund were together. In the fitful -gleams of the moon they seemed like demons as -they scrambled out, armed with splinters of deal -they had broken from the planks and turned into -weapons. The brothers plunged down the narrow -stairs with a howl that rang through the snow-clad -forest for miles. Grettir planted the boar-spear in the -ground and caught Thorir on its point. The sharp -double-edged blade, three feet in length, sliced into -him and came out between his shoulders, then tore -into Ogmund's breast a span deep. The yew shaft -bent like a bow, and flipped from the ground the -stone against which the butt-end had been planted. -The wretched men crashed over the stair, tried to -rise, staggered, and fell again. Grettir trod on -Thorir, wrenched the spear out of him, and then -running up the steps cut down another rover as he -came through the door. Then the rest came out -stumbling over each other, some armed with bits of -broken stick, others unarmed, and as they came -forth Grettir hewed at them with the sword, or -thrust at them with the spear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the meantime the churls had come up, armed -indeed, but not knowing how to use the weapons, -and in a condition of too great terror to use them -to any purpose. The pirates saw that they were -being worsted, and their danger sobered them. They -went back into the room and ripped the planks till -they had obtained serviceable pieces, and then came -two together down the stair, warding off Grettir's -blows with their sticks, and not attempting to strike. -Then they forced him back and allowed space and -time for those behind to leap down to the ground. -If then they had combined they might have -recovered the mastery, but they did not believe that -they were assailed by a single enemy, they thought -that there must have been many; consequently -those who had leaped from the platform, instead -of attacking Grettir from behind, ran away across -the farmyard, and those who were warding off his -blows, finding themselves unsupported, lost heart, -and leaped down as well and attempted to escape. -The yard was full of flying frightened wretches, too -blinded by their fear to find the gate, and in the -wildness of their terror they climbed or leaped over -the yard wall and ran towards the boat-house. -Grettir went after them. They plunged into the -dark boat-shed, and possessed themselves of the -oars, whilst some tried to run their boat down into -the water. Grettir followed them in the gloom, -smiting to right and left. The bewildered wretches -in the darkness hit each other, stumbled and fell in -the boat, and some wounded went into the water.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The thralls, content that the pirates had cleared -out of the yard, did not trouble themselves to -pursue them, but went into the farmhouse. The good -woman in vain urged them to go after and -succour Grettir. They thought they had done quite -enough. It is true, they had neither killed nor -wounded anyone, but they had seen some men -killed. So Grettir got no help from them. He was -still in the boat-house, and he had this advantage: -the boat-house was open to the air on the side that -faced the sea, whilst the further side was closed with -a door, consequently Grettir was himself in shadow. -But the moon shone on the water, and he could see -the black figures of the rovers cut sharply against -this silver background. So he could see where to -strike, whilst he himself was unseen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One stroke from an oar reached him on the -shoulder, and for the moment numbed his arm; but -he speedily recovered sensation, and killed two more -of the ruffians; then the remaining four made a dash -together, past him, through the door, and separating -into pairs, fled in opposite directions. Grettir went -after one of the couples and tracked them to a -neighbouring farm, where they dashed into a granary -and hid among the straw. Unfortunately for them -most of the wheat had been thrashed out, so that -only a few bundles remained. Grettir shut and -bolted the door behind him, then chased the poor -wretches like rats from corner to corner, till he had -cut them both down. Then he opened the door, -and cast the corpses outside.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the meanwhile the weather was changing, the -sky had become overcast with a thick snow fog that -rolled up from the sea, so that Grettir, on coming -out, saw that he must abandon the pursuit of the -remaining two. Moreover, his arm pained him, his -strength was failing him, and a sense of overpowering -fatigue stole over him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The housewife had placed a lamp in a window of -a loft as a guide to Grettir in the fog; the stupid -house-thralls could not be induced by her to go out -in search of him, and she was becoming uneasy at -his protracted absence. The fog turned into small -snow, thick and blinding, and Grettir struggled -through it with difficulty, as the weariness he felt -became almost overpowering. At last he reached -the farm and staggered in through the door. He -could hardly speak. He went to the table, took a -horn of mead, drank some, and then threw himself -down among the rushes on the floor by the fire, full -armed grasping the sword, and in a moment was -asleep.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He did not wake for twelve hours; but the -cautious and prudent housewife had sent out the -carles in search of the pirates. The dead bodies -were found, some in the yard, some in the -boat-house; then Grettir woke and came to them and -pointed out in what direction the only remaining -two had run. The snow had fallen so thick that -their traces could not be followed, but before -nightfall they were discovered, dead, under a rock where -they had taken refuge; they had died of cold and -loss of blood. All the bodies were collected and a -great cairn of stones was piled over them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When they had been buried, then the housewife -made Grettir take the high seat in the hall, and -she treated him with the utmost respect, as he deserved.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Time passed, and Thorfin prepared to return home; -he dismissed his guests, and he and his men got into -their boat to return home. No tidings had reached -him of the events that had happened whilst he had -been away. The first thing he saw as he came -rowing to his harbour was his punt lying stranded. -This surprised and alarmed him, and he bade his -men row harder. They ran to the boat-house, and -then saw it occupied by a vessel, on the rollers, -which there was no mistaking; he knew it well, -it belonged to those redoubted pirates Thorir and -Ogmund. For a moment he was silent with the -terror and grief that came on him. "The Red -Rovers!" he said, when he recovered the stunning -sense of alarm. "The Red Rovers are here—they -are on my farm. God grant they have not hurt my -wife and daughter!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he considered what was to be done, whether -it was best to go at once to the farm, or to make a -secret approach to it from different quarters, and -surprise the enemy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir was to blame. He ought not to have -allowed Thorfin to be thus thrown into uncertainty -and distress. He had seen the master's boat round -the headland and enter the bay, but he would neither -go himself to meet him on the strand, nor suffer -anyone else to go.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not care even if the bonder be a bit -disturbed at what he sees," said the young man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then let me go," urged the wife.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are mistress, do as you like," said Grettir -bluntly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So the housewife and her daughter went down -towards the boat-house, and when Thorfin saw them -he ran to meet them, greatly relieved but much -perplexed, and he clasped his wife to his heart and -said, "God be praised that you and my child are -safe! But tell me how matters have stood whilst I -have been away, for I cannot understand the boat -being where I found it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We have been in grievous peril," answered his -wife. "But the shipwrecked boy whom you sheltered -has been our protector, better than a dozen men."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he said, "Sit down on this rock by me and -tell me all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They took each other by the hand and sat on a -stone; and the attendants gathered round, and the -housewife told them the whole story from beginning -to end. When she spoke of the way in which the -young Icelander had led the tipsy rovers into the -storehouse and fastened them in, without their -swords, the men burst into a shout of joy; and -when her tale was concluded, their exultant cries -rang so loud that Grettir heard them in the farmhouse.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorfin said nothing to interrupt the thread of -his wife's story; and after she had done he remained -silent, rapt in thought. No one ventured to disturb -him. Presently he looked up, and said quietly, -"That is a good proverb which says, 'Never despair -of anyone.' Now I must speak a word with -Grettir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorfin walked with his wife to the farm, and -when he saw Grettir he held out both his hands to -him, and thanked him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This I say to you," said Thorfin, "which few -would say to their best of friends—that I hope some -day you may need my help, and then I will prove -to you how thankful I am for what you have done. -I can say no more."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir thanked him, and spent the rest of the -winter at his house. The story of what he had done -spread through all the country, and was much -praised, especially by such as had suffered from the -violence of the Ked Rovers. But Thorfin made to -Grettir a present, in acknowledgment of what he -had done; and that present was the sword that had -hung above his bed, with which Grettir had killed -so many of the rovers. Now, concerning this sword -a tale has to be told.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-story-of-the-sword"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE STORY OF THE SWORD.</span></p> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The Light on the Cliff—The Grave of Karr the -Old—The Visit to the Ness—The Chamber of the -Dead—The Shape on the Throne—In the Dead Man's -Arms—A Fearful Wrestle—The Dead Vanquished—The -Dragon's Treasure—The Tale of the Sword—The -Two Swords of Grettir</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Some little while before the slaying of the Red -Rovers, a strange event had taken place.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir had made the acquaintance of a man called -Audun, who lived at a little farm at some distance -from the house of Thorfin, and he walked over -there occasionally to sit and talk with his friend. As -he returned late at night he noticed that a strange -light used to dance at the end of a cliff that -overhung the sea, at the end of a headland; a lonely -desolate headland it was, without house or stall near -it. Grettir had never been there, and as it was so -bare, he knew that no one lived on that headland, -so he could not account for the light. One day he -said to Audun that he had seen this strange light, -which was not steady but flickered; and he asked -him what it meant.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Audun at once became very grave, and after a -moment's hesitation said, "You are right. No one -lives on that ness, but there is a great mound there, -under which is buried Karr the Old, the forefather of -your host Thorfin; and it is said that much treasure -was buried with him. That is why the ghostly light -burns above the mound, for—you must know that -flames dance over hidden treasure."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If treasure be hidden there, I will dig it up," -said Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Attempt nothing of the kind," said Audun, "or -Thorfin will be angry. Besides, Karr the Old is a -dangerous fellow to have to deal with. He walks -at night, and haunts all that headland and has scared -away the dwellers in the nearest farms. No one dare -live there because of him. That is why the Ness is -all desolate without houses."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I will stay the night here," said Grettir, "and -to-morrow we will go together to the Ness, and take -spade and pick and a rope, and I will see what can -be found."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Audun did not relish the proposal, but he did -not like to seem behindhand with Grettir, and he -reluctantly agreed to go with him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So next day the two went out on the Ness together. -They passed two ruined farmhouses, the buildings -rotting, the roofs fallen in. Those who had lived in -them had been driven away by the dweller in the -old burial mound, or barrow. The Norse name for -these sepulchral mounds is </span><em class="italics">Haug</em><span>, pronounced almost -like How; and where in England we have places -with the names ending in </span><em class="italics">hoe</em><span>, there undoubtedly in -former times were such mounds. Thus, in Essex are -Langenhoe and Fingringhoe, that is to say the Long -Barrow and Fingar's How. Also, the Hoe, the great -walk at Plymouth above the sea, derives its name -from some old burial mound now long ago destroyed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Ness was a finger of land running out into -the sea, and on it grew no trees, only a little coarse -grass; at the end rose a great circular bell-shaped -mound, with a ring of stones set round it, to mark -its circumference. Grettir began to dig at the -summit, and he worked hard. The day was short, -and the sun was touching the sea as his pickaxe -went through an oak plank, into a hollow space -beneath, and he knew at once that he had struck -into the chamber of the dead. He worked with -redoubled energy, and tore away the planks, leaving -a black hole beneath of unknown depth, but which -to his thinking could not be more than seven feet -beneath him. Then he called to Audun for the -rope. The end he fastened round his waist, and -bade his friend secure the other end to a pole thrown -across the pit mouth. When this was done, Audun -cautiously let Grettir down into the chamber of the -dead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, you must know that in heathen times what -was often done with old warriors was to draw up a -boat on the shore, and to seat the dead man in the -cabin, with his horse slain beside him, sometimes -some of his slaves or thralls were also killed and put -in with him, and his choicest treasures were heaped -about him. This men did because they thought -that the dead man would want his weapons, his -raiment, his ornaments, his horse and his servants -in the spirit world. Of late years such a mound -has been opened in Norway, and a great ship found -in it, well preserved, with the old dead chief's bones -in it. When a ship was not buried, then a chamber -of strong planks was built, and he was put in that, -and the earth heaped over him. Into such a chamber -had Grettir now dug.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He soon reached the bottom, and was in darkness, -only a little light came in from above, through the -hole he had broken in the roof of the cabin or -chamber. His feet were among bones, and these he -was quite sure were horse bones. Then he groped -about.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As his eyes became more accustomed to the darkness, -he discerned a figure seated in a throne. It -was the long-dead Karr the Old. He was in full -harness, with a helmet on his head with bull's horns -sticking out, one on each side; his hands were on -his knees, and his feet on a great chest. Round his -neck was a gold torque or necklet, made of bars of -twisted gold, hooked together behind the head. -Grettir in the dark could only just make out the -glimmer of the gold, but it seemed to him that a -phosphorescent light played about the face of the -dead chief.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So little light was left, that Grettir hasted to -collect what he could. There stood a brazen vessel -near the chair, in which were various articles, probably -of worth, but it was too dark for Grettir to see what -they were. He brought the vessel to the rope and -fastened the end of the cord to its handle. Then he -went back to the old dead man and drew away a -short sword that lay on his lap, and this he placed -in the brass vessel. Next he began to unhook the -gold torque from his neck, and as he did this the -phosphorescent flame glared strangely about the dead -man's face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then, all at once, as both his hands were engaged -undoing the hook behind Karr's neck, he was clipped. -The dead man's arms had clutched him, and with a -roar like a bull Karr the Old stood up, holding him -fast, and now all the light that had played over -his features gathered into and glared out of his eyes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Audun heard the roar, he was so frightened -that he ran from the barrow, and did not stay his -feet till he reached home, feeling convinced that the -ghost or whatever it was that lived in the tomb had -torn Grettir to pieces.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then began in the chamber of the dead a fearful -wrestle. Grettir was at times nigh on smothered -by the gray beard of the dead chief, that had been -growing, growing, in the vault, ever since he had -been buried.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>How long that terrible struggle continued no one -can tell. Grettir had to use his utmost force to -stand against Karr the Old. The two wrestled up -and down in the chamber, kicking the horse bones -about from side to side, stumbling over the coffer, -and the brass vessel, and the horse's skull, striking -against the sides, and when they did this then -masses of earth and portions of broken plank fell in -from above.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At last Karr's feet gave way under him and he -fell, and Grettir fell over him. Then instantly he -laid hold of his sword, and smote off Old Karr's head -and laid it beside his thigh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This, according to Norse belief, was the only way -in which to prevent a dead man from walking, who -had haunted the neighbourhood of his tomb, and in -the Icelandic sagas we hear of other cases where the -same proceeding was gone through. The Norsemen -held to something more dreadful than ghosts walking; -they thought that some evil spirit entered into -the bodies of the dead, that when this happened the -dead no longer decayed, but walked, and ate, and -drank, and fought, very much like living ruffians, -but with redoubled strength. Then, when this -happened, nothing was of any avail save the digging -up of the dead man, cutting off his head and laying -it at his thigh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Grettir had done this, he despoiled Karr -the Old of his helm, his breast-plate, his torque, -and he took the box on which the feet had rested. -He fastened all together to the rope, and called to -Audun to haul up. He received no answer, so he -swarmed up himself, and finding that his friend had -run away he pulled up what he had tied together, -and carried the whole lot in his arms to the house of -Thorfin. Thorfin and his party were at supper; and -when Grettir came in, the bonder looked up, and -asked why he did not keep regular hours, and be at -the table when the meal began. Grettir made no -other answer than to throw all he carried down on -the supper-table before the master. Thorfin raised -his eyebrows when he saw so much treasure.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where did you get all this?" he asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir answered in one of his enigmatical songs:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Thou who dost the wave-shine shorten,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>My attempt has been to find</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>In the barrow what was hidden,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>Deep in darkness black and blind.</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>Nothing of the dragon's treasure</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>With the dead is left behind."</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>By the wave-shine shortener he meant Thorfin; -the dragon's treasure meant gold, because dragons -were thought to line their lairs with that metal.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorfin saw that Grettir's eye looked longingly at -the short sword that had lain on the knees of Karr. -He said: "It was a heathen custom in old times to -bury very much that was precious along with the -dead. I do not blame you for what you have done; -but this I will say, that there is no one else about -this place who would have ventured to attempt -what you have done. As for that sword on which -you cast your eyes so longingly, it has ever been in -our family, and I cannot part with it till you have -shown that you are worthy to wear it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then that sword was hung up over Thorfin's bed. -You have heard how Grettir did show that he was -worthy to wear it, and also how Thorfin gave it him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, this tale about the sword will very well -illustrate what was said at the beginning, that the -history of Grettir contains, in the main, truth; but -that this substance of truth has been embroidered -over by fancy. What is true is, that during the -winter in which he was with Thorfin he did dig into -the mound in which Karr was buried, and did take -thence his treasures and his sword. But all the -story of his fight with the dead man was added. -The same story occurs in a good many other sagas, -as in that of Hromund Greip's son, who also got a -sword by digging into a barrow for it. When the -history of Grettir was told, and this adventure of his -was related, those who told the story imported into -it the legend of the fight of Hromund in the grave -with the dead man, so as to make the history of -Grettir more amusing. As you will see by the tale, -no one else was present when it happened, for -Audun had run away, and it was not like Grettir to -boast of what he had done. This was an embellishment -added by the story-teller, and from the storyteller -the incident passed into the volume of the -story-writer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir had now two good swords; one long, -which he called Jokull's Gift, that he had received -from his mother, and this short one that he wore at -his girdle, which he had taken out of the grave of -Karr the Old, and which he had won fairly by his -bravery in the defence of the house and family of -Thorfin.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="of-the-bear"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER VIII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">OF THE BEAR.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Grettir goes North—Biorn the Braggart—The -Bear's Den—Biorn's Feat—A Hunting Party—The -Lost Cloak—Grettir Seeks the Bear Alone—Grettir's -Hardest Tussle—The Fall Over the Cliff—Thorgils -Acts as Peacemaker—Grettir Restrains Himself</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>When spring came, then Grettir left his friend -Thorfin, and went north along the Norwegian -coast, and was everywhere well received, because -the story of how he had killed twelve rovers, he -being as yet but a boy, was noised through all the -country, and every one who had anything to lose -felt safer because that wicked gang was broken up. -Nothing of consequence is told about him during -that summer. For the winter he did not return to -Thorfin as asked, but accepted the invitation of -another bonder, named Thorgils.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorgils was a merry, pleasant man, and he had -a great company in his house that winter. Among -his visitors was a certain Biorn, a distant cousin, a -man whom Thorgils did not like, as he was a -slanderous-tongued fellow, and moreover he was a -braggart. He was one of those persons we meet with -not infrequently who cannot endure to hear another -praised; who, the moment a good word is spoken -of someone, immediately puts in a nasty, spiteful -word, and tells an unkind story, so as to drag that -person down in the general opinion. At the same -time, concerning himself he had only praiseworthy -and wonderful feats to relate about his wit, his -wisdom, his craft, his knowledge of the world, about -his strength and courage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorgils knew how much, or rather how little, -to believe of what Biorn said, and he did not pay -much regard to his talk. But now Grettir had an -opportunity of seeing and of feeling how mistaken -had been his conduct on board the ship upon which -he had come to Norway, when he made lampoons on -the sailors and chapmen, and stung them with sharp -words. He saw how disagreeable a fellow Biorn -was, how much he was disliked, and by some -despised; and he kept very greatly to himself and -out of Biorn's way. He did not wish to quarrel -with him, because he was the relative of his host, -and he was afraid that his anger would get the better -of him if he did come to words with the braggart.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir had grown a great deal since he left -Iceland, and he was now a strapping fellow, broad -built but not short. He was not handsome, but his -face was intelligent.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It fell out that a bear gave much trouble that -winter to Thorgils and the neighbouring farmers. -It was so strong and so daring that no folds were -secure against it, and Thorgils and the other farmers -endured severe losses through the depredations of -Bruin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Before Yule, a party was formed to go in search -of and kill the bear, but all that was done was to -find the lair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The bear had taken up his abode in the face of a -tremendous cliff that overhung the sea. There was -but one path up to the cave, and that was so narrow -that only one man could creep along it at a time. -Moreover, if his foot slipped he would be flung over -the edge upon the rocks or skerries below against -which the waves dashed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"When the den of the bear had been discovered," -Biorn said, "That is the main thing. Now I know -where the rogue lies, I'll settle with him, trust me. -I've been the death of scores of bears. My only -dread is lest he be afraid of me, and will not -come on."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And, actually, Biorn went out on several moonlit -nights to watch for the bear. He saw that the only -way to deal with him would be to stop the track -from the den, and fight him as he attempted to -come away. He took his short sword and great -shield with him covered with ox-hide, and one night -he laid himself down on the path of the bear, and -put his shield over him. He thought that Bruin -would come smelling at the great hide-covered -shield, and then all at once he (Biorn) would spring -up and drive his sword into the heart of the bear. -That was his plan—and not a bad plan—only, -unfortunately for Biorn, the bear did not come out for -a long time. He had got an inkling that a man was -watching for him, so he was shy, and whilst he -waited before venturing forth, Biorn, who had -been drinking pretty freely that evening, went to sleep.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Presently the bear came out, crept cautiously down -the narrow track, snuffing about, and when he came -to Biorn, he plucked with his claws at the shield, -and with one wrench had it off and tumbled it -down the cliff.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Biorn woke with a start, rose to his knees, saw -the huge bear before him, and in a moment turned -tail, and ran as hard as he could run to Thorgils' -house, and was too scared to be able to boast that -he had killed or wounded the bear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning his shield was found where the -bear had thrown it, and much fun did this adventure -of the braggart occasion. This made him very -irritable and more spiteful than ever.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorgils now said that really something must be -done to rid the neighbourhood of the bear, so a -party of eight set out well armed with spears; of -this party were Biorn and Grettir. They reached the -point where the track to the den ran up the cliff to -the lair, and one man after another tried it. But -there was no getting at the bear; for as soon as a -man came near the beast put his great forepaws -forth and caught and snapped the spear-heads or -beat them down. As already said, only one could -crawl up at a time.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir had gone out that day in a fur coat that -his friend Thorfin had given him, and which he -greatly valued. When the onslaught against the -bear began, he took off his fur coat, and folded it, -and put it on a stone. Biorn saw this, and, when -none observed, he took the fur coat and threw it -into the cave of the bear. Grettir did not see what -had been done till the party, disappointed with -their want of success, made ready to depart, when -he missed it, and then some suspicion entered his -head as to what had been done with it, and by -whom, but he said nothing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As they walked home, Biorn began to taunt -Grettir with having done nothing all day. He -could kill robbers who were unarmed and were -drunk, perhaps asleep, but a bear was too serious an -adversary for him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir said nothing, but as his gaiter thong -became broken, he stopped and stooped to mend it. -Thorgils asked if they should wait for him. Grettir -declined.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh," said Biorn, "it is all nonsense. It is a -pretence. He means to have all the glory of -fighting the bear alone when we have gone on."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He said the truth, but he had no idea when he -spoke that it was the truth.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir tarried till the party had crossed a hill -and was out of sight, then he turned and went back -to the bear's den. He slipped his hand through the -loop at the end of the handle of his short sword -that he had taken from the grave of Karr the Old, -and let it hang on his wrist, but he held the long -sword, Jokull's gift, by the pommel. His plan was -to use the long sword if needed, but if the bear -came to close quarters he would throw it down and -grasp the short one without having to put his hand -to his girdle for it. Very cautiously he crept along -the path. Bruin saw him, and was now angry and -hungry, and came down to meet him. The bear -was somewhat above him; Grettir halted, and the -bear stood up growling on his hind-legs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At once the long sword was whirled and fell on -the right wrist above the paw, and cut it off. The -bear immediately fell down on all-fours; but the -amputated paw was on the side away from the wall of -rock, and when he went down on the stump he was -overbalanced, and came down with his whole weight -on Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir let fall his long sword at once, and with -both hands grasped the brute's ears, and held his -head off lest he should get a bite at him. Grettir, -in after years, was wont to say that this was the -hardest tussle he had in his life—it was even worse -than anything he had to do with the rovers. For if -the beast had but been able to nip him on the -breast, or shoulder, or face with his great fangs, all -would have been up with him. Moreover, the ears -were so smooth that he had to do his utmost not to -let them slip. Grettir had the wit to drag back the -brute's head to the rock, and by so doing the bear -could not use his only uninjured fore-leg, armed -with terrible claws, which would have ripped -Grettir's clothes and flesh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the struggle the two went over the edge, and -for a moment Grettir thought, as they spun in the -air, that he was lost. But the bear was heavier than -the lad, consequently he fell crash on the rocks at the -bottom first, and Grettir on him, breaking Grettir's -fall by his great body. The bear's back was broken.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir got up, shook himself, left the bear, -went up the path and found his fur coat torn to -tatters, and he put it about him, recovered also his -long sword, and took the cut-off paw of the bear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He now went back to Thorgils' house, and when -he came into the hall where the fires were blazing, -every one laughed to see him in his tattered coat; -but when he gave the paw of the bear to Thorgils -the general merriment exchanged to surprise. Biorn, -however, could not contain himself for vexation, -and launched forth some coarse jest that made -Grettir's blood tingle in his veins.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do not listen to him," said Thorgils. "You are -a brave fellow, and there are not many your like." Then -turning to Biorn, he said, "Kinsman, I advise -and warn you to keep a civil tongue in your head, -or you will come to rue it, and have to be taught -better manners."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, if I am to learn manners from Grettir, that -is sending me to a cub indeed!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I want to know," said Grettir, "whether you -threw my fur coat into the den?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am not afraid of saying that I did."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Will you give me another in its place?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have not the smallest intention of doing charity -to beggars."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The braggart knew that Grettir was restraining -himself because he did not wish to quarrel with his -host's kinsman, and he took advantage of his -knowledge. But Thorgils was greatly distressed and -ashamed, and he said to Grettir:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pay no attention to his words. He has insulted -you, and I will pay you a fine in compensation -for his insult, that it may be buried and forgotten."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That was customary then. When one had hurt -another in body or in honour by blow or foul word, -he was bound to pay a sum of money; if he did not -then the man injured was required by the laws of -honour to revenge the injury.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But when Biorn heard this proposal, he shouted -out that he would not suffer the matter to be so -compromised; he was not ashamed of his words. -Thorgils drew Grettir aside, and said to him that -his kinsman was a badly-behaved, brutal fellow, -but that he hoped Grettir would not take up the -quarrel in his house; and Grettir promised him -solemnly that he would not attempt to take revenge -for the rudeness of Biorn so long as they were both -inmates of his house.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"As for what may happen between you later," -said Thorgils, "I wash my hands of responsibility. -If Biorn is offensive to those who have never hurt -him, he must take the consequences."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So matters remained; only that Biorn, presuming -on his position, became daily more arrogant, intolerable, -and abusive, so that Grettir had to exercise -daily self-restraint to keep his hands off him. And -glad he was when spring came, that he might get -away to another part of Norway.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As for Biorn, he went in the summer to England -in a ship that belonged to Thorgils, trading there -for Thorgils and for himself. Consequently, all that -summer he and Grettir did not meet.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-slaying-of-biorn"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER IX.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE SLAYING OF BIORN.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The Meeting on the Island—Biorn's Death—Thorfin -Comes to Grettir's Aid—Grettir's Life in -Danger—Hiarandi's Revenge—A Doomed Man</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Grettir left Thorgils very good friends, and he -went with some merchants to the north, but -when the summer was over he came back south, and -arrived at a little island in the entrance of the -Drontheim firth. His intention was to see Earl Sweyn, -and perhaps take service under him; but if so, -things fell out other than he had reckoned. For, as -he was in this island, there came in a large merchant -vessel from England, and Grettir and those with him -at once went to see the shipmen, and among them -was Biorn. The ship was, in fact, that of Thorgils, -and it was laden with commodities bought in England, -or obtained by exchange for the wool, and furs, -and women's embroidery sent out in the spring by -Thorgils.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Directly Biorn saw Grettir he turned red, and -pretended not to recognize him; but Grettir went -to him at once and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now has come the time when we two can settle -our differences."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh," said Biorn, "that is soon done. I don't -object to paying a trifle."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The time for paying is over," said Grettir. -"Thorgils offered an indemnity for your insolence, -and you refused to consent to it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Biorn saw that there was no help for him -but that he must fight. So he girded him for the -conflict, and he and Grettir went down on the sand, -and they fought.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The fight did not last long. Grettir's sword cut -him that he fell and died.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the news reached Thorgils, he got ready, -and came by boat as fast as he could to see the earl -at Drontheim. He found the earl very angry, but -he said to him:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am a kinsman of the fallen man, and I know -that he treated Grettir with intolerable insolence, -and that he refused every compromise. Then -remember what a benefit has been done to the -country by Grettir, who ridded it of the Red Rovers, -Thorir wi' the Paunch and Ogmund the Bad."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorfin also came to Drontheim when he heard -of the straits into which Grettir had come through -killing Biorn. The earl called a council on the -matter, and said he would not come to a decision -till he had heard what Biorn's brother Hiarandi had -to say on the matter. Hiarandi was a violent man, -and he was very wroth. He would hear of no -patching up of the matter, and he vowed he would -not, as he expressed it, "bring his brother into his -purse." As already said, it was customary when a -man had been killed to offer a sum of money to the -next of kin, and if he accepted the money the -quarrel was at an end. When we now speak of -"pocketing an injury," reference is made to this -same ancient usage, by which every offence was -estimated at so much money, and if the wronged -man took money for the offence committed against -him, he was said </span><em class="italics">to pocket it</em><span>. When the earl went -into the matter, and heard how Grettir had been -wronged and outraged by Biorn, he gave his -decision that Grettir had not acted contrary to law, -and that Biorn had justly forfeited his life. Thorfin -offered the sum of money which the earl considered -was sufficient to atone to the relations for the death -of Biorn, but Hiarandi refused absolutely to touch it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorfin knew that Grettir's life was in -danger, for Hiarandi would certainly try to take it; -so he begged his kinsman Arinbiorn to go about -with Grettir, and keep on the look-out against the -mischief that threatened.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now it fell out one day that Grettir and -Arinbiorn were walking down a street in Drontheim -when their way led before a narrow lane opening -into it. They did not see any danger in the way, -and were unaware of this lane. But just as they -had passed it a man jumped out from behind, in the -shadow, swinging an axe, and he struck at Grettir -between the shoulder-blades. Fortunately, -Arinbiorn had looked round at the lane, and he saw the -man leap out, so he suddenly dragged Grettir forward -with such a jerk that Grettir fell on his knee. -This saved his life, for the axe came on his shoulder-blade, -made a gash that cut to his armpit, and then -the axe buried itself in the roadway. Instantly -Grettir started to his feet, turned round, and with -his short sword smote in the very nick of time as -the man, who was Hiarandi, was pulling up his axe -to cut at Grettir again. Grettir's sword fell on his -upper arm near the shoulder, and cut it off. Then -out rushed some servants of Hiarandi on Arinbiorn -and Grettir, who set their backs against a house-wall -and defended themselves with such valour that -they killed or put to flight all who had assailed -them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, this had been a base and cowardly attempt -on the life of Grettir, and Hiarandi richly deserved -his fate. But the earl was exceedingly angry when -he heard the news, and he called a council together. -Thorfin and Grettir attended, and the earl angrily -charged Grettir with having committed great -violence, and being the cause of the death of Hiarandi -and some of his servants.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir acknowledged this; but showed his wound, -and stated how he had been attacked from behind; -how his life had been saved by the promptitude of -Arinbiorn, and how he had but defended himself -against enemies who sought his life.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish you had been killed," said the earl, "and -then there would have been an end to these disorders."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You would not have a man not raise his hands -to save his head?" said Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I see one thing," exclaimed the earl. "Ill luck -attends you, and you are doomed to commit -violences wherever you are."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The end of it was that Earl Sweyn said he would -not have Grettir to live in Norway any longer, lest -he should be the cause of fresh troubles. But he -remained over the third winter, and next spring -sailed for Iceland, the time of his outlawing being -ended.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="of-grettir-s-return"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER X.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">OF GRETTIR'S RETURN.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Iceland Once More—Life's Bitter Lessons—Grettir -Pays Audun a Visit—Some Icelandic Terms—Byres -and Sels—A Chief's Hall—The Return of -Audun—Grettir's Second Wrestle with Audun—Bard -Interposes—The Cousins Reconciled</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>When Grettir came back to Biarg, he found his -father so old and infirm as to be no more -able to stir abroad, and Atli managed the farm for -him along with Illugi, Grettir's youngest brother, -now grown up to be a big boy. Grettir was now -aged eighteen, but he looked and was a man. Illugi -was about fifteen, a gentle, pleasant boy. He and -the kindly, careful Atli were as unlike Grettir as -well could be; they avoided quarrels, they had a -civil word for every one, and took pains to make -themselves agreeable, whether to guests in their -house, or when staying anywhere, to their hosts. -Grettir never troubled himself to be courteous or -to be obliging to anyone. Now that he was back -from Norway he was rather disposed to think much -of himself as a man more brave and audacious than -his fellows, for, had he not killed twelve rovers, -broken into a barrow, slain a bear, and been the -death of one man in a duel, and another who had -attempted to assassinate him? Atli did not much -like his manner, and cautioned him not to be -overbearing whilst at home, lest he should involve -himself in fresh troubles. But words were wasted on -Grettir. He was not the fellow to listen to advice, -but one of those men who must learn the bitter -lessons of life by personal experience. It is so with -men always. Some, who are thoughtful, see what -God's law is which is impressed on all society, and -listen to what others have found out as the lessons -taught them by their lives, so they are able to go -out equipped against the trials and difficulties of -life. But others will neither look nor listen, and -such have to go through every sort of adversity, till -they have learned the great truths of social life, and -perhaps they only acquire them when it is too late -to put them in practice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It is with laws and courtesies of life as with the -three R's. A man will fare badly who cannot read, -write, and cipher. If he learns these accomplishments -as a child, he does well; he is furnished for -the struggle of life, and starts on the same footing -as other men; but if as a child he is morose and -indifferent, and refuses to learn, then all through -his life he is met with difficulties, owing to his -ignorance, and he finds that he must learn to read, -write, and do sums; and he has to acquire these in -after years with much less ease than he might have -learnt as a child, and after he has lost many chances -of getting on which might have been seized, had he -known these things before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir's temper on his return may be judged by -one incident that happened almost directly. He -had not forgotten his struggle on the ice with his -cousin Audun, and he was resolved to have another -trial of strength with him. So he had not been -home many days before he rode over the hill to -Audunstead in his best harness, and with a beautiful -saddle on his horse that had been given him by -Thorfin. The time was that of hay, and he saw the -field round Audun's farm full of rich grass, ready to -be cut. He took the bridle off his horse and turned -it into Audun's meadow. This was not out of -thoughtlessness, but out of insolence, and was -intended to exasperate Audun. In Iceland grass grows -very little, and only fit to be cut for hay round the -farms in what is called the </span><em class="italics">tun</em><span>, where it is richly -dressed with stable-dung. Consequently hay is very -scarce and very precious. The grass never grows -much longer than one's fingers, and so even in the -tun it is not plentiful. He knocked at the door of -the farm and asked for his cousin, and was told that -Audun had gone to the highland </span><em class="italics">sel</em><span> to fetch curds, -and would be back later. The </span><em class="italics">sel</em><span> was a farm on -the highland, only occupied in summer, when the -cattle were driven to the moors and hills to feed on -the grass there, and to save that in the lowlands -against winter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Here a word or two must be said about Icelandic -names of places and people. When Iceland was -colonized, those who first settled in the land and -built farms, called the places after their own names -in a great many cases; they called them so-and-so's -</span><em class="italics">stead</em><span>, or so-and-so's </span><em class="italics">by</em><span> or farm. A </span><em class="italics">by</em><span> is the Scotch -byre, and in Icelandic is </span><em class="italics">bœr</em><span>, pronounced exactly -like the Scotch word. Wherever, in the north and -east of England, Norse settlers came, there we find -names of places ending in the same way, and we -know that these were farms and dwellings of old -Norse settlers. Thus in Northumberland, Yorkshire, -and Lincolnshire, are plenty of Norse place-names. -Near Thirsk is Thirkelby or Thorkel's-byre, near -Ripon is Enderby or Andrew's-byre. Not only so, -but where there are high hills there we find also -</span><em class="italics">sels</em><span>, that is summer-farms, like the Alps to which -the cattle are driven in Switzerland. Next as to -the names of people. What is a little puzzling to -remember is the number of persons whose names begin -with Thor. Thor, the god of thunder, was regarded -with the highest reverence by the Icelanders; they -thought of him even more than they did of Odin, -the chief god of all, who had one eye, and his one -fiery eye was the sun. Thor was called the Redbeard, -and the aurora borealis was thought to be his -waving red-beard in the sky. The thunderbolt they -regarded as his hammer. To show their respect for -him, children were named after him: Thor-grim -means Thor's wrath; Thor-kel, Thor's kettle, in -which the sacrificial meat was cooked in offering to -Thor; Thor-gil was Thor's boy or servant; Thor-hall -was Thor's flint spear-head, and so on. The -Northumbrian king, St. Osmund, takes his name -from the Hand of God, and the name is the same -as Asmund, the father of Grettir. Oswald means the -elect of the god; in Icelandic the name would be -Aswald.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Grettir found that Audun was from home, -he went into the hall and lay down on the bench -nearest the door. The hall was dark.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The halls of the Icelandic chiefs were like bodies -of churches, and were divided into a nave with side -aisles; and were lighted by windows in a clere-story -that were covered with the skin of the lining of a -sheep's stomach, to let in light and keep out cold, -because they had no glass. In the side aisles were -the beds of those who lived in the house, some with -doors and shutters, which could be fastened from -within; and a man in danger of his life would so -sleep. He would go to bed, and then close himself -in and lock the shutters, that no one could get at -him when he was asleep. The fires and benches -and tables were in the nave, or middle of the great -hall. Over the partitions for the beds were hung -shields and swords and spears, and on grand -occasions hangings were put up all along the sides, -hiding the beds and berths in the side aisles. The -arrangement in an Icelandic house at the present -day is much the same, only on a very much reduced -scale. The people live and eat and sleep in the -same room, like the saloon-cabin of a ship, with the -berths round the walls.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Audun arrived in the afternoon with a horse that -carried curds in skins on its back; that is to say, -skins were made into bottles, as is still common in -Palestine. When he saw that a horse with a saddle -on it was wandering about in his meadow, trampling -down the grass and eating it, he was very vexed; -and throwing one bottle of curd over his back, and -hanging another in front on his breast to counterbalance -it, he ran into the house to ask who had -done this.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The hall was dusky, and Audun's eyes were -accustomed to the bright summer-light. As he entered -Grettir put out his foot; Audun did not see it, and -stumbled over it, fell on the skin of curds and burst -it. Then he jumped up, very angry, and asked who -had played him this scurvy trick. Grettir named -himself, and said he had come over about that -matter of the wrestle on the ice. Audun, still very -irate, all at once stooped, picked up the burst skin, -and dashed it in Grettir's face, smothering him with -curds. Then he threw down the other curd-bottle, -and began to wrestle with Grettir. They swung up -and down the hall, kicking over the benches, now -upon the floor, then on the stone-paved fire-hearth -in the midst; then they crashed against the walls -and pillars of the bed-chambers, and as they did so -the shields and weapons hung over them clashed -like bells. Some frightened servant-maids came in, -and ran out again in alarm, calling for aid.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Audun felt now that Grettir had outgrown him -in strength, but he would not give in; then they -slipped on the curd and both fell, parted for a -moment, rose, and flew at each other once more. -Again, up and down, banging, stumbling, writhing -in each other's arms, twisting legs round each other, -to try to trip each other up, and ever Grettir -bearing Audun backwards, but never wholly mastering -him. Audun could not trust his cousin, for though -they were akin, and though he had not really done -him an injury, there was no telling to what a pitch -Grettir's blood might mount and blind him; so as -they wrestled, Audun took care to twist the short -sword out of Grettir's belt and throw it away. As, -to do this, he had to disengage his hand from -Grettir's shoulder, he lost an advantage. Grettir -managed to trip him, and throw him flat on his back.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At that moment, fortunately, a man, big, wearing -a red kirtle, and in full harness, entered the hall and -asked what was the meaning of the noise and fight? -As he did not receive an immediate answer, he came -to the rescue of Audun, and drew Grettir from him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We are only in play with each other," said Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Rather rough play," said the man, "and likely -to end in tears rather than laughter."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who are you that interfere?" asked Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My name is Bard."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Audun scrambled to his feet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is the reason of this rough play?" asked Bard.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir answered, by singing:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Prithee, Audun, will you say</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>How, upon the ice one day,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>You to throttle did essay?</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Now, for that I this have done,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>On Audun honour I have won;</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Curds and wrestle make good fun."</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Oh, I see," said Bard; "fighting out an old -grudge. I have nothing to say against that. Now, -shake hands, and be loving cousins again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Audun held out his hand, and Grettir agreed to -let the matter end thus. But he was dissatisfied, -and ever after bore Bard a grudge. However, he -never again wrestled with Audun, and remained on -good terms with him.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-horse-fight"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XI.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE HORSE-FIGHT.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Atli's Roan—The Coming Fight—Unfair -Play—Grettir Retaliation—Smouldering Fire</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>One of the rude and cruel sports that amused the -Icelanders in summer time was horse-fighting. -A smooth piece of turf was chosen, and was staked -round. Into this inclosure two or sometimes more -horses were introduced, and a man attended each, -who urged on his own horse, armed with a goad. -By means of these goads the horses were stung to -madness, and attacked each other, biting each other -savagely. Now, Atli had a beautiful roan, with a -black mane, which he and his old father were very -proud of. Lower down the valley, near the sea, -was a farm called Mais, in which lived a bonder -named Kormak, and his brother; they had in their -house a man called Odd the Foundling, a sly, -captious fellow, who, like Grettir, made verses; but his -verses were not generally thought to be so good as -those of Grettir. On the opposite side of the river -is a hot-spring; it is still hot, but not so hot as it -was in those days, when it boiled up and poured -forth a cloud of steam, and ran in a scalding rill -down to the river. There was a convenient level -place near the river for a horse-fight, and it stood -above the water on one side rather steeply, so that -it needed only fencing on three sides. Kormak had -a brown horse that fought well, and it was resolved -that autumn to have a fight between the horse of -Kormak and the roan of Atli. Odd was to goad on -Kormak's brown, and Grettir offered himself to his -brother to run with the roan. Atli did not much -like the proposal, as he feared Grettir's temper; but -he could not well decline his offer, so he said, "I -will consent, brother; only I pray you, be peaceable, -for we have to do with overbearing men, and it will -be very unfortunate if a broil should come of this."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If they begin, I shall not run away," said Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not if they begin; but be very careful not to -provoke a quarrel."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Quarrels come and are not made," said Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That I do not hold," answered Atli.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The day of the horse-fight arrived, and the horses -were led to the place of contest. They had been -fed up and groomed for the occasion, and each had -a band round his middle of colour, by which he who -went with the horse could hold, and the goad of each -was tied with a tuft of feathers at the head, stained -the same colour as the belt about the horse.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The two horses were introduced within the inclosure, -and were soon goaded into anger, and began -to plunge, and snort, and snap at each other. The -by-standers outside the railing cheered and shouted, -and the horses seemed to understand that they were -to do their best; so they pranced about each other, -struck at each other, and tried to get round each -other so as to bite the flank. At one moment the -roan bit the side of the brown, and held. Odd ran -his goad into the horse of Grettir to make it let -go;—this was against the rules; he did it to save his -own horse from a terrible wound. Grettir saw what -he did, but he said nothing. Now the horses bore -towards the river, and were rearing and plunging close -to the edge, and the two men had much ado to hold -on. Then Odd took the opportunity when Grettir's -back was turned to drive at him with his goad -between the shoulders, where was the great scar still -red, and only just fully healed, that he had received -from the axe of Hiarandi. It was a cruel blow, and -this also was against all rule of fair play.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At that moment the roan reared, and instantly -Grettir ran under him, and struck Odd with such a -blow that he reeled back towards the water edge, -and in so doing dragged the brown horse he was -holding over the edge, and both went down into the -water together. The river was very full with the -melted snows, and Odd was brought ashore with -difficulty. It was found that three of his ribs were -broken; but whether with the blow dealt by Grettir, -or by his fall on the rock, or by the hoof of the horse -as it fell and struggled in the river, cannot be said; -but the party of Kormak, of course, charged Grettir -with having broken Odd's ribs with his stick, and -they flew to arms, and threatened the party from -Biarg. However, the people of the nearest vales -and firths interfered, and no bloodshed ensued. But -the men of Mais and of Biarg separated bearing -each other much ill-will, each charging the other -with having broken the laws of the sport.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Atli did not say what he felt, he was greatly -annoyed; but Grettir was less careful of his words, he -said that the matter was by no means ended, and -that he hoped there would be a meeting between -the men of Mais and the men of Biarg, and then—it -would not be a fight of horses, but of men; not a -biting of horses, but of sharp blades.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="of-the-fight-at-the-neck"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">OF THE FIGHT AT THE NECK.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The Desolate Moor—Grettir challenges Kormak—Oxmain -comes on the Scene—Slow-coach taunts Grettir—Grettir's -Vexation</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The next fiord on the west of that into which the -river that flowed past Biarg poured was called -the Ramsfirth, and at the head of it lived Grettir's -married sister.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the following summer, that is in 1014, Grettir -paid his sister a visit; he had with him two servant-men -from Biarg, and he spent three days and nights -at his sister's. Whilst there, news reached him that -Kormak, who had been away from Mais for a week -or two, was on his road home, and who was now -staying at a house called Tongue. Grettir at once -made ready to depart, and his brother-in-law sent -two men with him, for it was not safe that Grettir -should have only two churls with him, as there was -ill blood between him and Kormak about that affair -of the horse-fight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A high, long shoulder of desolate moor lies -between the Ramsfirth and the Westriver-dale, in -which is a confluent of the river that flows past -Biarg. This shoulder rises to the north into a great -hump, called Burfell, and on the saddle is a little -lake. A very fine view is obtained from this shoulder -of moor over the northern immense bay of Hunafloi, -towards the glaciers and mountains of that curious -excrescence of land that lies on the north-west of -Iceland. I know exactly the road taken by Grettir on -this occasion, for I have ridden over it. Along the top -of this shoulder the rocks are scraped by glaciers, -that must at one time have occupied the whole -centre of the island, and have slowly slidden down -into the firths on all sides. Here, what is curious -is, that the rocks are furrowed, just as if carved with -a graving tool, in lines from south to north, showing -the direction from which the glaciers slipped down. -Now, on the slope of this bit of upland is a great -stone poised on a point, which I have seen. Grettir -came to this stone, and spent a long time in trying -to upset it. It is called Grettir's-heave to this day. -The men who were with him rather wondered at -him why he wasted time over this, instead of pushing -on. But his sharp eye had noticed the party of -Kormak leaving Tongue, and he was bent on an -encounter. He thought that if Odd had seen him -going over the hill he would make a lampoon about -him running away from his sister's house the moment -he heard that danger was threatening. So he -determined to tarry till Kormak came up and fight -him. He had not long to wait, for presently over -the top of the hill came Kormak with Odd and some -others. Grettir at once rode to meet them, and -said, "Now we have our weapons on both sides, let -us fight like men of good birth, and not with sticks -as churls."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Kormak turned to his men and bade them -accept the challenge and fight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Accordingly they ran at one another and fought. -Grettir bade his two serving-men stand behind his -back and defend that, and he, sweeping his -longsword from left to right, went forward against -Kormak. Thus they fought for a while, and some -were wounded on both sides.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now it so happened that at a rich farm in the -Ramsfirth-dale lived a well-to-do, and very strong -man, called Thorbiorn—that is, Thor's Bear—nicknamed -Oxmain. He had ridden that day over -Burfell-heath, with a party, and was now returning. -As he came along he heard shouts and the clashing -of arms, so he quickened his pace, and presently -came in sight of the fighters. He at once ordered -his men to dash in between the combatants. But -by this time the passions of those engaged were so -furious that they would not be separated. Grettir -sweeping his long-sword about him strode -forward, and the men of Kormak fell back before him. -Down went two of those who were with Kormak, -and one servant of Atli, Grettir's brother, was killed.</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 61%" id="figure-84"> -<span id="grettir-challenges-kormak-and-his-party"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="GRETTIR CHALLENGES KORMAK AND HIS PARTY." src="images/img-116.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">GRETTIR CHALLENGES KORMAK AND HIS PARTY.</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorbiorn Oxmain raised his great voice -and roared out, that he and his party would take -sides against the first man who dealt another blow. -Grettir saw that it would hardly do if Thorbiorn -Oxmain brought all his force against him, so he gave -up the battle; but they did not part till every one -of those engaged was wounded, and two were killed -on one side, and one on the other. Grettir was ill -pleased that the affray had ended in this manner, -and he felt resentment against Oxmain for his -interference. Unfortunately, Oxmain's brother, who went -by the name of the Slow-coach, made fun of the -matter, and laughed about Grettir sneaking away -from the fight directly he saw that he was getting -the worst of it. Whatever he said was reported at -Biarg, and, as may well be imagined, did not -improve Grettir's temper, or liking for Oxmain and -Slow-coach. Nothing further occurred between him -and Kormak, probably he and Kormak were content -with the trial of strength that had taken place, and -were disinclined to renew a profitless contest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Atli took no notice of the loss of his house-churl; -he desired peace, and not a stirring afresh of the -fires of discord. To his peaceable behaviour it was -doubtless due that the quarrel with Kormak came -to an end. But the vexation felt by Grettir against -Oxmain for his meddlesomeness, and against Slow-coach -for his gibes, rankled in his breast.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="how-grettir-and-audun-made-friends"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XIII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">HOW GRETTIR AND AUDUN MADE FRIENDS.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Audun's Pedigree—His relation to -Grettir—Grettir's-heaves—In Willowdale—The -Place called Tongue—A very strange Tale</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Grettir remained through the autumn at Biarg, -after the skirmish at the Neck, till September, -and then he thought he would ride away east and -see Audun again, with whom he had had that little -ruffle that was almost a quarrel, and which was -fortunately interrupted by the entrance of Bard. -Audun was a cousin, though not a near one, and -Grettir had no desire that any bad blood should -exist between kinsfolk. Audun belonged to what -was called the Madpate family; for it had had in it -at least two who had been so odd in their ways that -folk said they were not quite right in their minds. -The relationship will easily be understood by a look -at the pedigree. It will be remembered that old -Onund Treefoot, who had settled in Iceland, had to -wife secondly Thordis, an Icelandic woman, and his -son by her was Thorgrim Grizzlepate, and this -Thorgrim bought the estate and house of Biarg about the -year 935. Onund Treefoot died in or about 920, and -then his widow Thordis married again a man called -Audun Skokull, and they had a son who was called -Asgeir, who settled in Willowdale, and either went -off his head or proved so queer in his ways that -folks called him Madpate. This Madpate married -and had a son Audun, and a daughter Thurid who -married away west into a very good family; and -she had a son called Thorstein Kuggson, of whom -we shall hear more presently. Audun of Willowdale's -son was Madpate the Second, and the lad -Audun who wrestled with Grettir and burst the -bottle of curds was the son of this Madpate the -Second. Consequently the relationship to Grettir -was through Grettir's great-grandmother, and Audun -belonged to a generation younger than that of Grettir, -because Grettir was the son of Asmund's old age. -Moreover, Asmund's father Thorgrim had married -somewhat late in life, whereas all the Madpate -family had dashed into marriage at a very early -age. Thus it came about that Grettir's great-grandmother -was Audun's great-great-grandmother, and -that, nevertheless, Audun was somewhat older than -Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir rode straight up over the hill behind his -house. Now this hill like the Neck, already -described, is rather curious, for on it are a number -of rocks that have been deposited by glaciers, and -not only so, but they have been dragged along by ice, -scratching the rocks over which they were driven -forward, and so these beds of rock are rubbed and -scored with lines made by the stones forced over -them by ice. Above Biarg there is one large stone -that has scratched a deep furrow in the bed of rock -and then has stopped at the end of the furrow it had -itself scored. This remarkable phenomenon tells us -of a time when the whole of the centre of Iceland -was covered with glaciers, like the centre of Greenland -now. These glaciers slided down the slopes of -the hills, and were thrust along to the sea, where -they broke off and floated away as icebergs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Nowadays folk in Iceland do not understand these -odd stones perched in queer places, which were -deposited by the ancient glaciers, and they call them -Grettir-taks or Grettir's-heaves. So the farmer at -Biarg told me that the curious stone at the end of -the furrow in the bed of rock on top of the hill was a -Grettir-tak; it had been rubbed along the rock and -left where it stands by Grettir. But I knew better. -I knew that it was put there by an ancient glacier -ages before Grettir was born, and before Iceland was -discovered by the Norsemen. I have no doubt that -in Grettir's time this stone was said to have been -put there by some troll. Afterwards, when people -ceased to believe in trolls, they said it was put there -by Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir's ride led him by a pretty little blue lake -that lies folded in between high hills and has a -stream flowing from it into a very large lake near -Hop. But he did not follow the stream down; he -crossed another hill, not very steep and high, and -reached his cousin's house at Audun stead in -Willowdale. Now this valley took its name from the woods -of willows that grew in it when first settled, but -at the present day none remain; all have in course -of time been burnt for fuel, and except for scanty -grass the Willowdale is very dreary-looking. We -may be sure that Iceland presented a much more -smiling and green appearance eight hundred or a -thousand years ago than it does at present.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Grettir came to Willowdale, Audun received -him in a friendly manner, and Grettir made -him a present of a handsome axe he had. He -remained with him some little while, and they talked -over old tales of Onund Treefoot and his doings, and -every shadow of rivalry and anger disappeared, so -that they parted at length in the best of tempers -and as true and affectionate cousins.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Audun would have desired to keep Grettir there -longer, but Grettir would not stay. He desired to -get on to the head of Waterdale, where lived an -uncle of his called Jokull, his mother's brother, at -a place called Tongue.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So he rode away over the moor, and reached -Tongue. Here a stream comes rushing through a -gorge in a series of waterfalls, and meets another -stream that comes down a valley called the Valley -of Shadows further east.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tongue is so called because it lies on a grassy -slope exactly in the tongue of land between these -two streams. There is now a good farm there and -a church, and there I stayed a few days. At the -back of Tongue the hill rises rapidly to a fell called -Tongue-heath. This hill was covered with snow -when Grettir arrived. This uncle Jokull was glad -to see him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was a rough and violent man, very big and -strong; and it was clear to everyone that his -nephew took after his mother's family more than -his father's, for there was a strong likeness both in -build and face and in character between Jokull and -Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He received Grettir heartily in his rough, blunt -way, and bade him stay there as long as he liked. -Jokull had been a seafaring man, and had made -much by his merchant trips. He would probably -have been a richer and more respected man had he -not been so violent and overbearing and ready to -pick quarrels.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now Grettir had not been at Tongue three days -before he heard a very strange tale. Jokull's mouth -was full of it, and with good reason, for the events -had taken place not an hour's ride distant. It was -a tale about the nearest farm in the Valley of -Shadows, a farm called Thorhall's-stead, which was -reported to be haunted; and so serious had affairs -become there that no servants would remain, and -the farmer and his family had been driven from -house and home by the hauntings last winter, and -had come and lodged with Jokull at Tongue, and -he had entertained them for some two or three -months. Now this was not a case of mere fancy -and fantastic fear. It was something very real and -very marvellous. But it is a long story, and must -be consigned to another chapter.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-vale-of-shadows"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XIV.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE VALE OF SHADOWS.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">A Turning-point in Grettir's Life—The Farm in -the Valley—The haunted Sheep-walks—A -strange-looking Fellow—"Here is my Hand"—Glam -keeps Faith—Glam is missing—Following the Red -Track—The Ghost of Glam—Glam's Successor—Thorgaut -is Missing—From Bad to Worse—Fate of the old -Serving-man—Thorhall's Perplexity—Grettir offers Aid</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>We have come now to an incident which formed -a turning-point in Grettir's life. It is a very -mysterious and inexplicable story, not one that can -be put aside as we have that of his fight in the tomb -with Karr the Old. This is a story even more gruesome. -It relates to an event that so shook Grettir's -nerves that he never after could endure to be alone -in the dark, and would risk all kinds of dangers to -escape solitude. How much of truth lies under this -strange narrative we cannot now say, but that something -really did take place is certain from the effect -it had on Grettir ever after.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The richest valley for grass in all this quarter of -Iceland, and the most peopled, is the Waterdale. -On the east rises a mountain ridge of precipitous -basaltic cliffs, down which leap waterfalls from the -snows above. The river that flows through this -valley is fed by two main streams that unite at the -farm called Tongue. The stream on the east rises -a long way inland in a mass of lava, and flows -through a valley so narrow and so gloomy that it -goes by the name of the Valley of Shadows. The high -ranges of moor and waste to the south shut off the -southern sun, and the lofty banks of mountain to -east and west so close it in that it gets no sun -morning or evening.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A little way up this valley—not far, and not where -it is most gloomy—are now the scanty ruins of a -farm called Thorhall's-stead. Above this the valley -so contracts and the hills are so steep that it is only -with great difficulty that a horse can be led along. -This I know very well; for in crossing an avalanche -slide my horse and I were almost precipitated into -the torrent below. Further up the valley stands a -tongue of high land with a waterfall on one side and -the ravine on the other, and here at one time some -robbers had their fortress who were the terror of the -neighbourhood. No trace of their fortress remains -at present, but it was to find this place that I -explored the valley.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the farm that is now but a heap of ruins lived -a bonder named Thorhall and his wife. He was not -a man of much consideration in the district, for -he was planted on cold, poor land, and his wealth -was but small. Moreover, he had no servants; -and the reason was that his sheep-walks were -haunted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Not a herdsman would remain with him. He -offered high wages, he threatened, he entreated, all -in vain. One shepherd after another left his service, -and things came to such a pass that he determined -to have the advice of the law-man or chief judge at -the next annual assize.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He saddled his horses and rode to Thingvalla. -Skapti was the name of the judge then, a man with -a long head, and deemed the best of men for giving -counsel. Thorhall told him his trouble.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can help you," said Skapti. "There is a -shepherd who has been with me, a rude, strange man, -but afraid of neither man nor hobgoblin, and strong -as a bull; but he is not very clear in his intellect."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That does not matter," said Thorhall, "so long -as he can mind sheep."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You may trust him for that," said Skapti. "He -is a Swede, and his name is Glam."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Towards the end of the assize two gray horses -belonging to Thorhall slipped their hobbles and -strayed; so, as he had no serving-man, he went -after them himself, and on his way met a strange-looking -fellow, driving before him an ass laden with -faggots. The man was tall and stalwart; his face -attracted Torhall's attention, for the eyes were ashen -gray and staring. The powerful jaw was furnished -with white protruding teeth, and about his low brow -hung bunches of coarse wolf-gray hair.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pray, what are you called?" asked Thorhall, for -he suspected that this was the man Skapti had -spoken about.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Glam, at your service."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you like your present duties—wood-cutting?" -asked the farmer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, I do not. I am properly a shepherd."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then, will you come with me? Skapti has -spoken of you and offered you to me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What are the drawbacks to your service?" asked -Glam cautiously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"None, save that my sheep-walks are haunted."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh! is that all? Ghosts won't scare me. Here -is my hand. I will come to you before winter."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They separated, and soon after the farmer found -his horses; they had got into a little wood, and were -nibbling the willow tops. He went home, having -thanked Skapti.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Summer passed, then autumn, and nothing further -was heard of Glam. The winter storms began to -bluster up the valley from the cold Polar Sea, driving -the flying snowflakes and heaping them in drifts at -every turn of the vale. Ice formed in the shallows -of the river, and the streams which in summer -trickled down the sides were now turned to icicles. -I was there the very end of June, and then the -whole of the mountain flank to the west was covered -with frozen streams spread like a net of icicle over -the black and red striped bare rock.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One gusty night a violent blow at the door startled -all in the farm. In another moment Glam, tall and -wild, stood in the hall glowering out of his gray -staring eyes, his hair matted with frost, his teeth -rattling and snapping with cold, his face blood-red -in the glare of the fire that glowed in the centre of -the hall.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was well received by Thorhall, but the housewife -did not like the man's looks, and did not welcome -him with much heartiness. Time passed, and -the shepherd was on the moors every day with the -flock; his loud and deep-toned voice was often borne -down on the wind as he shouted to the sheep, -driving them to fold. His presence always produced -a chill in the house, and when he spoke it sent -a thrill through the women, who did not like him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Christmas-eve was raw and windy; masses of -gray vapour rolled up from the Arctic Ocean, and -hung in piles about the mountain tops. Now and -then a scud of frozen fog, covering bar and beam -with feathery hoar-frost, swept up the glen. As the -day declined snow began to fall in large flakes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the wind lulled there could be heard the -shout of Glam high up on the hillside. Darkness -closed in, and with the darkness the snow fell thicker. -There was a church then at Thorhall's farm; there -is none there now, since the valley has been -abandoned from its cold and ill name.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The lights were kindled in the church, and every -snowflake as it sailed down past the open door burned -like a golden feather in the light.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the service was over, and the farmer and -his party returned to the house, Glam had not come -home. This was strange; as he could not live -abroad in the cold, and the sheep would also require -shelter. Thorhall was uneasy and proposed a search, -but no one would go with him; and no wonder, it -was not a night for a dog to be out in, and the -tracks would all be buried in snow. So the family -sat up all night listening, trembling and anxious.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Day broke at last faintly in the south over the -great white masses of mountains. Now a party -was formed to search for the missing man. A sharp -climb brought them to the top of the moor above -Tongue. Here and there a sheep was found shivering -under a rock or half buried in a snowdrift, but -of Glam—not a sign.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Presently the whole party was called together -about a spot on the hilltop where the snow was -trampled and kicked about, and it was clear that -some desperate struggle had taken place there. -There the snow was also dabbled with frozen blood. -A red track led further up the mountain side, and -the searchers were following it when a boy uttered -a shriek of fear. In looking behind a rock he -had come on the corpse of the shepherd lying on -its back with the arms extended. The body was -taken up and carried to the edge of the gorge, and -was there buried under a pile of stones, heaped over -it to the height of about six feet. </span><em class="italics">How</em><span> Glam had -died, </span><em class="italics">by whom</em><span> killed, no one knew, nor could they -make a guess.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Two nights after this one of the thralls who had -gone for the cows burst into the hall with a face -blank from terror; he staggered to a seat and -fainted. On recovering his senses, in a broken voice -he assured those who were round him that he had -seen Glam walking past him, with huge strides, as -he left the stable door. The shepherd had turned -his head and looked at him fixedly from his great -gray staring eyes. On the following day a stable -lad was found in a fit under a wall, and he never -after recovered his senses. It was thought he must -have seen something that had scared him. Next, -some of the women, declared that they had seen -Glam looking in on them through a window of -the dairy. In the dusk Thorhall himself met the -dead man, who stood and glowered at him, but -made no attempt to injure his master, and uttered -not a word. The haunting did not end thus. -Nightly a heavy tread was heard round the house, -and a hand groping along the walls, and sometimes -a hand came in at the windows, a great coarse hand, -that in the red light from the fire seemed as though -steeped in blood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the spring came round the disturbances -lessened, and as the sun obtained full power, ceased -altogether.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>During the course of the summer a Norwegian -vessel came into the fiord; Thorhall went on board -and found there a man named Thorgaut, who had -come out in search of work. Thorhall engaged him -as a shepherd, but not without honestly telling him -his trouble, and what there was uncanny about his -sheep-walks, and how Glam had fared. The man -did not regard this, he laughed, and promised to be -with Thorhall at the appointed season.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Accordingly he arrived in autumn, and he soon -established himself as a favourite in the house; he -romped with the children, helped his fellow-servants, -and was as much liked as his predecessor had been -detested. He was such a merry careless fellow that -he did not think anything of the risks that lay -before him, and joked about them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When winter set in strange sights and sounds -began to alarm the folk at the farm, but Thorgaut -was not troubled; he slept too soundly at night -to be disturbed by the heavy tread round the house.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the day before Yule, as was his wont, Thorgaut -drove out the sheep to pasture. Thorhall was -uneasy. He said to him: "I pray you be careful, -and do not go near the barrow under which Glam -was laid."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't fear for me," laughed Thorgaut, "I shall -be back in time for supper, and shall attend you to -church."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Night settled in, but no Thorgaut arrived. There -was little mirth at table when the supper was -brought in. All were anxious and fearful.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The wind was cold and wetting. Blocks of ice -were driving about in the bay, grinding against -each other, and the sound could be heard far up the -valley. Aloft, the aurora flames were lighting up -the heavens with an arch of fire. Again this -Christmas night the dwellers in the farm sat up -and did not go to bed, waiting for the return of -Thorgaut, but he did not arrive.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning he was sought, and was found -lying dead across the barrow of Glam, with his -spine and one leg and one arm broken. He was -brought home and laid in the churchyard.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Matters now rapidly became worse. Outbuildings -were broken into of a night, and their woodwork -was rent and shattered; the house door was violently -shaken, and great pieces of it were torn away; the -gables of the house were also pulled furiously to -and fro.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now it fell out that one morning the only man -who remained in the service of the family went out -early. Not another servant dared to remain in the -place, and this man remained because he had been -with Thorhall and with his father, and he could not -make up his mind to desert his master in his need. -About an hour after he had gone out Thorhall's -wife took her milking cans and went to the cow-house -that she might milk the cows, as she had now -not a maid in the house, and had to do everything -herself. On reaching the door of the cow-house she -heard a terrible sound from within, the bellowing of -the cattle, and the deep bell-notes of an unearthly -voice. She was so frightened that she dropped her -pails and ran back to the house and called her -husband. Thorhall was in bed, but he rose -instantly, caught up a weapon, and hastened to the -cow-house.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On opening the door he found all the cattle loose -and goring each other. Slung across the stone that -separated their stalls was the old serving-man, -perfectly dead, with his back broken. He had, -apparently, been tossed by the cows, and had fallen on -this stone backwards.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Neither Thorhall nor his wife explained his death -in this way; they thought that Glam must have -been there, have driven the cattle wild, and that -just as he had broken the back of Thorgaut, so had -he now broken that of the poor old serving-man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was impossible for the bonder to remain longer -in that place; he and his wife therefore removed -down to Tongue, which lies at the junction of the -two rivers, and there things were quiet. There he -was hospitably received by Jokull. Thorhall was -able to persuade some of his runaway servants to -come back to him, but no man all that winter -would go near the moor where was the barrow of -the shepherd Glam.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Not till the summer returned, and the sun had -dispelled the darkness, did Thorhall venture back to the -Vale of Shadows. In the meanwhile his daughter's -health had given way under the repeated alarms of -the winter; she became paler every day; with the -autumn flowers she faded, and was laid in the -churchyard before the first snowflakes fell. What -was Thorhall to do through the winter? He knew -that it was not possible for him to secure servants -if he remained on his own farm; besides, he did not -know what loss might come to his stock. Then, he -could not spend the whole winter at Tongue, for -that was another bonder's house, and though the -farmer there had kindly received him and -entertained him for three months the winter before, he -could not ask him to give him houseroom to -himself, his cattle, and servants for a whole long -winter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So he was in the greatest possible perplexity -what to do. Help came to him from an unexpected -quarter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir had heard the story of the hauntings, -and he rode to Thorhall's farm and asked if he -might be accommodated there for the night. He -said that it was his great desire to encounter Glam.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorhall was surprised, but not exactly pleased, -for he thought that the family at Biarg would -attribute the wrong to him were anything to happen -to Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir put his horse into the stable, and retired -for the night to one of the beds in the hall and -slept soundly.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="how-grettir-fought-with-glam"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XV.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">HOW GRETTIR FOUGHT WITH GLAM.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Grettir awaits Glam—The Sound of Feet—Glam breaks -into the Hall—A Strange Figure—Grettir seizes -Glam—Grettir's Last Chance—Glam's Curse—The End -of Glam—Was it True?</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Next morning Grettir went with Thorhall to -the stable for his horse. The strong wooden -door was shivered and driven in. They stepped -across it; Grettir called to his horse, but there was -no responsive whinny. Grettir dashed into the -stall and found his horse dead; its neck was -broken.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now," said Thorhall, "I will give you a horse in -exchange for that you have lost. You had better -ride home to Biarg at once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not at all. My horse has been killed, and I -must avenge it." So Grettir remained.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Night set in. Grettir ate a hearty supper, and -was right merry. But not so Thorhall, who had -his misgivings. At bed-time the latter crept into a -locked bedstead beside the hall; but Grettir said he -would not go into a bed, he would lie by the fire in -the hall. So he wrapped himself up in a long fur -cloak and flung himself on a bench, with his feet -against the posts of the high seat. The fur cloak -was over his head, and he kept an opening through -which he could look out.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a fire burning on the hearth, a smouldering -heap of glowing embers, and by the red light -Grettir looked up at the rafters of the blackened -roof. The smoke escaped by a </span><em class="italics">louvre</em><span> in the middle. -The wind whistled mournfully. The windows high -up were covered with parchment, and admitted -now and then a sickly yellow glare from the full -moon, which, however, shone in through the smoke -hole, silvering the rising smoke. A dog began to -bark, then bay at the moon. Then the cat, which -had been sitting demurely watching the fire, stood -up with raised back and bristling tail, and darted -behind some chests. The hall-door was in a sad -plight. It had been so torn by Glam that it had -to be patched up with wattles. Soothingly the river -prattled over its shingly bed as it swept round the -knoll on which stood the farm. Grettir heard the -breathing of the sleeping women in the adjoining -chamber, and the sigh of the housewife as she turned -in her bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then suddenly he heard something that shook all -the sleep out of him, had any been stealing over his -eyes. He heard a heavy tread, beneath which the -snow crackled. Every footfall went straight to -Grettir's heart. A crash on the turf overhead. -The strange visitant had scrambled on the roof, and -was walking over that. The roofs of the houses in -Iceland are of turf. For a moment the chimney -gap was completely darkened—the monster was -looking down it—the flash of the red fire illumined -the horrible face with its lack-lustre eyes. Then -the moon shone in again, and the heavy tramp of -Glam was heard as he walked to the other end of -the hall. A thud—he had leaped down.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir heard his steps passing to the back of -the house, then the snapping of wood showed that -Glam was destroying some of the outhouse doors. -Presently the tread was heard again approaching -the house, and this time the main entrance. Grettir -thought he could distinguish a pair of great hands -thrust in over the broken door. In another moment -he heard a loud snap—a long plank had been torn -out of place, and the light of the moon shone in -where the gap had been made. Then Glam began -to unrip the wattles.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a cross-beam to the door, acting as bolt. -Against the gray light Grettir saw a huge black arm -thrust in trying to remove the bar. It was done, -and then all the broken door was driven in and -went down on the floor in shivers. Now Grettir -could see a tall dark figure, almost naked, with wild -locks of hair about the head standing in the -doorway. That was but for a minute, and then Glam -came in stealthily; he entered the hall and was -illumined by the firelight. The figure Grettir now -saw was unlike anything he had seen before. A few -rags hung from the shoulders and waist, the long -wolf-gray hair was matted. The eyes were staring -and strange. Grettir could hear Thorhall within his -locked bed trembling and breathing fast.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Presently Glam's eyes rested on the shaggy bundle -by the high seat. He stepped towards it, and Grettir -felt him groping about him. Then Glam laid hold -of one end of the fur cloak and began to pull at it. -The cloak did not come away. Another jerk. Grettir -kept his feet firmly pressed against the posts, so that -the fur was not pulled away. Glam seemed puzzled; -he went to the other end of the bundle and began -to pull at that. Grettir held to the bench, so that -he was not moved himself, but the fur cloak was -torn in half, and the strange visitant staggered back -holding the portion in his hand wonderingly before -his eyes. Before he could recover from his surprise, -Grettir started to his feet, bent his body, flung his -arms round Glam, and driving his head into the -breast of the visitor, tried to bend him backward and -so snap his spine. This was in vain, the cold hands -grasped Grettir's arms and tore them from their hold. -Grettir clasped them again about his body, and then -Glam threw his also round Grettir, and they began -to wrestle. Grettir saw that Glam was trying to -drag him to the door, and he was sure that if he -were got outside he would be at a disadvantage, and -Glam would break his back. He therefore made a -desperate effort not to be drawn forth. He clung -to benches and posts, but the posts gave way, and -the benches were torn from their places.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At each moment he was being dragged nearer -to the door. Sharply twisting himself loose, Grettir -flung his arms round a beam of the roof, for the hall -was low. He was dragged off his feet at once. -Glam clenched him about the waist, and tore at him -to get him loose. Every tendon in Grettir's breast -was strained; still he held on. The nails of Glam -cut into his side like knives, then his hands gave -way. He could endure the strain no longer, and -Glam drew him towards the doorway, in so doing -trampling over the broken fragments of the door, -and the wattles that lay about. Grettir knew that -the last chance was come for saving himself. Here, -in the hall, he could hold to posts and beams, and -so make some resistance; but outside he would have -nothing to cling to, and strong though he was, his -strength did not equal that of his opponent.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now the door-posts were of stone, and the beam -that had served as bolt went across the door, slid -into a hollow on one side cut in the door-post, and -was pulled across and fitted into another hollow in -the other post. As the wrestlers neared the opening, -Grettir planted both his feet against the stone -posts, one against each, and put his arms round -Glam. He had the enemy now at an advantage; -but then, he merely held him, and could not hold him -so for ever. He called to Thorhall, but Thorhall was -too greatly frightened to leave his place of refuge.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now," thought Grettir, "if I can but break his -back!" Then drawing Glam to him by the middle, -he put his head beneath the chin of his opponent -and forced back the head. If he could only drive the -head far enough back he would break his neck.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At that moment one or both of the door-posts -gave way; down crashed the gable-trees, ripping -beams and rafters from their places, frozen clods of -turf rattled from the roof and thumped into the snow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Glam fell on his back outside the door, and Grettir -on top of him. The moon was, as I said before, at -her full; large white clouds chased each other across -the sky. Grettir's strength was failing him, his hands -quivered in the snow, and he knew that he could -not support himself from dropping flat on the -mysterious and dreadful visitant, eye to eye, lip -to lip.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Glam said: "You have done ill matching -yourself with me; now know that never shall you be -stronger than you are to-day, and that, to your -dying day, whenever you are in the dark you will -see my eyes staring at you, so that for very horror -you will not dare to be alone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At this moment Grettir saw his short sword in -the snow, it had slipped from his belt as he fell. -He put out his hand at once, clutched the handle, -and with a blow cut off Glam's head, and at once -laid it beside his thigh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorhall came out at this juncture, his face -blanched; but when he saw how the fray had -ended, he joyfully assisted Grettir to roll the dead -man to the top of a pile of faggots that had been -collected for winter fuel. Fire was applied, and -soon far down the Waterdale the flames of the pyre -startled folks, and made them wonder what new -horror was being enacted in the Vale of Shadows.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next day the charred bones were conveyed a -long way—some hours' ride—into the great desert -in the interior, and in one of the most lonely spots -there a cairn or pile of stones was heaped over them. -I have seen this mound, which is still pointed out -as that under which the redoubted Glam lies.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And now we may well ask, what truth is there -in the story? That there is a basis of truth can -hardly be denied. The facts have been embellished, -worked up, but not invented. The only probable -explanation of the story is this.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As already said, further up the valley, in a spot -difficult to be reached, stood the old fortress of some -robbers, with many caves in the sandstone about it -very convenient for shelter. Now, it is not -improbable that some madman may have taken refuge in -this safe retreat, and may have come out at night -in search of food, and carried off the sheep of -Thorhall. It may be that Glam caught him attempting -to steal a sheep, and fought with him, and was -killed, and that in like manner Thorgaut was killed. -Then when people saw a great wild man wandering -about they thought it was Glam, whereas it was -the man who had haunted the region before Glam -came there, and had killed Glam. This is the -simplest and easiest explanation of this wild and -fearful tale.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="how-grettir-sailed-to-norway"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XVI.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">HOW GRETTIR SAILED TO NORWAY.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Olaf the Saint—Slowcoach with the Nimble -Tongue—Slowcoach insults Grettir—Ill Words—Death -of Slowcoach—In Search of Luck</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Early in the spring of the year 1015, news -reached Iceland of a change of rulers in -Norway. Olaf Harald's son, commonly known as Olaf -the Saint, had come to be King of Norway; Earl -Sweyn had been defeated in battle and driven out of -the country. Now Grettir was remotely connected -with the king, that is to say, his father's grandfather -was brother to the grandfather of Asta, Olaf's -mother. The cousinship was somewhat distant; but -in those days folk held to their kin more than they -do now. Grettir thought that a good chance had -opened to him for doing well in Norway, so he -resolved to leave Iceland, and enter the service of -his relative, the king. There was a ship bound for -Norway lying in Eyjafiord, and Grettir engaged a -berth in her, and made ready for the voyage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now his father Asmund was very old and feeble, -and was well nigh bedridden. He had given over -the entire management of the farm to his eldest son -Atli, and to young Illugi, who was a few years -younger than Grettir. Atli was everywhere liked, -he was such a prudent, peaceable, and kindly man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir's ill-luck still followed him; for, as it -chanced, Thorbiorn, the Slowcoach, the relation of -Thorbiorn Oxmain, had resolved to go to Norway -also, and in the same ship. Now the Slowcoach -may have been overslow in his movements, but -he was overnimble with his tongue, and he was -strongly advised either not to go in the same boat -with Grettir, or, if he did, to mind his words.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Such advice was thrown away on the Slowcoach, -who, instead of practising caution, in order to show -himself off, began to brag of his strength, and to say -scurvy things of Grettir, which were duly reported -by tale-bearers to Grettir. Consequently, when -Grettir arrived in the Eyjafiord with his goods, he -was not very amiably disposed towards the -Slowcoach. However Atli had impressed on him the -necessity of controlling himself, and Grettir was -resolved not to quarrel with the man unless he -could not help it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the side of the shore, those who were about to -sail had run up booths and cabins for themselves -and their stores. Many of those going in the boat -were chapmen, and they took with them goods with -which to traffic in Norway.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just as the vessel was ready, and about to sail -next day, Slowcoach arrived, slow as usual, and after -every one else was ready, and their goods on board. -As it was the last evening on shore, all the -merchants and seamen were sitting about their booths, -when Thorbiorn Slowcoach arrived, and rode along -the lane between the wooden cabins. The men -shouted to him to know if he had any news to -tell them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorbiorn's eye caught that of Grettir, who was -sitting on a bench, and he answered, "I don't hear -any news, except that the old idiot Asmund of -Biarg is dead."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This was not true; the old man was not dead, but -very ill. Some of those who heard him said, "That -is sad news indeed, for he was a worthy and -honourable old man, and he could ill be spared."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know that," said Thorbiorn with a -scornful laugh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But how did he die? What did he die of?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Die of?" repeated the Slowcoach loud enough to -be heard by Grettir. "Smothered like a dog in the -poky little kennel they call their hall at Biarg. As -for any loss in him, it is news to me that the world -is not well rid of dotards."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"These are ill words," said those who heard him. -"No good man will speak slightingly of old and -blameless chiefs. Besides, such words as these -Grettir will not endure."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Grettir!" scoffed Thorbiorn. "Before I face him -I must see him use his weapons better than he did -last summer, when engaged with Kormak. Then I -put my elbow between them, and Grettir was but -too ready to accept the interference. I never saw a -man before so shake in his shoes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thereat Grettir stood up, and controlling himself, -said, "If I have any faculty of foresight, Slowcoach, -I see that you will not be smothered with smoke -like a dog. You should have done other than speak -foul words of very aged men. Gray hairs deserve -respect."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't think more of your foresight than I do -of the wisdom of your old fool of a father," said -Thorbiorn.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The end was that they fought. The insult was -too gross to be endured, and Grettir felt it -incumbent on him to strike for his father's honour. The -fight did not last long; the Slowcoach was slow in -his fighting, slow of hand, only not slow of tongue, -and Grettir's sharp sword wounded him to death.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Slowcoach was buried in the nearest churchyard; -and the chapmen gave Grettir credit for having -restrained himself as long as possible, and allowed -that, according to the ideas of the time, he was -justified in fighting and killing the Slowcoach for his -spiteful and strife-provoking words. But Grettir -was not pleased, he regretted the contest, because -he knew that it left occasion of strife behind, which -might occasion Atli trouble. Thorbiorn Oxmain -would, lie feared, be sure to take up the quarrel, and -then Atli would have to pay a heavy fine in silver -to atone for the death.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The vessel set sail, and reached the south of -Norway. There Grettir took ship in a trading keel, to -go north to Drontheim, because he heard that the -king was there, and his heart beat high with hopes -that Olaf would acknowledge him as a cousin, and -would take him into his body-guard, and treat him -with honour; and that so, though he had had -ill-luck in Iceland, good luck might attend him in -Norway.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-hostel-burning"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XVII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE HOSTEL BURNING.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Aground in the Fiord—The Light over the Water—Grettir -Swims Across—The Fight for Fire—The Burned Hostel—At -Drontheim</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>There lived a man named Thorir at Garth in -Iceland who had spent the summer in Norway -when Olaf returned from England, and he had stood -in great favour with the king. He had two sons, -and at this time both were well-grown men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorir left Norway for Iceland, where he broke up -his ship, not intending again to go a seafaring. -But when he heard the tidings that Olaf was king -over the whole of Norway, then he deemed it would -be well for his sons to go there and pay their respects -to the king, and remind him of his old friendship -for their father.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On reaching Norway much about the same time -as had Grettir, they took a long rowing-boat, and -skirted the coast on their way north to Drontheim. -They preceded Grettir by a few days. On reaching -a fine fiord, in which there was shelter from the gales -that began to bluster violently with the approach of -winter, the sons of Thorir ran in their boat, and as -there was a large wooden hostelry there built for the -shelter of weather-bound travellers, they took refuge -in it, and spent their days in hunting and their -nights in revelry.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now it so fell out that Grettir's merchant ship -came into this same fiord one evening and ran -aground on the opposite shore to that on which was -the hostel. The night was bitterly cold; storms of -snow drove over the country, whitening the -mountains. The men from the ship were worn out -and numbed with cold, and they had no means of -kindling a fire. Then, all at once, they saw a light -spring up on the opposite side of the firth, twinkling -cheerfully between the trees. This was a sight -to make them more eager for a fire, and they began -to wish that some one of their number would swim -across and bring over a light.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"In the good old times there must have been men -who would have thought nothing of swimming across -the streak of water at night," said Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No comfort to us to know that," said one of the -crew. "It does not concern us what may have been -in the past, we are shivering in the present. Why -do you not get us fire?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir hesitated. The night was very like that -on which he had fought with Glam: the same full -moon, with snow-laden clouds rolling over its face -for a while obscuring it, and then the full glare falling -over the face of earth again; and, unaccountably, a -sense of doubt and depression had come over him, -as though that evil adversary were now about to -revenge his downfall upon him. He looked round -suddenly, for he thought that the fearful eyes were -staring at him from out of the black shadows of the -fir-wood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The rest of the crew united in urging him, and at -length, reluctantly, Grettir yielded. He flung his -clothes off, and prepared himself to swim. He had -on him a fur cape, and a pair of wadmal breeches. -He took up an iron pot, and jumped into the sea -and swam safely across.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On reaching the further shore, he shook the water -off him, but before long his trousers froze like boards, -and the water formed in icicles about the cape. -Grettir ascended through the pine-wood towards the -light, and on reaching the hostel from which it -proceeded, walked in without speaking to anyone, and -striding up to the fire, stooped and began to scrape -the red-hot embers into his iron pot. The hall was -full of revellers, and these revellers were the sons of -Thorir and their boat's crew. They were already -more than half intoxicated, and when they saw a -wild-looking man enter the hall, half naked and -hung with icicles, they thought he must be a troll -or mountain-spirit.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At once every one caught up the first weapon to -hand, and rushed to the attack. Grettir defended -himself with a fire-brand plucked from the hearth; -the sons of Thorir stumbled over the fire, and the -embers were strewn about over the floor that was -covered with fresh straw.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In a few moments the hall was filled with flame -and smoke, and Grettir took advantage of the -confusion to effect his escape. He ran down to the -shore, plunged into the sea and swam across.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He found his companions waiting for him behind -a rock, with a pile of dry wood which they had -collected during his absence. The cinders were -blown upon, and twigs applied, till a blaze was -produced, and before long the whole party sat -rubbing their almost frozen hands over a cheerful -fire.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning the merchants recognized the fiord, -and, remembering that a hostel stood on the further -side, they crossed the water to see it, when—what -was their dismay to find of it only a heap of smoking -embers! From under some of the charred timber -were thrust scorched human limbs. The chapmen, -in alarm and horror, turned upon Grettir and -charged him with having maliciously burned the -house with all its inmates.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"See, now," said Grettir, "I had a thought that -this expedition would not bring luck. I would I -had not taken the trouble to get fire for such a set -of thankless churls."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The ship's crew raked out the embers, pulled aside -the smoking rafters, in their search for the bodies. -Some of these were not so disfigured but that they -could recognize them. Moreover, they knew the ship -that lay at anchor under the lee, hard by, and they -saw that Grettir had brought the sons of Thorir to -an untimely end. The indignation of the merchants -became so vehement, and their fear so great that they -might be implicated in the matter, that they drove -Grettir from their company, and refused to receive -him into their vessel for the remainder of their -voyage. Grettir, in sullen wrath, would say no -word of self-defence; he had to make his way on -foot to Drontheim, where he resolved to lay the -whole matter before the king.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The vessel reached Drontheim before him, and -the news of the hostel burning roused universal -indignation against Grettir.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-ordeal-by-fire"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XVIII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE ORDEAL BY FIRE.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Grettir tells his Story—Preparing for the Ordeal—The -Procession—Attacked by the Mob—The King -Intervenes—Wicked or Unlucky</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>One day, as King Olaf sat in audience in his great -hall, Grettir strode in, and going before his -seat, greeted the king. Olaf looked at him and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Are you Grettir the Strong?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He answered: "That is my name, and I have -come hither, kinsman, to get a fair hearing, and to -clear myself of the charge of having burned men -maliciously. Of that I am guiltless."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>King Olaf replied: "I heartily trust that what -you say is true, and that you will be able to rid -yourself of a charge so bad."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir replied that he was ready to do whatsoever -the king desired, in order to prove his innocence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then said the king to him, "Tell me the whole -story, that I may be able to judge."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir answered by relating the circumstances. -He had simply taken fire from the hearth, when he -was fallen upon by those who were drinking, and -who were too tipsy to understand his explanation. -He went away with the red-hot embers, and did not -set fire to anything, but the drunken men kicked the -glowing coals about amidst the straw.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The king remained silent some moments, and then -he said: "There are no witnesses either on your behalf -or against you. No man was by who is not dead. -God and his angels alone know whether you speak -the truth or not, therefore I must refer you to the -judgment of God."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What must I do?" asked Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You will have to go through the ordeal of fire," -said the king.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is that?" asked the young man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You must lift bars of red-hot iron, and walk -with bare feet on ploughshares heated red in a -furnace."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And what if I am burnt?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then will you be adjudged guilty."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir shrugged his shoulders: "If it must be -so, let it be at once; but whether I be burnt or not, -I declare that I am clear of all intent to hurt those -men."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You cannot undergo the ordeal now," said the -king. "You would be burned to a certainty. You -must go through preparation first."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What preparation?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A week of fasting and prayer," was the reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir was taken away and put in ward, -and fed with bread and water for a week, and the -bishop visited him and taught him to pray that if -he were innocent, God would reveal his innocence -by enabling him to pass unscathed through the -ordeal.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The day came, and Drontheim was thronged with -people from all the country round, to see the -Icelander of whom such tales were told. A procession -was formed; first went the king's body-guard -followed by the king himself, wearing his crown, -then came the bishop, the choir, and the clergy, and -last of all Grettir, his wild red hair flying loose in -the breeze, his arms folded, and his eyes wandering -over the sea of heads that filled the square before -the cathedral doors. The crowd pressed in closer -and closer. Opinions differed as to whether he -were guilty or not. Among the mob was a -young man of dark complexion, who made a great -noise, shouldering his way to the front, and shouting.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look at the fellow!" he exclaimed. "This is the -man who, in cold blood, burnt down a house over -helpless men, and now he is to be given u chance of -escape."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But he says he is guiltless," argued one in the -crowd.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Guiltless!" exclaimed the youth. "If one of us -had done the deed, should we have been trifled -with? The king wants him for his body-guard, -because he is so strong."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He should be given a chance of clearing -himself," said one who stood near.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes—of course—because he is a kinsman of the -king. So the irons have been painted red, to look -as if hot. I know how the trick is done. But he -shall not escape me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thereupon the young man sprang at Grettir and -drove his nails into his face so that they drew blood; -at the same time he poured forth against him a -stream of insulting names.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This was more than the Icelander could bear; he -caught the young man, as a cat catches a mouse, -held him aloft, shook him, and then threw him -away, when he fell on the ground and was stunned. -It was feared he might be killed. This act gave -occasion to a general uproar; the mob wanted to -lay hands on Grettir; some threw stones, others -assaulted him with sticks; but he, planting his -back against the church wall, turned up his sleeves, -guarded off the blows, shouting to his assailants to -come on. Not a man came within his reach but -was sent reeling back or was felled to the ground. -In the meantime the king and the bishop were in -the choir waiting. The red-hot ploughshares which -had been laid on the pavement were gradually -cooling, but no Grettir appeared.</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 61%" id="figure-85"> -<span id="grettir-defends-himself-from-the-mob"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="GRETTIR DEFENDS HIMSELF FROM THE MOB." src="images/img-165.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">GRETTIR DEFENDS HIMSELF FROM THE MOB.</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>At last the sounds of the uproar reached the -king's ear, and he sent out to know the occasion. -His messenger returned a moment after to report -that the Icelander was fighting the whole town and -had knocked down and well nigh killed several -persons. The king thereupon sprang from his throne, -hastened down the nave, and came out of the -great western door when the conflict was at its -height.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, sire," exclaimed Grettir, "see how I can -fight the rascals!" and at the word he knocked a -man over at the king's feet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With difficulty the tumult was arrested, and -Grettir separated from the combatants; and then -he wanted to go with the king and try the ordeal -of fire.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not so," answered Olaf, "you have already -incurred sin. It is possible that some of those you -have knocked down may never recover, so that their -blood will lie at your door."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is to be done?" asked Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The king considered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I see you are a very wicked or at all events a -very unlucky man. When you were here before -you were the occasion of several deaths. I do not -desire to keep you in Norway, but as winter has set -in you may tarry here till next spring, and then -you shall be outlawed and return to Iceland."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-winter-in-norway"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XIX.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE WINTER IN NORWAY.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">At Einar's Farm—The Bearsarks—A Visit from -Snœkoll—The Bearsark's Demand—Grettir -Temporizes—The Bearsark has a Fit—Death -of Snœkoll—Dromund's History—Grettir's -Arms—A Pair of Tongs</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>King Olaf had decided that Grettir must -leave Norway and return to Iceland. If he -was not a guilty man he was a most unfortunate -one. Now, the Norse race, whether in Denmark, -Norway, Sweden, or Iceland, believed in luck. They -said that certain men were born to ill-luck, and -such men they avoided, because they feared lest the -ill-luck that clung to them might attach itself -to, and involve those who came in contact with them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was not possible for Grettir to return that year -to Iceland, for all the ships bound for his native -land had sailed before winter set in, so King Olaf -agreed to allow him to remain in the kingdom -through the winter, but bound him to depart on the -first opportunity next year.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Somewhat sad at heart with disappointment, and -with the impression that perhaps Olaf the king was -right, and that ill-luck really did weigh on him, -Grettir left the court, and went at Yule to the -house of a bonder or yeoman called Einar, and -remained with him awhile. The farm was in a -lonely place in a fiord opening back to the snowy -mountains. Einar was a kindly man, hospitable, -and he did his best to make Grettir's stay with him -pleasant. He had a daughter, a fair, beautiful girl, -with blue eyes, and hair like amber silk, and her -name was Gyrid. Perhaps the beautiful Gyrid was -one attraction to Grettir, but if so he never spoke -what was on his heart, because he knew it would -be useless. He was an unlucky man; he had made -himself a name, indeed, as one of great daring, but -he had won for himself neither home, nor riches, -nor favour.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now it fell out that at this time there were some -savage ruffians in the country who were called -Bearsarks. They were outlaws in most cases, and -they lived in secret dens in the dense forests, whence -they issued and swooped down on the farms, and -there challenged the bonders to fight with them, or -to give up to them whatever they needed. These -ruffians wore bear-skins drawn over their bodies, -and they thrust their heads through the jaws of the -beasts, so that they presented a hideous and -frightening appearance. Then they worked themselves -into paroxysms of rage, when they were like madmen; -they rolled their eyes, they roared and howled -like wild beasts, and foam formed on their mouths -and dropped on the ground. They were wont also, -when these fits came on them, to bite the edges of -their shields, and with their fangs they were known -to have dinted the metal quite deep. Some folks -even said they had bitten pieces out of solid shields. -It was usually supposed that these Bearsarks were -possessed by evil spirits, and it is probable that in -many cases they were really mad—mad through -having given way to their violent passions, till they -knew no law, and thought to carry everything -before them by their violence. It was even at one -time thought by the superstitious that they could -change their shapes, and run about at will in the -forms of bears or wolves; but this idea grew out of -the fact of their clothing themselves in bear or wolf -skins, and drawing the skull of the beast over their -heads as a rude helmet, and looking out through -the open jaws that thus formed a visor.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One day, just after Yule, to the terror and dismay -of Einar, one of the most redoubtable of these -Bearsarks, a fellow called Snœkoll, came thundering up -to his door on a huge black horse, followed by three -or four others on foot, all clothed in skins; but -Snœkoll, instead of wearing the bear's skin over -his head, had on a helmet with great tusks of a -boar protruding from it, and a boar's head drawn -over the metal.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It is worth remark that the crests worn later by -knights, and which we have still on our plate and -on harness, are derived from similar adornments -to helmets. Some warriors put wings of eagles on -their head-pieces, others put the paws of bears or -representations of lions. These were badges of their -prowess, or marks whereby they might be known.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Snœkoll struck the door of the farmhouse with -his spear, and roared to the owner to come forth. -At once Einar and Grettir issued from the hall, and -Einar in great trepidation asked the Bearsark what -he wanted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do I want?" shouted Snœkoll. "I want -one of two things. Either that you give me up your -beautiful daughter to be my wife, and with her -five-score bags of silver, or else that you fight me here. -If you kill me, then luck is yours. If I kill you, -then I shall carry off your daughter and all that -you possess."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Einar turned to Grettir and asked him in a -whisper what he was to do. He himself was an old -man whose fighting days were over, and he had no -chance against this savage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir answered that he had better consult his -honour and the happiness of Gyrid, and not give -way to a bully. The Bearsark sat on his horse -rolling his eyes from one to another. He had a -great iron-rimmed shield before him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he bellowed forth: "Come! I am not going -to wait here whilst you consider matters. Make -your selection of the two alternatives at once. -What is that great lout at your side whispering? -Does he want to play a little game of who is master -along with me?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"For my part," said Grettir, "the farmer and I -are about in equal predicament; he is too old to -fight, and I am unskilled in arms."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I see! I see!" roared Snœkoll. "You are both -trembling in your shoes. Wait till my fit is on -me, and then you will shake indeed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let us see how you look in your Bearsark fit," -said Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Snœkoll waxed wroth, and worked himself -up into one of the fits of madness. There can be -no doubt that in some cases this was all bluster and -sham. But in many cases these fellows really roused -themselves into perfect frenzies of madness in which -they did not know what they did.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now Snœkoll began to bellow like a bull, and to -roll his eyes, and he put the edge of the great -shield in his mouth and bit at it, and blew foam -from his lips that rolled down the face of the shield. -Grettir fixed his eyes steadily on him, and put his -hands into his pockets. Snœkoll rocked himself on -his horse, and his companions began also to bellow, -and stir themselves up into madness. Grettir, with -his eye fixed steadily on the ruffian, drew little by -little nearer to him; but as he had no weapon, and -held his hands confined, Snœkoll, if he did observe -him, disregarded him. When Grettir stood close -beside him and looked up at the red glaring eyes, -the foaming lips of Snœkoll, and heard his howls -and the crunching of his great teeth against the -strong oak and iron of the shield, he suddenly -laughed, lifted his foot, caught the bottom of the -shield a sudden kick upwards, and the shield with -the violence of the upward shock broke Snœkoll's -jaw. Instantly the Bearsark stopped his bellows, -let fall the shield, and before he could draw his -sword Grettir caught his helmet by the great boar -tusks, gave them a twist, and rolled Snœkoll down -off his horse on the ground, knelt on him, and with -the ruffian's own sword dealt him his death-blow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the others saw the fall of their chief they -ceased their antics, turned and ran away to hide in -the woods.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The bonder, Einar, thanked Grettir for his -assistance, and the lovely Gyrid gave him also her -grateful acknowledgments and a sweet smile; but -Grettir knew that a portionless unlucky man like -himself could not aspire to her hand, and feeling -that he was daily becoming more attached to her, -he deemed it right at once to leave, and he went -away to a place called Tunsberg, where lived his -half-brother, Thorstein Dromund.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, to understand the relationship of Dromund -to Grettir, you must know that his father, Asmund, -had been twice married. He had been in Norway -when a young man with a merchant ship, and he -had also gone with his wares to England and -France, and had gained great wealth; and as he -had many relations in Norway he was well received -there in winter, when he came back from his -merchant trips. On one of these occasions he had met -a damsel called Ranveig, whose father and mother -were dead. She was of good birth, and was wealthy. -Asmund asked for her hand and married her, and -settled on the lands that belonged to her in Norway. -They had a son called Thorstein, who, because he -was rather slow of speech and manner, was -nicknamed Dromund; but as we meet with other -Thorsteins in this story, to prevent confusion we will -speak of him as Dromund.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After a while Asmund's wife Ranveig died, and -then her relatives insisted on taking away all her -lands and possessions and keeping them in trust for -little Dromund. Asmund did not care to quarrel -with them, so he left Dromund with his late wife's -relatives and went home to Iceland, where, after a -few years, he married Asdis, and by her became the -father of Atli, Grettir, and Illugi, and of two -daughters, one of whom he named after his first wife.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Dromund grew up in Norway on his estates at -Tunsberg, and became a man of wealth and renown, -a quiet man, but one who held his own, and was -generally respected.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now Grettir went to him, and his half-brother -received him very affectionately, and insisted on -his remaining with him all the rest of the winter -till it was time for him to sail to Iceland.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One little incident is mentioned concerning that -time that deserves to be recorded.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir slept in the same apartment as did his -brother.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One morning Dromund awoke early, and he saw -how that Grettir's arms were out of bed, and he -wondered at their size.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Presently Grettir awoke, and then Dromund said -to him: "Grettir, I have been amused with looking -at your bare arms. What muscles you have got! -I never saw the like."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I need strong muscles to do what I have to do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"True enough, brother," said Dromund. "But I -could wish there were a little more luck as well as -muscle attached to those bones."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let me look at your arms," said Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Dromund put his arms out of bed, and -when he saw them Grettir burst out laughing, for -they were so thin and scraggy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Upon my word, brother, I never saw such a -wretched pair of tongs in my life," he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They may be a pair of tongs, old boy," answered -Dromund, "but they are tongs that shall ever be -extended to help you when in need. And," added -Dromund in a lower tone, "if it should ever befall -you that your ill-luck should overmaster you, and -you not die in your bed; then, Grettir, I promise -you, if I am alive, that I shall not let this pair of -tongs rest till, with them, I have avenged you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>No more is related of their talk together. The -spring wore on, and in summer Grettir took ship.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The brothers parted with much affection, and -they never again saw each other's face.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="of-what-befell-at-biarg"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XX.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">OF WHAT BEFELL AT BIARG.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Thorbiorn's Servant—Ali at Biarg—Seeking a -Quarrel—A Fair Answer—Atli's Dilemma—Thorbiorn's -Revenge—The Slaying of Atli—Atli's Grave</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Whilst Grettir was in Norway, that ill-luck -which pursued him did not fail to touch and -trouble his Icelandic home as well.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It will be remembered that Grettir had been -forced to fight the Slowcoach, and had killed him. -Now the cousin of this man was Thorbiorn Oxmain, -who lived in the Ramsfirth. This Thorbiorn had -got a serving-man named Ali, a somewhat lazy man, -strong, but unruly. As he did his work badly, and -was slow about it, his master rebuked him, and when -rebukes failed, he threatened him. Threats also -proved unavailing, so Thorbiorn one day took the stick -to his back, and beat him till he danced. After this -Ali would remain no longer in his service; he ran -away, crossed the ridge to the Midfiord, and came -to Biarg, where he presented himself before Atli, -who asked him what he wanted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The fellow said that he was in quest of service.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But," said Atli, "you are, I understand, one of -Thorbiorn's workmen."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was so, but I have left his service because I -was badly treated. He beat me till I was black -and blue; no one can remain with him, he is so -rough with his men, and he exacts of them too much -work. I have come here because I hear that you -treat your servants well."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Atli replied: "I have hands enough, you had -better go back to Thorbiorn, for I do not want you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I will never go back to him, that I declare," -said the churl. "If you turn me away, I have -nowhere to which I can go."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So he remained for a few nights at Biarg; and -Atli did not like to turn him out of the house. Then -one day he went to work with Atli's men, and -worked hard and well, for he was a powerful man. -So time passed. Atli did not agree to pay him any -wage, and he did not send him away. He did not -feel best pleased at having the man there, but he -was too kind-hearted to drive him away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Not only did he remain there and work well, but -he showed himself ready to turn his hand to anything, -and was the most useful man about the place.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now Thorbiorn heard that his churl was at Biarg. -The death of Slowcoach had rankled in his breast. -He had felt that it was his duty to take up the case -and demand recompense, yet he had not done so; -now he was angered that Atli had opened his doors -to his runaway servant. He had covenanted with -the man for a year, but the fellow was so disagreeable -that he would have gladly dispensed with his -service; but that Atli should have received him, -and that the man should be making himself useful -at Biarg,—that made him very angry indeed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So he mounted his horse and rode to Biarg, attended -by two men, and called out Atli to talk with him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Atli came forth and welcomed him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorbiorn said: "You are determined to -pick up fresh occasion of quarrel, and stir ill-will -between us. Why have you enticed away my -servant? You had no right to behave thus to me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Atli replied quietly: "You are mistaken. I did -not entice him away. The fellow came to me. I -did not know for certain that he was your servant, -nor did I know for how long he was engaged to you. -Show me that I have done wrong and I will make -reparation. If he is yours, reclaim him, I will not -keep him. At the same time I do not like to shut -him out of my house."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I claim the man," said Thorbiorn; "I forbid him -to do a stroke of work here. I expect him returned -to me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nay," said Atli, "take the man, you are welcome -to him; but I cannot bind him hand and foot and -convey him to your house. If you can get him to -go with you, well and good, I will not detain him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Atli had answered fairly, but this did not satisfy -Thorbiorn; he knew that he could not drag the man -back to his farm, nor could he persuade him to -follow, so he rode home in a mighty bad temper, -his heart boiling with anger against Atli. And now -he thought that he would at one and the same time -punish Atli for taking away his servant, and wipe -out the wrong of the slaying of the Slowcoach.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the evening when the men came in from work, -Atli said that Thorbiorn had been there and had -reclaimed his churl, and Atli bade the fellow depart -and go back to his master.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the man said: "That's a true proverb, He -who is most praised is found most faulty at the test. -I came to you because I heard so much good of you, -and now that I have toiled for you without wages -all the early summer, as I have worked for none -else, you want to kick me out of doors as winter -draws on. I will not go. You will have to beat -me as Thorbiorn beat me to make me leave this -house, and then, even, I am not sure but that I -shall remain in spite of being beaten."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Atli did not know exactly what to do. He did -not wish to ill-treat the fellow, and yet without -ill-treatment there was no getting rid of him. So he -let him remain on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One day a warm wet rainy mist covered the land, -the hills were enveloped in cloud; Atli sent out -some of his men to mow at a distance where there -was some grass, and others he sent out fishing. He -remained at home himself with only two or three men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That day Thorbiorn rode over the ridge that -divided the dales, with a helmet on his head, a -sword at his side, and a barbed spear in his hand. -He came to Biarg, and no one noticed his approach. -He went to the main door, and knocked at it. Then -he drew back behind the buildings, so that no one -might see him from the door. In Iceland the walls -of a house between the gables are buttressed with -turf—thick walls or buttresses that project several -feet, and are about six or nine feet thick. Such -buttresses stood one on each side of the hall door -at Biarg, and behind one of these Thorbiorn -concealed himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he had knocked at the door, a woman came -to it, unbarred and looked up and down the terrace -or platform on which the house was built, but saw -no one. Thorbiorn peeped from behind the wall of -turf and caught a glimpse of her, and then backed -again into his hiding-place. The woman then -returned into the house, and told Atli that there -was no one outside.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She had hardly spoken before Thorbiorn knocked -again. Then Atli jumped up and said: "There must -be someone there, and I will go and see myself who -it is."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he went forth and looked out of the door, -but saw no one, as Thorbiorn had again retreated -behind the bank of turf. The water was streaming -down, so Atli did not go from under cover, but laid -a hand on each of the door-posts, and looked up and -down the valley.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just as he was looking away from where Thorbiorn -was concealed, that man suddenly swung himself -round the bank of turf, and with all his might -drove the spear against Atli, using both his hands. -The spear entered him below the ribs, and ran right -through him. Atli uttered no cry, and fell forward -over the threshold. At that the women rushed -forth, and they took Atli up, but he was dead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorbiorn, who had run to his horse, which -was tied up behind the house, rode out on the -terrace, and halting before the door proclaimed that -he had done this deed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now this was a formality which, according to -Icelandic law, made his act to be not regarded as a -murder. A murder by law was the slaying of a -man by one who concealed his name.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorbiorn rode home.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The goodwife, Asdis, sent for her men, and Atli's -body was laid out, and he was buried beside his -father, old Asmund, who had died during the winter. -There was a church in those days at Biarg, but there -is none there now. When I was there I asked of the -farmer now living in Biarg where was the old -churchyard, but its site was lost; so I could not tell -where were the graves of Atli the kind-hearted, -honourable man, and the rest of the family.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Great was the lamentation through the district -at the death of one so loved and respected, and hard -things were said of Thorbiorn for what he had done.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-return-of-grettir"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXI.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE RETURN OF GRETTIR.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">An Old Charge—Trial in Absence—Three Messengers -of Ill—Grettir and his Mother—Grettir goes to -Revenge Atli</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>That same summer news reached Iceland of the -burning of the hostel by Grettir. When Thorir -of Garth heard of the death of his sons he was -furious. He rode to the great annual assize at -Thingvalla, with a large retinue, and charged Grettir -with having killed his boys maliciously; and he -demanded that for this offence Grettir should be -outlawed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Skapti the judge said: "If things are as -reported, then surely Grettir has committed an evil -deed; but we have only heard one side of the story, -and we only know of what has happened at third -hand, by report; there are two ways of telling every -story. Let us wait till Grettir returns to Iceland. -There will be time enough for this action to be -taken. I will not give my word that Grettir is guilty -till we have heard what he has to say for himself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Thorir was such a powerful chieftain that he -overbore all resistance. It was said that he could -not lawfully take action against a man in his -absence; but this was overridden by Thorir, who by -packing the court was able to carry out what he -wanted. Moreover, owing to the death of Atli there -was no one to oppose him vigorously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He pushed on matters so hard that nought could -avail to acquit Grettir, and he was proclaimed an -outlaw throughout the whole of Iceland, and Thorir -also put a price on his head of many ounces of silver, -which he said he would pay to that man who would -kill him in Norway or Iceland, or wherever he might -find him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Towards the close of the summer Grettir arrived -in a vessel off the mouth of the White-river, an exile -from Norway.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a still summer night when the ship -dropped anchor. A boat came from the shore, and -was rowed to the ship. Grettir stood watching it -from the bows, leaning on his sword. As it touched -the side of the ship, he called, "What news do you -bring?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Are you Grettir, Asmund's son?" asked a man -rising in the boat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am," replied Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then we bear you ill news: your father is dead."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Another man stood up in the boat, and said: -"Grettir, he was an old man, and you can hardly -have expected to hear that he was still alive. But -what I have to say concerns you as closely, and is -unexpected. Your brother Atli has been slain by -Thorbiorn Oxmain."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then a third man rose and said: "But these tidings -concern others first and you secondly. What I -have to say concerns you mainly. You have been -made an outlaw throughout the length and breadth -of the land, and a price is set on your head."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It is said that Grettir did not change colour, nor -did a muscle in his whole body quiver; but he lifted -up his voice and sang this strain—</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"All at once are showered</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Round me, the Rhymer,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Tidings sad—my exile,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Father's loss and brother's,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Branching boughs of battle!</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Many a blue-blade-breaker</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Shall suffer for my sorrow."</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The branching bough of battle is a periphrasis for -a man, so also is a blue-blade-breaker; and it is the -use of such periphrases that constituted poetry to -Icelandic ideas. One night Grettir swam ashore. -He thought that his enemies would be awaiting him, -and should he venture to land in a boat would fall -on him in overwhelming numbers; so he took to -the water and swam to a point at some distance. -Then he took a horse that he found in a farm near -where he came ashore, and he rode across country to -the Middle-firth, and reached home in two days. He -reached Biarg during the night when all were asleep; -so instead of disturbing the household, he opened a -private door, stepped into the hall, stole up to his -mother's bed, and threw his arms round her neck.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She started up, and asked who was there. When -he told her, she clasped him to her heart, and laid -her head, sobbing, on his breast, saying. "Oh, my -son! I am bereaved of my children! Atli, my -eldest, has been foully murdered, and you are -outlawed; only Illugi remains."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir remained at home a few days in close -concealment. Even the men of the farm were not -suffered to know that he was there. He heard the -story of how Thorbiorn Oxmain had basely and in -cowardly manner slain his brother, when Atli was -unarmed; and Grettir considered that it was his duty -to avenge his death.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-slaying-of-oxmain"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE SLAYING OF OXMAIN.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">By the Boiling Spring—Grettir -knocks the Nail from his Spear—Oxmain places his -Son in Ambush—The Fight with Oxmain—Grettir's -Spear-head—The Law concerning Manslaying—A -Rising Black Cloud</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>One fine day, soon after his return, Grettir -mounted a horse, and without an attendant -rode over the hill to the Ramsfirth, and came down -to Thorod's-stead. This is still a good farm, the -best on the fiord, and it is by far the best built pile -of buildings thereabouts. It faces the south and is -banked up with turf to the north, to shelter it -against the cold and furious gales from the Polar -Sea. The soil is comparatively rich there, and there -are tracts of good grass land on the slope of the -hill by the side of the inlet of sea. The farm -buildings consists at present of a set of wooden -gable ends painted red, and the roofs are all of turf, -where the buttercups grow and shine luxuriantly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir rode up to the farmhouse, about noon, and -knocked at the door. Some women came out and -welcomed him; they did not know who he was, -or they would have been more sparing in their -welcome. He asked after Thorbiorn, and was told -that he was gone to the meadow, a little way further -down the firth, where he had gone to bind hay, and -that he had taken with him his son, called Arnor, -who was a boy of sixteen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Grettir heard this, he said farewell to the -women, and turned his horse's head to ride down -the fiord towards a boiling spring that bubbles up -out of the rock, throwing up a cloud of steam, and -running in a scalding rill into the sea. Now the -rock is perhaps warm there, or the warm water helps -vegetation; certain it is that thereabouts the grass -grows thickly, and there it was that Thorbiorn was -making his bundles of hay. As Grettir rode along -near the water, below the field, Thorbiorn saw him. -He had just made up one bundle of hay, and he was -engaged on another. He had set his shield and -sword against the load, and his lad Arnor had a -hand-axe beside him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorbiorn looked hard at Grettir as he came along, -and he said to the boy: "There is a fellow riding this -way. I wonder who he is, and whether he wants us. -Leave tying up the hay, and let us find out what his -errand is."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir leaped off his horse; he had a helmet -on his head, and was girt with the short sword, and -he bore a great spear in his hand that had a long -sharp blade but no barbs. The socket was inlaid -with silver, and a nail went through the socket -fastening it on to the staff of the spear. He sat -down on a stone, and knocked the nail out. His -reason was that he intended to throw the spear at -Thorbiorn, and if he missed him, he thought the -spear-head and the haft would come apart, and would -be of no use to Thorbiorn to fling back at him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Oxmain said to his son: "I verily believe that is -Grettir, Asmund's son, he is so big; I know no one -else so big. He has got occasion enough against us, -and if he is come here it is not with peaceable -intentions. Now we must manage cunningly. I -do not know that he has seen you; so you hide -behind the bundle of hay, and lie hid till you see -him engaged with me. Then you steal up noiselessly -behind with your axe, and strike him one blow with -all your might between the shoulder-blades. When -I see you coming up, I will fight the more furiously -so as to draw off his attention, that he may not be -able to look round. Have no fear, he cannot hurt -you, as his back will be turned to you. Get close -enough to make sure, and you will kill him with one -blow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now Grettir came uphill into the field, and when -he came within a spear-throw of them, he cast his -spear at Thorbiorn; but the head was looser on the -shaft than he had expected it would be, and it -became detached in its flight, and fell off and -dropped into a marshy place and sank, and the shaft -flew on but a little way and then fell harmlessly to -the ground.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorbiorn took his shield, put it before him, -drew his sword and ran against Grettir and engaged -him. Grettir had, as already said, the short sword -that he had taken out of the barrow, and with that -he warded off the blows of Thorbiorn and smote at -him. Oxmain was a very strong man, and his -shield was covered with well-tanned hide stretched -over oak, and the blade of Grettir fell on it, hacked -into it, and sometimes caught so that he could not at -once withdraw it. Thorbiorn now began to deal more -furious blows. Now just as Grettir was wrenching his -sword away from the shield, into which it had bitten -deep, he saw someone close behind him with an axe -raised. Instantly he tore out his sword and smote -back over his head to protect his back from his -assailant behind, and the blow came on Arnor just -as he was on the point of driving his axe in between -the shoulders of Grettir, so that he staggered back, -mortally wounded. Thorbiorn, whose eye was on -his son, retreated a step, lost his presence of mind for -a moment, and thereupon down came Grettir's sword -on his shield and split it in half. Grettir pursued -his advantage, pressed on him, and struck him down -at his feet, dead at a blow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he went in search of his silver-inlaid -spear-head, but could not find it. So he mounted his -horse again, rode on to the nearest farmhouse, and -there told what he had done. Many, many years -after, about 1250, the spear-head was found in the -marsh. When I was in Iceland I also obtained a -very similar spear-head, only not silver-inlaid, that -was found in the volcanic sand; it had probably been -lost in a very similar manner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It seems to us in these civilized times very horrible -this continual slaying that took place in Iceland; -but we must remember that, as already said, there -were in those days not a single policeman, soldier, -or officer of justice in the island. When a trial took -place, the prosecutor was the person aggrieved, or -the nearest akin. The court pronounced sentence, -and then the prosecutor was required to carry out -what the law had ordered. He was to be constable -and executioner. Now the law, or custom which -was the same as law, for there was no written code, -was that when one man had been killed, the next of -kin was bound to prosecute the slayer and obtain -from him money compensation, or outlawry, or else -he might kill the slayer himself, or one of his kin. -This latter provision seems to us outrageous, that -because A kills B, therefore that C, who is B's -brother, may kill D, who is brother to A. But so the -law or custom stood and was recognized as binding, -and not to carry out the law or custom was regarded -as dishonourable. It must be remembered that -Iceland was colonized about A.D. 900, and that Grettir -was born only about 97 years after, and that -Christianity was adopted in 1000; that is to say, it -was sanctioned by law, but no one was forced to -become a Christian unless he liked. Also, that there -was no government in the island, no central authority, -and that the colonists lived much as do the first -settlers now in a new colony which is not under the -crown, or like the diggers at the gold mines.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Grettir had slain Thorbiorn Oxmain, he went -home to Biarg and told his mother, who said it was -well that Atli's blood was wiped out by the death of -the man who had so basely and in such cowardly -fashion slain him; but she said she foresaw more -trouble coming like a rising black cloud, and that -this would make it more difficult for Grettir to get -relief from his outlawry.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="at-learwood"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXIII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">AT LEARWOOD.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">At Hvamsfiord—Iceland Scenery—An Iceland -Paradise—One Lucky Chance—Kuggson's Story—Onund's -Voyage—In Search of Uninhabited Land—The -Landing—Eric's Gift—A Cold Back!—Better than -Nothing—An Oversight—Death of Onund—Planning -a Murder—Killing the Curd Bottle—The Churl's -Axe—The Red Stream—Hard Times—The "Wooden-tub"—The -Stranded Whale—The Fight over the Whale—Retreat -of the Coldbackers—Before the Assize—The Judgment—An -Evil Act—Ill-luck follows Ill</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>After the slaying of Thorbiorn Oxmain, Grettir -would not remain at home, lest trouble should -come on his mother; so he rode across the Neck first -of all to his brother-in-law, at Melar, at the head of -the Ramsfirth, to ask his advice. His brother-in-law -there was called Gamli; he was not very rich or -powerful, and he represented to Grettir that it would -never do for him to remain in such near proximity -to Thorod's-stead, in the same valley, at the head of -the same firth. This Grettir acknowledged, so he -stayed there but a few days, and then rode over the -high table-land to the Lax, or Salmon-dale, where -was the watershed, and the river of the salmon -ran west into Hvamsfiord. One of the most interesting -and best written of the Icelandic sagas relates -to the history of this valley. The Hvamsfiord is by -nature wonderfully protected against western storms, -for the entrance is almost blocked to the west by a -countless multitude of islands, of which only one is -moderately large, and to the north-west is not only -a grassy promontory, but also a natural breakwater -of three long narrow islands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Outside the cluster of islands are eddies and -whirlpools, and the passage between them is not -always safe; but when a vessel has passed through -between the islets it enters as into a wide beautiful -inland lake, the shape of which is that of a boot, -with the sole to the east and the toe turned up -north. Moreover, along the north side of this -sheltered firth are high and steep hills that -screen from the water all gales sweeping from the -Pole; and in the glens and under the crags of these -hills exposed to the south are beautiful woods of -birch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Formerly in Iceland the woods were much more -extensive than they are now; for the old settlers -found in them plenty of fuel, and the birch-trees -grew to a fair size. Now, alas, with fatal want of -consideration, the trees have been so cut down that -the woods are rare and the trees are small. There -is hardly a birch-tree whose top one cannot touch -when riding through a wood on a little pony no -bigger than a Shetlander.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Exactly at the toe of the boot is a rich grassy -basin, where two streams flow into the fiord, and -here is a beautiful view from the water. One sees -in front the green basin, and above it rise the -mountains to Skeggoxl, a cone covered with eternal snows -and with glaciers streaming down its flanks. Here, in -a sweet sheltered nook, basking in the sun, in spring -with the river-side and the marshes blazing with -immense marigolds, and with the short grass slopes -speckled with blue tiny gentianella, is the farm, and -near it the wooden church of Hvam. In another -part of the basin is a settlement called Asgard, the -"Home of the gods;" for those who settled there first -thought the spot so delightful, so warm, that they -named it after the sunny land of fable, where it -was said that their ancestors, the hero-gods of the -northern race, had lived in the east before ever they -crossed Russia and settled in Norway. Asgard to -their minds was Paradise.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Paradise in Iceland is not a paradise elsewhere; -nevertheless, to one who has travelled over barren -hills and between glaciers, this warm nook with its -green grass and woods of glistening birch was a place -of inexpressible charm. Now, just to the east, where -would come the ball of the toe, looking across the -end of this still blue lake-like fiord, up the valleys -to the snows of Skeggoxl, is the farm of Learwood, -in a grassy flat by the water, backed by birchwood -and hills, and screened from the east as well as from -the north winds. Here lived Thorstein Kuggson. -Kuggson's mother was the daughter of Asgeir, the -father of Audun of Willowdale, with whom Grettir -had a tussle on the ice, and whom he afterwards -upset with his foot when he was carrying curds. -Kuggson through his father was related to the -influential and wealthy family in the Laxdale, whose -history is well known through the noble saga that -relates the story of that valley.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir spent the autumn with his relative -Kuggson. Now, whilst he was there he fell to talking -one day with Kuggson about his trial of strength -with Audun, and Grettir said how glad he was that -nothing had come of it. It was said that he was -a man of ill-luck; yet luck had befriended him on -that occasion in sending Bard to interrupt the -struggle before both lost their tempers and the -quarrel became serious.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then said Kuggson: "You remind me of the story -of Bottle-back, which, of course, you know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is many years since I have heard the tale," -answered Grettir; "for, indeed, I can be little at -home now, and am out of the way of hearing stories -of one's forefathers. Tell me the tale."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Kuggson told Grettir</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold">The Story of Bottle-Back</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"You know very surely, Grettir, that your -great-grandfather was Onund Treefoot. He was so called -because in the great battle of Haf's fiord, fought -against King Harald, he had one of his legs cut off -below the knee. You have been told how that -Onund had first to wife Asa, and that he settled at -Cold-back; and he had by his first wife two sons, -Thorgeir and Ufeig, who was also called Grettir, -and it is after him that you are named. Onund's -second wife was the mother of Thorgrim Grizzlepate, -your grandfather.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The story I am going to tell you relates to -Thorgeir, the eldest son of Onund, and how he got the -name of Bottle-back. You might think he acquired -the designation from a rounded back. It was not -so, he had a back as straight as yours.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But to understand the story of how he got the -name, I must go back to the time when Onund, -your great-grandfather, came to Iceland. That was -in the year of Christ 900; he was unable to remain -any longer in Norway, because the king, Harald, was -in such enmity with him. So he resolved that he -would come to Iceland and seek there a new home. -Now this was somewhat late, for the colonization -of this island had begun some five or six and twenty -years before, and there had come out great numbers -of Norwegian chiefs, who fled from the rapacity and -the vengeance of King Harald Fairhair, who -outlawed every man who took up arms against him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But the story shall be told not in Kuggson's -words, but in mine.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Onund sailed to Iceland from Norway in the -summer of A.D. 900, and he had a hard voyage and -baffling winds from the south that drove him far -away to the north into the Polar Sea, till he came -near the pack-ice; and then there came a change, and -he made south, and after much beating about, for -he had lost his reckoning, he made land, and found -that he had come upon the north coast of Iceland, -and those who knew the looks of the land said he -was off the Strand Bay. To the west rose the rocks -and glaciers of the Drang Jokull, and to the east -the long promontory that separated the Hunafloi -from Skagafiord.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Presently a ten-oared boat put off from shore, -rowed by six men, and approached Onund's vessel, -and the men in the boat hailed the vessel and asked -whose it was. Onund gave his name and inquired -to whom the men belonged. They said they were -servant men belonging to a farm at Drangar, just -under the mighty field of glacier of Drang Jokull. -Onund asked if all the land was taken up by settlers, -and the men answered that along the north coast all -such land as was worth anything was taken already, -and that most was also settled to the south.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Onund consulted with his shipmates what -was to be done, whether coast along the north -protuberance of Iceland in search of uninhabited land, -or go into the great bay and see whether any chance -opened for them there. They had arrived so late -in Iceland after the main rush of settlers that they -could not expect to get any really favourable quarters. -The men advised against exploring the north, -exposed to the cold gales from the Polar Sea, where -the fiords would be blocked with ice half the year; -and thought there would be no harm trying what -they could find further south.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So Onund turned his vessel in towards the head -of the splendid bay Hunafloi; but seeing a creek that -seemed fairly sheltered, having on the north some -quaint spikes of rock, and a great mountain to the -south like a horn, and finding that this fiord gave -a turn northwards under the shelter of the mountains, -the men with Onund's consent ran in there, -and having anchored the vessel, entered a boat and -rowed ashore. On reaching the strand they were -met by men who asked them who they were and -what they did there. Onund said he had come -with peaceable intentions, and then he was told that -all that fiord was occupied, and that the owner of -the land was Eric Trap, a wealthy man. Eric came -to the beach and hospitably invited Onund and his -ship's crew to his house. There Onund told him his -difficulty. He had come to Iceland too late, and -he feared that he would be able nowhere to find -unclaimed lands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Eric considered a while, and then said there was -more land that he had claimed than he could well -keep in hand, and that he would be pleased to -accommodate a man of such noble family and character -as was Onund. Onund pressed him to receive -payment for the land, but this Eric generously refused. -When he had come there, said Eric, the country had -been unpeopled, and he had just claimed what he -liked, and had claimed more than he wanted. Now -he desired to have neighbours, and if Onund would -be friendly none would be better pleased than -himself to have him near.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This gratifying offer satisfied Onund, but, as the -saying is, 'Don't look a gift-horse in the mouth,' he -did not at once close with the offer, but asked to be -allowed to see the land Eric was so ready to part -with.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Accordingly he rode with Eric along the coast, -passed the headland where was the horn-shaped -mountain, and came upon a fiord where some boiling -springs poured up in the sea out of its depths; the -mountains on the north came down so abruptly to -the water's edge that the only habitable ground lay -at the head of the firth and on the south side, having -a northern aspect. Moreover there was a lofty range -to the south, so that in winter the sun would never -light up this firth. Onund did not much like it, he -thought that Eric had offered him the place because -he did not care for it himself; so he went across the -mountain range and down into the little bay south -of it. As they rode it was over snow, a long -descent of wintry mountain, till they reached a valley -in which was a hot spring, a little lake, and some -grass. The situation was somewhat more inviting -than that Onund had already seen, but it was not -very attractive, and looking back on the long dreary -slope of snow he said, "A cold back! a cold back! -I would like to have had one warmer." "That is not -easily acquired," answered Eric. "Further south there -is no fiord for many miles till you come to one -occupied by a man called Biarni. That I can tell -you is a fertile settlement, there are woods and -pastures, and hot springs and good anchorage; but -that is not my land to give you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Onund sang a stave:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"All across life's strands do run,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>I who many war-wagers won,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Meadows green and pastures fair</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Once were mine, and woods to spare.</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Left behind, I rid the steed</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>That o'er wave, with wind doth speed.[#]</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Cold—cold, icy back behind,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>This is what alone I find,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Hard the lot that fate doth yield</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>To the bearer of the shield."</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">[#] </span><em class="italics small">i.e.</em><span class="small"> a ship.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Eric answered, "Many men have lost everything -in Norway, and have got nothing in exchange. -Cold may be the back against which to lean; but -better cold back than none at all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This was true. Onund had not received Eric's -offer graciously; but he now accepted it, and he -called the second bay he saw—that into which he -had descended over snow—Coldback, and that -remains the name to this day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Eric behaved very nobly; he gave up to Onund -the whole tract of land from the Horn-headland to -the limit where Biarni's land began. He received -the whole of Reykjafiord, Fishless Creek, and -Coldback Bay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Onund built himself a house at Coldback; -and there was no difficulty about wood, for the -Gulfstream flowed up past the great north-west -promontory of Iceland, curled round into Hunafloi, and -deposited a quantity of American timber as drift -all along that coast. Indeed, the drift was so -abundant that neither Eric nor Onund made any -agreement about it. Now, as it happened in the sequel, -this was an oversight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Onund prospered at Coldback, and even set up -for himself a second farm at the head of the firth to -the north, called Reykja-firth, from the boiling -springs that puffed and bubbled up in the sea -at the entrance; and a hot spring is in -Icelandic—Reykr.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, a few years after Onund had settled in -Iceland, his good wife Asa died. He had by her -two sons—the elder was called Thorgeir, and the -younger Ufeig Grettir. After a while Onund went -courting a woman called Thordis, in Middle-firth, -and he married her, and by her had a son called -Thorgrim; he grew to be a big man, very strong, -wise, and a capital man at husbandry. When he -was twenty-five years old his hair grew gray, and -so he went by the name of Thorgrim Grizzle-pate, -and he was the grandfather of Grettir. After the -death of Onund, his widow married, as already -said, Audun of Willowdale, and their son was -Asgeir, the father of Grettir's cousin Audun, with -whom he had that affray on the ice, and then with -the bottle of curds.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Onund was a very old man, then he died -in his bed, and he was buried under a great mound, -which you may see at Coldback if you go there. It -is called Old Treefoot's cairn. When he was dead, -then Thorgrim Grizzlepate and his half-brothers, -Thorgeir and Ufeig Grettir, lived together on the -best of terms at Coldback, and managed the property -between them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In time Eric Trap of Arness died also, and left -his lands to his son Flossi. He had remained in -friendship with Onund all his life; but Flossi, his -son, was a grasping man, and he was often heard to -grumble about the Coldback family, and say that -they were squatters on his father's land, and had no -title to show for the land they held. Thorgrim -Grizzlepate and his half-brothers did not wish to -quarrel with Flossi, so they kept out of his company; -and when there were sports of hurling, and wrestling, -and horse-fighting, strayed away, so as not to be -involved in a quarrel with him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, Thorgeir was the eldest of the three -brothers at Coldback, and he was mightily fond of -fishing. This was known to Flossi, and he made a -plot for slaying him; for he was envious of the -brothers, and wanted to get back all their lands into -his own possession. He had got a house-churl -called Finn, and he and Finn had some talk together. -The end of this talk was that Finn started secretly -for Coldback armed with a hatchet, and he hid -himself in the boat-house at Coldback.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Early in the morning Thorgeir got ready to -go out fishing, for the weather was good, the sea -calm and was alive with fish. His nets were in the -boat, and before sunrise he left his bed and dressed, -and went to the boat-house to start on his excursion. -He had not the smallest suspicion of mischief, and -as he was like to be on the water for a long time, he -flung a great leather bottle of curds over his back. -As already said, these leather bottles were no other -than the hides of goats or sheep, sewn up and -converted into receptacles for liquid.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So Thorgeir went to the boat-house with the -bottle of curd over his back, opened the door, and -went in. He did not look round, he had no suspicion -of evil, and he did not see Finn lurking in the -dark corner. It was, moreover, very dark in the -boat-house. Thorgeir stooped to get hold of the -boat and thrust her out, when all at once out from -the dark corner leaped the churl, and brought the -axe down on Thorgeir's back. The blow made the -bottle squeak, and all the curds gushed out. That -was enough for Finn. He made sure he had killed -Thorgeir, so he ran away as fast as he could back to -Arness, burst into the house, and shouted to his -master "I have killed him! I have killed him! And -he squeaked! he squeaked!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let me look at the axe," said Flossi. Then, when -he had the axe in his hand he turned it about and -laughed, and said, "Verily, I did not think that -Thorgeir had milk in his veins instead of blood. -That accounts for it, that you have been able to -slay him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This affair was a subject of much comment, and -much laughter did it provoke. Thorgeir had not -received the smallest wound, only his bottle was split, -and ever after he went by the name of Bottle-back.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But a song was made about this event which was -never forgotten. It runs thus:—</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>"Of the days of old</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Great tales are told</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>How heroes went forth to fight,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>Their shields, for show</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Were whitened as snow,</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>And their weapons were burnished bright</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>The battle began,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>In the weapon-clang,</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>The red blood flowed apace</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>In rivers shed</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>It dyed red</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>The shields o'er all their face.</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>But nowaday</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>We tune our lay</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>To tell a different story.</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>The churls who fight</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Bring axes white,</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>With curds and whey made gory."</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>When Kuggson ceased, Grettir laughed heartily. -"Ah!" said he, "that cannot be said now, for indeed -there flows much blood."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You speak the truth," answered Kuggson; "and -I wish that this red stream flowed less abundantly."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That may be," said Grettir; "but I would fain -hear the rest of the story. I have not heard it told -me for a long time; and, indeed, to speak the truth, -much of it I have clean forgotten, though I did hear -it when I was a boy at home."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you will hear what follows, it must be as a -new story," said Kuggson. Again I will tell it in -my own words.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold">The Story of the Stranded Whale</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Hard times came to Iceland, such as had not been -known since it was settled, for the timber that had -been thrown up by the sea came to an end, or very -nearly so. There had been great accumulations, -and these were exhausted, and for some reason or -other that cannot now be explained the Gulf-stream -ceased to carry on its current the amount of timber -it had formerly, the wreckage of the forests on the -Mississippi, swept down into the great Mexican -Gulf, and thence washed out over the vast Atlantic, -borne on the warm stream to the north, to give fuel -to those lands which were by nature unprovided -with trees. At this time the axe was laid against -the largest and finest birch that grew in the forests -in Iceland. But none of that timber was big and -good enough for building purposes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This deficiency in drift-wood continued for many -seasons, and if men required building timber they -were constrained to send to Norway for it. Now, -it happened that about this time a great merchant -vessel was wrecked in the fiord in the lap of which -was Arness, where lived Flossi, and he took four or -five of the chapmen to his house, and lodged them -there well and hospitably, and the other wrecked -men were quartered in other farmhouses near. All -winter the men were engaged in building a new ship -out of the wreck and what other timber they could -get; but they were not skilful over their work, and -they built a badly-proportioned vessel, over small at -the stem and stern and over big amidships; and -this vessel was much laughed at, and men called it -the Wooden-tub, and that bay where Flossi lived -was ever after called Wooden-tub Bay, because this -broad-beamed, comical vessel was built there.[#]</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>[#] It is still so called, Trèkyllis-víc.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, it fell out that at the spring equinox there -was a great storm from the north, and it lasted a -week. The waves came in huge rollers against the -cliffs, and spouted like geysers into the air, and all -the air was in a haze with spray, and was full of the -noise of the sea. Those who lived on the coast were -not sorry for the storm, because they hoped it would -blow in drift-wood and other spoils of the deep upon -the shores; and sure enough, when it abated, a man -who lived out on Reykja-ness came and told Flossi -that there was a great whale washed ashore there. -Then Flossi sent word to all the farms round to the -north. But hard-by where the whale had come -ashore lived a farmer named Einar, who was a -tenant under the brothers at Coldback, so he took a -boat and rowed off to Coldback, and told them about -the monster that was stranded.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Thorgrim and his brothers Thorgeir and -Ufeig heard this, they got ready at once, and were -twelve in a ten-oared boat, with axes and knives for -cutting up the whale. Another boat put off from -another of their farms, with six men in it, and others -were sure to come as soon as they could get ready.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the meantime, Flossi and all his company, -his kindred, servants, and tenants, had hurried to -the spot, and were already engaged in cutting up -the whale, when round the ness came the boat of -the brothers. Now, the shore where the whale was -cast up belonged to the brothers, and they called out -to Flossi to assert their right to whatever was found -on the strand. Flossi answered that if they had -any right to the drift they must show their claim. -They had, he said, been allowed by his father to -squat on his land, but his father had never given over -to them all his rights, certainly not the lordship -over the strand, and claim to flotsam and jetsam. -Whilst the dispute continued, up came other boats -of the Coldback party, and then a long boat, that -contained a fellow called Swan, who lived in -Biornfiord, to the south of Coldback, a very warm friend -of the brothers, and a plucky, resolute man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorgrim was hesitating what to do, when Swan -told him it would be mean to allow himself to be -robbed. Moreover, this assault on his rights, if not -resisted would establish a precedent, and Flossi -would claim everything found on their strand, even -at their very doors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So a fight began. The Coldback men came -ashore, and Thorgeir Bottle-back mounted the carcase -of the whale, to drive off the servants of Flossi. -Among these was Finn; he was near the head of -the whale, and stood in a foothold he had cut for -himself. Then Thorgeir Bottle-back said, "Ah! I -owe you a stroke of the axe, which has not been -repaid as yet," and he smote at him, and felled him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Flossi egged on his men, and a desperate fight -ensued; some fought on the body of the whale, some -about it. There were hardly any present who had -other weapons save choppers and axes, and they -hewed at each other with these. But some had no -other weapons than the ribs of the whale, and it is -even said that some of the churls flourished great -strips of blubber, with which they banged each other -about, nearly smothering each other in oil, but not -doing much harm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The battle was going ill with Flossi, when there -arrived a contingent of men from Drangar, with -many boats, and gave help to Flossi, and then those -of Coldback were borne back overpowered; but they -did not retreat till they had loaded their boats. -Swan shouted to the Coldbackers to get on board as -quickly as they could, for he saw more men coming -against them from the north. Flossi received a wound, -but Ufeig, one of the three brothers, was dealt his -death-wound before he could get into the boat, and -he fell on the strand. Thorgeir Bottle-back at once -leaped out of the vessel, ran to his brother, heaved -him up in his arms and plunged back through the -surf with him, and lifted him into the boat, where -he died. It is told that in this battle one man was -beaten to death by the rib of a whale, and that was -one of the chapmen of the wrecked vessel.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After this, the matter was brought before the -assize, for the question of the right to the shore had -to be decided one way or the other. And it was -decided in this manner: Flossi was condemned -to outlawry for his high-handed proceeding, and -because of the death of Ufeig Grettir; but the -question of the rights was thus settled by the judge, -Thorkel Moon. He said, "I cannot see that the -claim made by the Coldback men is established, for -no money passed between Onund and Eric. I know -this about the land that was possessed by my -grandfather Ingolf, and which is now my own. He -received it from Steinver the Old; but then he gave -her a mottled cloak, and that was a pledge of sale; -and this has never been contested. In the matter -of the lands inhabited by the Coldback men, as far -as I can learn, not even a straw was given in -exchange. However, it is proved that they have held -the land, and have taken the drift for a long time; -and that the original owner, Eric, did not dispute their -doing so. I therefore decide that a compromise shall -hold good. The Coldback brothers must surrender -all the Reykja-firth, and content themselves with the -land south of that. And I also decide that they shall -exercise full and undisputed rights to the land, to -all that grows on it, to the sea and what it throws -up, along that bit of strand that remains to them."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Now when Kuggson had finished this story, then -Grettir said, "You have not told how my grandfather -and great-uncle parted."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No," said Kuggson. "There is not much to tell -about that. The two brothers agreed to separate, -as your grandfather wanted to marry in the Middlefirth. -Bottle-back remained at Coldback."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now that you have spoken so much about Coldback," -said Grettir, "I will tell you something, -though it is to my discredit."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Say on," answered Kuggson. "Men are generally -more ready to boast than to discredit themselves."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"When I was a little boy," said Grettir, "my -father suffered from a cold back and great pains in -it, in winter, and he only got ease when it was -rubbed with a hot flannel. I was a bad, idle boy, -and I was set in winter to rub his cold back. This -I resented. I thought it was a work fit only for -servants, and one day when my father had made me -rub his old back till I was tired, then he said to me, -'You are growing slack; rub harder, that I may feel -your hand.' 'Do you so want to feel my hand, -father,' I said. Then I saw a wool-comb hard by -that the women had used for carding wool, and I -caught it and rubbed down my father's back with -that—so that he shrieked with pain, and I made the -blood flow. It was a wicked act. I think of it now -the old man is dead, and I am sorry."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," said Kuggson, "it was an evil act. Men -say that you are an unlucky man. Now, I do not -wonder at your ill-luck, for none ever raised his -hand against his father but there followed him ill -in consequence of so doing all his days."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-foster-brothers"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXIV.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE FOSTER-BROTHERS.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Grettir's Promise—The Yule Ox—Holding the Boat—A -Hard Pull—Grettir and the Ox—Thorgeir's Hatred—The -Concealed Axe—Evil Sport—An Iceland Moor</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Now, the kinsmen of Oxmain heard where Grettir -was, so they resolved to form a party, and fall -upon him at Learwood. But Grettir's brother-in-law -was aware of this and forewarned Grettir, so he -went away to the north, and he followed Gilsfiord -till he reached Reyk-knolls, where was a pleasant -farm near the sea, where also were a great number -of ever-boiling springs, that poured and squirted and -fizzed out of mounds of red-clay. Here lived a man -called Thorgils Arison, and he asked this man if he -would give him shelter through the winter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Arison said that he would. "But," said he, "there -is only plain fare in my house."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am not choice as to my food, so long as I have -a roof over my head," answered Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is one matter further," said Arison. -"Somehow or other I get men come to me and offer -to become my guests who cannot settle elsewhere, -and I get a rough lot at times. That comes of -being too good-hearted to bid them pack. Even now -I have two such good-for-naughts guesting with me, -two foster-brothers, Thorgeir and Thormod; rough, -unkempt men, of bad tempers both, and I wot not -how you will agree together. You may come and -put your head within my doors if you will, but on -one condition, that there be no fighting and -knocking about of my other guests."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir answered that he would not be the first -to raise strife, and that if the foster-brothers -provoked him beyond endurance he would go elsewhere, -and not give his host annoyance by a brawl in his -house.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With this promise Arison was content.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorgils Arison was a firm man, and he told the -foster-brothers that he would have no disturbance -whilst they were with him, and they also promised -to be orderly. Thorgeir did not like Grettir. He -scowled at him and contradicted him, but did not -pursue his rudeness beyond bounds; and when -Grettir was ruffled, a word from the master of the -house served to appease the rising blood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So the early winter wore away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, the good man, Thorgils Arison, owned a -cluster of islands in the firth that are called Olaf's -Isles; they lie a good sea-mile and a half beyond the -ness. On them grass grows, and there the bonder -kept his cattle to fatten in autumn. Now, there was -an ox on one of these isles that Arison said he must -have home before the snows and storms of winter -came on, as he intended to kill the beast for the -feastings of Yule. So the foster-brothers and -Grettir volunteered to go out to the island, and fetch -the ox home.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They went down to the sea and got out a ten-oared -boat, and there were but these three to man -it. The weather was cold, and the wind was -shifting from the north and not settled. They rowed -hard, and reached the island; but the sea was -running and foaming over the shore, and they saw it -would be no easy matter to get the ox on board -with such a surf. So the brothers told Grettir he -must hold the boat, whilst they got the ox in. He -agreed, and went into the water, and stood -amidships on the side out to sea, and thrust the boat -towards the shore, whilst the brothers laboured to -get the ox in. Thorgeir took up the ox by the hind -legs, and Thormod by the fore legs, as the beast -refused to be driven on board, and so they carried the -animal into the boat; but Grettir, who held the -craft, had the sea up to his shoulder-blades, and he -held her perfectly fast.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the ox was hove in, Grettir let go and -got into the boat. Thormod took oar in the bows, -Thorgeir amidships, and Grettir aft, and so they -made out into the open bay. As they came out from -the lee of the island the squall caught them, the -waves leaped and foamed, and Thorgeir shouted -"Now then, stern! Have you gone to sleep? Why -are you lagging?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir answered, "The stern will not lag when -the rowing afore is good."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thereupon Thorgeir fell to rowing so furiously that -both the tholes were broken. So he called to Grettir, -"Row on steadily whilst I mend the thole-pins."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir rowed so mightily, whilst Thorgeir -was engaged mending the pins, that he wore through -the oars, and when Thorgeir was ready they snapped -like matches.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Better row with less haste and more caution," -growled Thormod.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir stooped and picked out of the bottom -of the boat two unshapen oar-beams that lay there; -but as they were too big to go between the -thole-pins, he bored large holes in the gunwales, and -thrust the oars through, and rowed thus so mightily -that every rib and plank of the boat creaked, -and the foster-brothers were in fear lest with his -rowing he would tear the craft to pieces. However, -they reached the shore in safety.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir asked whether the brothers would -rather haul up the boat, or go home with the ox. -They preferred to haul the boat ashore, and found -that it was hung with icicles, for the water had frozen -on the sides; but Grettir led home the ox, which -was very fat, and very unwilling to be dragged -along, so that Grettir became impatient.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the foster-brothers had finished bailing out -the boat, and had put her under cover, they went up -to the house, and on reaching it Thorgeir inquired -after Grettir, but Arisen the bonder said he had not -seen him or the ox. Then he sent out men in quest -of him, for he supposed something must have befallen -him; and when they came to where the land dipped -towards the sea they saw a strange object indeed -coming towards them, and did not know at first -whether what they saw was a human being or a troll.[#] On -approaching nearer they saw that this strange -object was Grettir, who was carrying the ox on his -back, and striding up the hill with the beast, which had -the head hanging over his shoulder, the tongue out, -and was lowing plaintively. The sight was infinitely -comical, and the men who saw it burst out laughing, -and this made Grettir also laugh, so that he dropped the ox.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">[#] A troll is a mountain demon or giant.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Now, it must be known that this story is not -manifestly absurd, for the Icelandic cattle are very -small, like Brittany cows, and bear the same relation -to a good English ox that a pony does to a horse. -Nevertheless the feat was only such as a strong man -could have accomplished. It had taken the two -brothers to carry the ox down into the boat, and -here was Grettir alone carrying him up hill.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This deed of Grettir was much talked of, and this -made Thorgeir, the elder of the foster-brothers, very -jealous of Grettir, and he hated him, and sought to -do him an injury. One day after Yule, Grettir -went down to the bath that was made by turning a -stream of hot water from one of the natural boiling -springs into a walled basin into which also cold -water could be turned from a rill. In former times -the Icelanders were very particular about bathing, -and were a clean people. At the present day they -never bathe at all, and such of the old baths as -remain are out of order and full of grass and mud.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorgeir said to his brother, "Let us go now and -try how Grettir will start, if I set upon him as he -comes away from his bath."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not like this," answered Thormod; "you will -vex our host, and get no advantage over Grettir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I will try what I can do," said the elder; and he -took his axe, hid it under his cloak, and went down -towards the bathing-place.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he had reached it he said, "Grettir, there -is a talk that you have boasted that no man could -make you take to your heels."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I never said that," answered Grettir, "but -anyhow you are not the man to make me run."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorgier swung up his axe and would have -cut at Grettir; but Grettir suspected that the man -meant mischief, and he was ready, so that the -instant he drew out the axe and swung it, Grettir -clashed forward at him, struck him in the chest and -sent him staggering back, so that he sprawled his -length on the ground.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorgeir shouted to his brother, "Why do -you stand by and let this savage kill me?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thormod then laid hold of Grettir, and endeavoured -to drag him away, but his strength was not sufficient -to effect this.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At that moment up came Arison, the bonder, and -he bade them be quiet and have nought to do with Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So the brothers stood up, and Thorgeir pretended -it was all sport, that he had only proposed giving -Grettir a fright; but the bonder hardly believed -him. As for the younger of the brothers, it was -well seen that he had been drawn into the matter -against his will. So the winter passed, and peace -was kept. This little struggle with Grettir had -shown Thorgeir that it would be ill for him to have -dealings with a man so prompt and strong as Grettir, -and he controlled himself and did not seek to pick -a quarrel with him any more. At the same time he -did not like him any better. Thorgils Arison got -great credit, when it was reported that throughout -an entire winter he had maintained such turbulent -men as the foster-brothers and Grettir under his -roof without their having fought.[#]</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">[#] There is an entire saga relating to the history -of these brothers, called the -Foster-Brothers' Saga.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>But when spring came then they went away, all -of them, away over the heaths and moors of the -interior.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When we say that Grettir was on the heaths and -moors, it must not be supposed that the region so -called was at all like the moors of Scotland or -England. The heaths and moors of Iceland are -upland desert regions with only here and there a -scanty growth of vegetation, a little whortleberry, -no heath at all, but vast tracts of broken stone and -mud and black sand, with perhaps here and there -an occasional hill of yellow sandstone. Most of the -rock is perfectly black, and breaks into pieces with -sharp angles. What is called Icelandic moss is a -black lichen that grows on the stones, and there is -a very little gray moss to be seen. Where there is -a burn or a stream a little grass may grow, but the -amount is small indeed.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="how-grettir-was-well-nigh-hung"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXV.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">HOW GRETTIR WAS WELL-NIGH HUNG.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The Law-man's Judgment—Snorri's Compromise—The -Compromise Declined—Grettir Helps Himself—The -Spy—Thirty to One—An Undesirable Prisoner—The -Gallows for Grettir—Thorbiorg Saves Grettir—Grettir -Conquers Himself</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Now, after the slaying of Thorbiorn Oxmain, his -kinsman Thorod took the matter up, and rode -to the great assize with a large train of men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The relatives of Grettir also appeared at the -assize, and they took advice of Skapti, the -law-man; and he said that Atli was slain a week before -the sentence of outlawry was pronounced against -Grettir, that Thorbiorn Oxmain was guilty of that, -and his relatives must pay a heavy fine for the -murder. But he said that Grettir was an -outlaw when he slew Thorbiorn. Now being an -outlaw he was outside the cognizance of the law, he -was as one not a native of the country, as one over -whom the law had no longer jurisdiction; that, -therefore, his slaying of Thorbiorn could not count -as expiation of the slaying of Atli; that, -moreover, no suit against an outlawed man could -stand—it was illegal: that the only way in which Grettir -could be brought into court was by the removal of -the sentence of outlawry, when at once he could be -prosecuted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorod was disconcerted at this; for he could not -bring an action against Grettir, and the Biarg people -did now bring an action against him for the slaying -of Atli, and the court gave sentence that he should -pay down two hundred ounces of silver as blood fine -for Atli.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, at this court, Snorri the judge proposed a -compromise. He suggested that the fine should be -let drop, and that Grettir should be held scatheless, -that the outlawry should be set aside, and the -slaying of Thorbiorn be put against the slaying of -Atli, and so reconciliation be made.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorod did not at all want to pay down two -hundred ounces of silver, and the Biarg family were -very willing to have the outlawry done away with; -so both parties were quite willing to accept this -compromise, but Thorir of Garth had to be reckoned -with. Grettir was outlawed at his suit for the -burning of his sons, and he must be brought to -consent, or this arrangement could not take place.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Thorir was not to be moved. In vain did -the law-man Snorri urge him, and represent to him -that Grettir, at large, an outlaw, was a danger -menacing the country, that he was driven to -desperation, Thorir absolutely refused to allow the -sentence to be withdrawn. Not only so, but he said he -would set a higher price on his head than had been -set on the head of any outlaw before, and that was -three marks of silver. Then Thorod, not to be -behind with him, offered three more.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir resolved to get as much out of the way of -his enemies as he could, so he went into that strange -excrescence, like a hand joined on by a narrow wrist -to Iceland, that extends to the north-west. In this -peninsula are two great masses of snow and glacier -mountain, called Glam-jokull and Drang-jokull. They -do not rise to any great height, hardly three -thousand feet, but they are vast domes of snow, with -glaciers sliding from them to the firths, and these -fall over the edges of the precipitous cliffs in huge -blocks of ice that float away on the tide as icebergs. -The largest of all the fiords that penetrates this -region is called the Ice-firth, and it runs between -these great mountains of snow and glaciers. At -the extremity of the estuary the valleys are -well-wooded—that is to say, well-wooded for Iceland—with -birch-trees, for their valleys are very sheltered, -and the sea-water that roll in bears with it a certain -amount of heat, for it has been affected by the Gulf-stream.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One of these valleys is called Waterdale, and at -the time of our story there lived there a man named -Vermund the Slim, and his wife's name was -Thorbiorg; she was a big, fine woman. Another valley -is Lang-dale. Grettir went to Lang-dale—there -he demanded of the farmers whatever he wanted, -food and clothing, and if they would not give him -what he asked, he took it. This was not to their -taste at all, and they wished that they were rid of -Grettir. He could not remain long in one place, so -he rode along the side of the Ice-firth demanding -food, and sleeping and concealing himself in the -woods. So in his course he came to the upland -pastures and dairy that belonged to Vermund Slim, -and he slept there many nights, and hid about in -the woods.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The shepherds on the moors were afraid of him, -and they ran down into the valleys and told the -farmers everywhere that there was a big strange -man on the heights, who took from them their curd -and milk, and dried fish, and that they were afraid -to resist his demands. They did not quite know -what he was, whether a man or a mountain spirit.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So the farmers gathered together and took advice, -and there were about thirty of them. They set a -shepherd to watch Grettir's movements, and let -them know when he could be fallen upon. Now, it -fell out one warm day that Grettir threw himself -down in a sunny spot to sleep. The glistening beech -leaves were flickering behind him, the rocks were -covered with the pale lemon flowers of the dry as, -and between the clefts of the stones masses of large -purple-flowered geranium stood up and made a glow -of colour deep into the wood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It is a mistake to suppose that Iceland is bare of -flowers; on the contrary, there are more flowers there -than grass. Beneath Grettir the turf was full of -tiny deep-blue gentianellas, just as if the turf were -green velvet, with a thread of blue in it coming -through here and there.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The shepherd stole near enough to see that Grettir -really was fast asleep, and then he ran and told the -bonders, who came noiselessly to the spot. It was -arranged among them that ten men should fling -themselves on him, whilst the others fastened his -feet with strong cords.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They made a noose, and cautiously without waking -him managed to get it about his legs; then, all at -once, ten of them threw themselves on his body, and -tried to pin down his arms. Grettir started from -his sleep, and with one toss sent the men rolling off -him, and he even managed to get to his knees. -Then they pulled the noose tighter and brought him -down, he, however, kicked out at two, whom he -tumbled head over heels, and they lay stunned on -the earth. Then one after another rushed at him, -some from behind. He could not get at his weapons, -which they had removed, and though he made a -long and hard fight, and struggled furiously, they -were too many for him, and they overcame him in -the end, and bound his hands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, as he lay on the grass, powerless, they held -a council over him what should be done. The chief -man of that district was Vermund Slim, but he was -from home. So it was settled that a farmer named -Helgi should take Grettir and keep him in ward till -Vermund came home.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you gratefully," said Helgi; "but I have -other business to attend to than to keep sentinel -over this man. My hands are fully occupied without -this. Not if I know it shall he cross my threshold."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So the farmers considered, and decided that another -man who lived at Giorvidale should have the custody -of Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are most obliging," said he; "but I have -only my old woman with me at home, and how can -we two manage him? Lay on a man only such a -burden as he can bear."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They considered again, and came to the conclusion -that one Therolf of Ere should have the charge -of Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But he replied, "No, thank you, I am short of -provisions, there is hardly food enough at my house -for my own party."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then they appointed that he should be put with -another farmer; but he said, "If he had been taken -in my land, well and good, but as he has not, I won't -be encumbered with him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then every farmer was tried, and all had excuses -why they should not have the care of Grettir; and -consequently, as no one would have him, they -resolved to hang him. So they set to work and -constructed a rude gallows there in the wood, and a -mighty clatter they made over it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Whilst thus engaged, it happened that Thorbiorg, -Vermund's wife, was riding up to her mountain dairy, -attended by five servants. She was a stirring, clever -woman, and when she saw so many men gathered -together and making such a noise, she rode towards -them to inquire what they were about.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who is that lying in bonds there?" she asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir answered and gave his name.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, now, is it, Grettir," she said, "that you -have given so much trouble in this neighbourhood?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must needs be somewhere," he answered. "And -wherever I am, there I must have food."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is a piece of ill-luck that you should have -fallen into the hands of these bumpkins," said she. -Then turning to the farmers she asked what they -purposed doing with Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hang him," answered they.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not deny that Grettir may have deserved -the rope," said Thorbiorg; "but I doubt if you are -doing wisely in taking his life. He belongs to a -great family, and his death will not be to your -quietness and content if you kill him." Then she -said to Grettir, "What will you do if your life be -given you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You propose the conditions," said he.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well, then you must swear not to revenge -on these men what they have done to you to-day, -and not to do any violence more in the Ice-firth."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir took the required oath, and so he was -loosed from his bonds. He said afterwards that -never had he a harder thing to do than to control -his temper, when set free, and not to knock the -farmers' heads together like nuts and crack them, -for what they had done to him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorbiorg invited him to her house, and he -went with her to the Water-firth, and there abode -till her husband returned, and when Vermund heard -all, then he was well pleased; and deemed that -his wife had acted with great prudence and kindness. -He asked Grettir to remain there as long as -was consistent with his safety, and Grettir accepted -his hospitality, and continued there as his guest till -late in the autumn, when he went south to -Learwood, where was Kuggson, with whom he -purposed spending the winter. However, he was not -able to stay there, for it soon became known where -he was, and his enemies prepared to take him. He -accordingly left and went to a friend in another -fiord, and remained a short while with him, but was -obliged for the same reason to fly thence also; and so -he spent the winter dodging about from place to -place, never able to remain long anywhere, because -his enemies were so resolved on his death, and were -on the alert to fall on him wherever they heard he -was sheltering.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="in-the-desert"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXVI.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">IN THE DESERT.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The Center of the Island—Ice, Desert, and -Volcanoes—The Bubble-Caves—A Dweller in the -Desert—Grettir Stops the Rider—Hall-mund -Stronger than Grettir—Grettir Seeks Skapti's -Advice—Grettir's Night Fears—Grettir Builds a House</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The island of Iceland is one-third larger than -Ireland, but then the population is entirely -confined to the coast. All the centre of the island -is desert and mountain. One mighty mass of -mountain covered with eternal snow and ice occupies -the south of the island and approaches the sea very -closely in the south-east. Much of this is unexplored; -it has of recent years been traversed once, across the -great Vatna-jokull, but there are passes west of the -Vatna. The mountain masses are broken into three -main masses. The vast Vatna-jokull is to the east, -then comes a pass, and next the circular Arnafells-jokull, -then another pass, and lastly the jumble of -snow mountains that form the Ball-jokull and the -Lang-jokull, the Goatland and the Erick's-jokull. -North of the Vatna-jokull is a vast region, as large -as a big county, covered with lava broken up into -bristling spikes and deep clefts of glass-like rock, -which no one can possibly get across. In the midst -of it, inaccessible, rise the cones of volcanoes that -have poured forth this sea of molten rock. East and -west of this mighty tract of broken-up lava come -extensive moors also quite desert, covered with -inky-black sand which has been erupted by volcanoes, -burying and destroying what vegetation there was. -The extent of desert may be understood when you -learn that there are twenty thousand square miles of -country perfectly barren and uninhabitable, and only -partially explored. There are but four thousand -square miles in Iceland that are inhabited; the rest -of the country is a chaos of ice, desert, and volcanoes. -The great lava region mentioned north of the Vatna -covers one thousand one hundred and sixty square -miles, and the Vatna envelopes three thousand five -hundred square miles in ice. Now, here and there -in this vast region there are certain sheltered spots -where some grass grows, valleys that have escaped -the overflow of the molten rock, or the thrust of the -glacier; and during the ninety years that Iceland -had been inhabited, every now and then a churl who -got tired of service, or a murderer afraid of his life, -ran away into the centre of the island, and lived -a precarious existence on the wild birds, their eggs, -and on the fish that abounded in the countless lakes. -Probably also they stole sheep, and carried them -away to the mysterious recesses of the desert where -they had made for themselves homes. They lived -chiefly in caverns, of which there are plenty thus -formed:—When the lava poured as a fiery stream -out of the volcanoes, in cooling great bubbles were -formed in it, sometimes these bubbles exploded, blew -the fragments into the air, which fell back and made -a mass of broken bits of rock like an exploded -soda-water bottle; but all the bubbles did not burst, and -such hardened when the rock became cool. These -bubbles remain as great domed halls, and some of -them run deep underground, forming a succession -of chambers. I have explored one where a band of -outlaws once lived, and found numbers of sheep-bones -frozen up in ice in the place where, after they -had eaten the mutton, they threw away what they -could not devour. At the end of the cave they had -erected a wall so as to inclose a space as a store -chamber.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>These men, living in the desert and rarely seen, -were the subject of many tales, and it was not clearly -known who and what they really were, whether -altogether human, or half mountain-spirits. -Imagination invested them with supernatural powers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When spring came and the snows melted, then -Grettir left the farmhouse where he had been last -in hiding, and went into the desert, to find food and -shelter for himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One day he saw a man on horseback alone riding -over a ridge of hill. He was a very big man, and -he led another horse that had bags of goods on his -back. The man wore a slouched hat so that his face -could not clearly be seen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir looked hard at the horse and the goods on -the pack-saddle, and thought he would probably find -some of these latter serviceable to him, and in his -need he was not particular how he got those things -which he wanted. So he went up to the rider and -peremptorily ordered him to stand and deliver.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why should I give you things that are my own?" -asked the stranger. "I will sell some of my wares if -you can pay for them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have no money," answered Grettir, "what I -want I take. You must have heard that by report."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then I know with whom I have to deal; you -are Grettir the outlaw, the son of Asmund of -Biarg." Thereat he struck spurs into his horse and tried to -ride past.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nay, nay! We part not like this," said Grettir, -and he laid his hands on the reins of the horse the -stranger rode.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You had better let go," said the mounted man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nay, that I will not," answered Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the rider stooped and put his hands to the -reins above those of Grettir, between them and the -bit, and he dragged them along, forcing Grettir's -hands along the bridle to the end and then wrenched -them out of his grasp.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir looked at his palms and saw that the skin -had been torn in the struggle. Then he found out -that he had met with a man who was stronger -than himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Give me your name," said he. "For, good faith! -I have not encountered a man like you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the horseman laughed and sang:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"By the Caldron's side</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Away I ride,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Where the waters rush and fall</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Adown the crystal glacier wall</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>There you will find a stone</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Joined to a hand—alone."</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>This was a puzzling answer. The meaning was -that he lived near a waterfall that poured out of the -Ice mountain, and that his name was Hall-mund, -</span><em class="italics">hall</em><span> is a stone and </span><em class="italics">mund</em><span> is the hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir and he parted good friends; and as he rode -away Hall-mund called out to Grettir that he would -remember this meeting, and as it ended in -friendliness he hoped to do him a good turn yet,—that -when every other place of refuge failed he was to -seek him "by the Caldron's side, where the waters -rush and fall, adown the crystal glacier wall" under -Ball-jokull, and there he would give him shelter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After this Grettir went to the house of his friend -the law-man Skapti, and asked his advice, and whether -he would house him for the ensuing winter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, friend," answered Skapti, "you have been -acting somewhat lawlessly, laying hands on other -men's goods, and this ill becomes a well-born man -such as you. Now, it would be better for you not to -rob and reive, but get your living in other fashion, -even though it were poorer fare you got, and -sometimes you had to go without food. I cannot house -you, for I am a law-man, and it would not be proper -for me who lay down the law to shelter such a -notorious law-breaker as yourself. But I will give -you my advice what to do. To the north of the -Erick's-jokull is a tangle of lakes and streams. The -lakes have never been counted they are in such -quantities, and no one knows how to find his way -among them. These lakes are full of fish, and swarm -with birds in summer. There is also a little creeping -willow growing in the sand, and some scanty grass. It -is only one hard day's ride over the waste to Biarg, -so that your mother can supply you thence with -those things of which you stand in absolute need, as -clothing, and you can fish and kill birds for your -subsistence, and will have no need to rob folk and -exact food from the bonders, thereby making -yourself a common object of terror and dislike. One -more piece of advice I give you—Beware how you -trust anyone to be with you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir thought this advice was good—only in one -point was it hard for him to follow. He was haunted -with these fearful dreams at night which followed the -wrestle with Glam, and in the long darkness of -winter the dreadful eyes stared at him from every -quarter whither he turned his, so that it was -unendurable for him to be alone in the dark.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Still—he went. He followed up the White River -to the desert strewn with lakes from which that river -flowed, and there found himself in utter solitude and -desolation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A good map of Iceland was made in 1844, and on -that fifty-three lakes are marked, but the smaller -tarns were not all set down. In such a tangle of -water and moor Grettir might be in comparative -security. He settled himself on a spot of land that -runs out into the waters of the largest of the sheets -of water, which goes by the name of the Great Eagle -Lake, and thereon he built himself a hovel of stones -and turf, the ruins of which remain to this day, and -I have examined them.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="on-the-great-eagle-lake"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXVII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">ON THE GREAT EAGLE LAKE.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The Ruins of the Hut—Erick's-jokull—A Craving for -Companionship—A Traitor—Grim Tries to Kill -Grettir—Redbeard Undertakes the Task—Redbeard's -Stratagem—A Base Fellow—Grettir sinks to the -Bottom—Caught in his own Trap—Grettir attacked -by Thorir—The Attack Baffled—The Guardian of -Grettir's Back—A Summer with Hallmund</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Grettir was settled now on the Great Eagle -Lake. This lake is shaped like the figure 8, -only that the spot of land between the upper and -lower portion of the lake does not run quite across. -On one side of this spot the rock falls away precipitously -into the water, whereas it slopes on the other. -If I had had a spade and pick, and if there had been -more grass on the moor so as to allow of a longer -stay, I would have dug about the foundations of -Grettir's hut, and, who can tell! I might perhaps -have found some relic of him. There is no record of -anyone else having inhabited it since he was there, -and in the middle of the 13th century, when the -Saga of Grettir was committed to writing, there -remained the ruins of his hut, but no one lived at -the place. Now there is no human habitation for -many miles; the lake was a day's journey on -horseback from the nearest farm, where I had spent the -night. You must get some idea of the place where -now for some years Grettir was to live.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The moor is made up of rock split to fragments -by the frost, and with wide tracts between the ridges -of rock strewn with black volcanic ash and sand. It -lies high; when I camped out there at the end of -June, there was no grass visible, only angelica shoots, -and a little trailing willow, so that my horses had to -feed on these. The willow does not rise above the -surface of the ground, but its roots trail long distances -under the surface, groping for nutriment; and for -fuel one has to dig out these roots with one's fingers, -and employ those which are dryest. Every dip in -the moor is filled with a lake, and every lake has in -it a pair of swans; in addition there are abundance of -other wild fowl, and on the moor are ptarmigan that -live on the flowers of the whortle or blae-berry.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Above the rolling horizon of moor, to the south -rises the great snowy dome of Erick's-jokull. This -is in reality a huge volcano, with precipitous sides -of black lava towering up like an immense giant's -castle. The great crater has been choked up with -the snow of centuries, and the snow in falling -had piled up a vast cupola of snow and ice standing -high above the black walls, and sliding and falling -over the edges in a succession of avalanches. When, -at eleven o'clock at night, I looked out of my tent at -Erick's-jokull, the scene was sublime. The sun had -just gone under the northern horizon of snow and -hill, but shone on the great dome of Erick's-jokull, -turning it to the purest and most delicate rose colour, -and the walls of upright basalt that sustained the -dome were of the purple of a plum. Grettir obtained -nets and a boat from home, and such things as he -wanted for his hut. One great advantage of his -present situation was that three different roads or -rather tracks led to it from Biarg, so that those who -wanted to come to him from home could select their -way and avoid observation, till they got among the -lakes, when they were in a labyrinth in which anyone -might easily be lost, and any one could escape a pursuer. -It is true that it was a long and arduous day's ride -from Biarg to the Eagle Lake, but the whole of the -course along each of the ways lay through -uninhabited land.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, when other outlaws heard that Grettir was -on the Eagle Lake Heath, they had a mind to join -themselves to him, and Grettir was not unwilling to -have a companion, so lonely did he feel on this waste, -and also so fearful was he of being by himself in the -dark.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a man called Grim, who was an outlaw; -and Grettir's enemies made a bargain with him, that -he should go to the Eagle Lake Heath, pretend to be -friends with Grettir, seek opportunity, and kill him. -They on their side undertook, if he would do this, to -get his sentence of outlawry reversed, and to furnish -him liberally with money.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Accordingly he went to the moor, and after some -trouble, found Grettir, and asked if he might live -with him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir replied, "I do not much relish such company -as yours, for you have got into outlawry through very -infamous deeds. I mistrust you; nevertheless I will -suffer you to remain if you work hard and be obedient. -I do not want idle hands here."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grim said he was willing, and prayed hard that he -might dwell there, and carried his point. He -remained with Grettir the whole of the winter; there -was not much friendship between them. Grettir -mistrusted him all along, and was never parted from -his weapons, night or day, and Grim did not venture -to attack him whilst he was awake.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But one morning, when Grim came in from fishing, -he went into the hut and stamped his foot and made -a noise, seeing that Grettir lay in his bed asleep; -and he was desirous to know how soundly he slept. -Grettir did not start and open his eyes, but lay quite -still. Then Grim made more noise, thinking that if -Grettir were awake he would chide him; but Grettir -made no motion. Then Grim made sure that he was -fast asleep, and he stepped to his side. Now, the -short sword that had been taken out of the barrow -of Karr the Old hung above the bed-head. Grim -leaned over Grettir and laid hold of the sword, and -put both hands to it to draw it out of the sheath. -At that instant Grettir started up, caught Grim round -the waist and flung him backwards so that he was -stunned, and the sword fell from his hand. So -Grettir made him confess that he had been bribed -to set on him and murder him. And then Grettir -would have no more of him, and resolved to live -entirely alone. Yet—directly he was alone, his -dreams, and his horror of the dark, returned on him. -Now, Thorir of Garth heard of an outlaw named -Thorir Redbeard, a very big man, who for murder -had been outlawed, and was therefore in hiding -somewhere. Thorir of Garth sent out messengers -in search of him, and at last brought about a -meeting, and then he offered him a great deal of -money if he would kill Grettir. Redbeard said -it was no easy task, for that Grettir was wise and wary.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is because it is no easy task that I set you to -do it," said Thorir of Garth. "You are no milksop -to do easy jobs."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This flattered Redbeard, and he undertook to do -what was required. He came out on the Eagle Lake -Heath in the autumn after that winter when Grim -had been with Grettir and made the attempt on his -life. Grettir was feeling uneasy and troubled, as the -days grew shorter, with the eyes that he thought -stared at him from every quarter, and although his -judgment prompted him to refuse hospitality to -Redbeard, yet his dread of being alone in the dark -induced him to disregard his doubts. So he -reluctantly admitted Redbeard to be an inmate of his cot.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, mind this," said Grettir. "I let a man be -with me here last winter, and he lay wait for my -life. If I find that you are false, then I shall not -spare you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Redbeard said he wished for nothing else; and so -Grettir received him, and found him to be a very -powerful man, and so energetic that he was of the -greatest assistance to Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Redbeard was with him all that winter (1019-1020) -and found no occasion on which he could -take Grettir unawares. Then set in the next winter -1020-1021, and Redbeard had begun to loathe his -life on the heath, and no wonder, for he saw no one -save Grettir; the cold and desolation of the spot was -surpassingly wretched. Now he became impatient -to kill Grettir and get away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One night a great storm broke over the moor -whilst he and Grettir were asleep. The roar of the -wind woke Redbeard and he ran outside the hut, -down to the water-side, and with a huge stone he -smashed the fishing-boat, so that it sank; and the -oars and bits he had broken off he threw away into -the lake. So did he with the nets.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he came in Grettir was awake also, and he -asked how fared the boat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She has broken from her mooring," answered -Redbeard, "and has been dashed to bits on the rocks."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir jumped up, and taking his weapons -ran out to the end of the spit of land on which his -hut was built, and saw how the nets were drifting -in the waves and were entangled with the oars.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jump in, swim out, and bring them to shore," -said he to Redbeard. The man shook his head and -answered:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can do anything save swim. I have not held -back from any other work you have set me, but -swim I cannot."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir laid his weapons down by the -waterside and prepared to jump in. But he mistrusted -Redbeard, so he said, "I will get in the nets, as you -cannot; but I trust you will not deal treacherously -by me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Redbeard answered, "I should be a base fellow -and unworthy to live if I were false to you -now—after you have housed me so long."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir put off his clothes, and went into the -water, and swam out to the nets.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He swept them up together and brought them -towards the land, and cast them up on the bank; -but the moment he attempted to land Redbeard -caught up the short sword, drew it hastily and ran -at Grettir and smote at him, just as he was heaving -himself up out of the water. The blade would have -cut into his neck, or between his shoulder-blades, had -not Grettir instantly let go, and fallen backwards -into the water and sunk like a stone. Sinking thus -headlong he reached the bottom, and instead of rising -to the surface again he clung to the rocks under -water, and groped his way along as close as he could -to the bank, so that Redbeard might not see him -till he had reached the back of the creek and got -aland.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, Redbeard stood at the end of the promontory, -looking into the water, much puzzled. He had not -cut Grettir with the sword, and yet Grettir was -gone down, and did not rise. He thought he must -have struck his head against a stone, and so have -sunk, and he looked out into the water wondering -where and when he would rise. Meanwhile Grettir -had come ashore behind him and was approaching -stealthily. Redbeard was unaware of his danger -till Grettir had his arms about him, had heaved him -over his head and dashed him down on the rocks, so -that his skull was broken. After that Grettir resolved -not to take another outlaw into his house, though he -could hardly endure to be alone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorir of Garth did not hear of the death of Redbeard -till next summer at the great assize; and then -he was so angry, and so resolved to make an end of -Grettir, that he collected a body of resolute men, his -servants and others whom he hired for the purpose, -to the number of nearly eighty, to sweep the Eagle -Lake Heath and take and kill Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One day, when Grettir was out on the moor, he -saw a large body of armed men riding towards the -lake. He had time to fly to a hill that rises at a -little distance, where there is a rift in the rock that -traverses the top of the hill. When I read the -account in the saga I could not quite understand -what follows, but no sooner was I on the spot than -all appeared quite clear. One could see, at once, -that Grettir, taken by surprise, would run to this -very spot and no other. It was the nearest available -place of vantage, with stone and crag. The situation -was not the best that might have been chosen, as it -left Grettir's back unprotected; however, he had no -time to seek a better.</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 63%" id="figure-86"> -<span id="grettir-attacked-in-the-rift-by-thorir-s-party"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="GRETTIR ATTACKED IN THE RIFT BY THORIR'S PARTY." src="images/img-261.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">GRETTIR ATTACKED IN THE RIFT BY THORIR'S PARTY.</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorir came with his men to the bottom of the -hill, and shouted to Grettir and taunted him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir replied, "Though you may have put the -spoon to your lips you have not swallowed the -broth."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorir egged on his men to go up the slope -at Grettir, but this was not easy. It was steep, and -the rocks were close on either side so that Grettir -could not be surrounded. Only one man could get -at him from before at once. Several attempts were -made, but all failed; some of the assailants were -killed, some wounded. Then Thorir broke up his -party into two, and sent one detachment round to -the back of the rocks, to fall on Grettir from behind. -Grettir saw the manoeuvre, and did not see how to -meet it. All he could do would be to sell his life -dearly. He could not hold out long when assailed -simultaneously from before and behind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorir bade the attack slacken till he thought -those sent to the rear would be ready, and then he -ordered a grand, and, as he believed, a combined -assault. Grettir fought with desperation, expecting -every moment to be cut down from behind, but to -his surprise and that of Thorir he was left unmolested -in the rear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorir called off his men, and went round the hill -to inquire why the attack from behind had not taken -place. To his amazement he came on a discomfited -party bleeding, faint, and baffled, and to find that -twelve men had fallen in it.[#]</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">[#] At the time, or rather shortly after -I had been on the spot, I wrote, -"There is a nook like a sentry-box -in the side of the cleft, and it was in this -that Hallmund ensconced himself, -so that he could hew down anyone who -attempted to pass through this cleft -to get at Grettir's back, whilst remaining -himself screened from observation. -I could not understand the saga -account before I saw the spot, -and how it was that those attacking Grettir -from behind did not see Hallmund. -The sight of the place made all plain."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Then he bade a retreat. "Oft," he said, "have I -heard that Grettir is a man of marvel for prowess, -but I never knew before that he was a wizard, and -able to kill as many at his back as he does in front -of him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he numbered his men, Thorir found that he -had lost eighteen. Then he and his retinue rode -away, and they carried on them many and grievous -wounds.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now Grettir was no less perplexed with the event -than was Thorir, and when the latter had withdrawn -he went through the rift in the rocks to see why he -had not been fallen on from the rear,—and he lighted -on a tall strong man leaning against the rocks, sore -wounded.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir asked his name, and the tall man replied -that he was Hallmund.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you remember meeting me on the heath one -day?" asked the wounded man, "when you tried to -stop my horse, and I pulled the reins through your -hands so as to skin the palms'? Then I promised if -I had the chance to back you up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Indeed," said Grettir, much moved, "I remember -that right well, and now I thank you with all my -heart, for this day you have saved my life."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Hallmund said, "You must now come with -me, for time must drag with you solitary here on the -heath."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir said he was glad to accept the offer; so -they went together south to the Ball-jokull, and -there Hallmund had a great cave, and his daughter, -a big muscular girl, lived there with him; there the -girl applied plasters to the wounds of her father and -healed him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir remained with them in the cave all the -ensuing summer. But when summer came to an -end, he wearied of being so long in the desert, and -longed to see and be with his fellow-men in inhabited -parts once more; so he bade farewell to Hallmund, -and went away to the west to Hit-dale that opens on -the Marshland, through which six or seven large -rivers flow. Here he had a friend named Biorn -living at Holm.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="on-the-fell"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXVIII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">ON THE FELL.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The Hollow of Fairwood Fell—Above the Shale -Slide—The Outlaw's Lair—The Boaster—A Dandified -Warrior—Hunter and Hunted—A Skin-dressing—Sadder -and Wiser</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Biorn when asked by Grettir to give him shelter -declined to do so, not that the will was lacking, -but that he had not the power to protect him. "You -have made," he said, "enemies on all sides, and if I -were to take you under my roof all your enemies -would become mine also, and I would be involved -in endless and bitter quarrels. I cannot give you -direct assistance and shelter, but indirectly I will do -what I can for you. There is a long hill, called -Fairwood Fell, that runs in front of my house -on the other side of the river, and ends just above -the marshes. Now, in one place there is a steep shale -slide, and above this is a hollow through the mountain, -that might very well be made into a dry and -comfortable place of abode. From the entrance every one -who passes along the highway, all who come across -the marshes, can be seen. I can supply you with a -few necessaries to fit the place up, but when there -you must shift for yourself. I must not risk too -much by supporting you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir consented to this. So he went up to -Fairwood Fell and built up the cave, and hung gray -wadmal before the entrance, so that no one below -could notice that there was anything peculiar or -anyone living there. In this eagle's nest among the -rocks Grettir spent the time from the autumn of -1022 to the spring of 1024, that is, two winters. -Whatever fuel he wanted, all he had to eat, everything -he wanted, had to be carried up this slippery -and steep ascent by him. Down the shale slide he -came when short of provisions, and went over the -marshes to this or that farm and demanded or carried -off, sometimes a sheep, sometimes curds, dried fish, -in a word what he required; and a very great nuisance -the men of the district found him. Heartily did they -wish they were rid of him, yet they could not drive -him from his place of abode, for it was so difficult of -access and so easy of defence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, some years ago, in the summer of 1862, -the year after I was in Iceland, a very similar lair -which Grettir inhabited a little later in the east of -Iceland was explored by an Icelandic farmer. This -is his description of it: "The lair stands in the lower -part of a slip of stones beneath some sheer rocks. -It is built up of stones, straight as a line 4-3/4 ells long -and 10 inches wide, and is within the walls 7/8 of an -ell deep. Half of it is roofed over with flat stones, -small thin splinters of stone are wedged in between -these to fill up the joints, and these are so firmly -fixed that they could not be removed without tools. -One stone in the south wall is so large that it requires -six men to move it. The north wall is beginning to -give way. On the outside the walls are overgrown -with black lichen and gray moss."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Something like this was the den of Grettir on the -Fairwood Fell, but it was less built up, as he had the -natural rock for two of the sides and for the roof.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Whilst Grettir was there, there came a ship into -harbour, in which was a man named Gisli, a merchant, -very fond of wearing smart clothes, and an inordinately -vain man. He heard the farmers talking about -Grettir, and what a vexation it was to them to have -him in their neighbourhood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't talk to me about Grettir," said Gisli; "I've -had battles with harder men than he. I hope he -may came in my way, that I may dress his skin for him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The farmer to whom he said this shook his head. -"You don't know of whom you are speaking. If you -were to kill him you would be well off,—six marks -of silver were set on his head, and Thorir of Garth has -added three more, so that there stand on him nine -marks of silver."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All things can be done for money," said Gisli; -"and as I am a merchant I'll see to it. And when -we meet—I'll dress his skin for him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The farmer said it would be well not to talk about -the matter. Gisli agreed. "I will abide this winter -in Snowfell-ness," he said. "If his lair is on my road -thither I'll look out for him, and dress his skin as I -go along."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, whether he talked in spite of the caution given -him, or whether some one overheard what he said, who -was a friend of Biorn of Holm, is uncertain. Any -how Gisli's threat reached the ears of Biorn, who at -once warned Grettir to be on his guard against the -merchant.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If he comes your way," said Biorn, "teach him a -lesson; but don't kill him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No," said Grettir with a grim smile, "I'll merely -dress his skin for him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now it happened one day that Grettir was looking -out of the entrance to his lair, when he saw a man -with two attendants riding along the highway. His -kirtle was of scarlet, and his helmet and shield flashed -in the sun. Then it occurred to him that this must -be the dandified Gisli, of whom he had heard, so he -came running down the shale descent to the road. -He reached the man, and at once he went to his -horse, clapped his hand on a bundle of clothes behind -the saddle, and said, "This I am going to take."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nay, not so," answered Gisli, for it was he. -"You do not know whom you are addressing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nor do I care," said Grettir. "I have little -respect for persons. I am in poor and lowly -condition myself, so low that I am driven to be a -highway robber."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Gisli drew his sword, and called to his men -to attack Grettir, who gave way a little before them. -But he soon saw that Gisli kept behind his servants, -and never risked himself where the blows fell; so -Grettir put the two churls aside with well-dealt -strokes, and went direct upon the merchant, who, -seeing that he was menaced, turned and took to his -heels. Grettir pursued him, and Gisli in his fear -cast aside his shield, then, a little further, threw -away his helmet, and so as he ran he cast away one -thing after another that he had with him. There -was a heavy purse of silver at his girdle. This -encumbered him, and as he ran he unbuckled his -belt and dropped it and the purse with it. Grettir -did not purposely come up with him; he could have -outstripped him had he willed, but he let the fellow -run a couple of horse lengths before him. The end -of the Fell is above an old lava bed that has flowed -from a crater called Eldborg or the Castle of Fire, and -like an old ruined castle it looks. Gisli ran over -this lava bed, jumping the cracks, then dived through -a wood of birch that intervened between the lava -and the river Haf. The stream was swollen with -ice, and ill to ford. Gisli halted hesitating before -plunging in, and that allowed Grettir to run in on -him, seize him and throw him down.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Are you the Gisli who were so eager to meet -Grettir Asmund's son?" asked the outlaw.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have had enough of him," gasped the fallen -man. "Keep my saddle-bags and what I have -thrown away, and let me go free."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hardly yet," said Grettir grimly. "I think -something was said about skin-dressing, that is not -to be overlooked."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir drew him back to the wood, took a -good handful of birch rods, pulled Gisli's clothes up -over his head, and laid the twigs against his back in -none of the gentlest fashion. Gisli danced and -skipped about, but Grettir had him by his garments -twisted about his head and neck, and continued to -flog till the poor fellow threw himself down on the -ground screaming. Then Grettir let go, and went -quietly back to his lair, picking up as he went the -purse and the belt, the shield, casque, and whatever -else Gisli had thrown away, also he had the contents -of his saddle-bags.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gisli never came back to Fairwood Fell to ask for -them. When he got on his legs he ran up the river -to where it was not so dangerous, swam it, and -reached a farmhouse, where he entreated to be taken -in. There he lay a week with his body swollen and -striped; after which he went home, and much was -he laughed at for his adventure with Grettir.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-fight-on-the-river"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXIX.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE FIGHT ON THE RIVER.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Angry Farmers—A Large Band of Men—The Marshmen -are Driven Back—The Attacking Party Reinforced—Fighting -in Desperation—Wearied but Unwounded—The Song of -Victory</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Now, whilst Grettir was on Fairwood Fell, -favoured by Biorn of Hit-dale, his presence after -a while became unendurable to the bonders who -lived in the marshes. He had been for two winters -in his den on the hill, and when they saw that he -intended to remain there a third winter, and rob -them of sheep and whatever he needed, then they -took counsel together how they might rid -themselves of the annoyance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One day in the winter of 1023, Grettir came -down from his place of vantage, and went over the -marshes to a farm called Acres, and drove away -from it two bullocks fit for slaughtering, and several -sheep, and he had got on with them some way over -the marshes, on his way to his lair, before the -farmer at Acres was aware of his loss; he had taken -six wethers beside from another farm named Brookbend. -This angered the farmers greatly, and they -sent a message to the chief man of the district, -Thord at Hitness, and urged him to waylay Grettir -before he could reach his den. Thord shrank from -doing anything; however, they pressed him so much -that at last he consented to let his son Arnor go -with them. Then messengers were sent throughout -all the country side, to every farmer who was -concerned. And it was so planned that two bodies of -men should march to the taking of Grettir, one on -the right, the other on the left bank of the Hit -River, so as to take him for certain.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir was soon aware that the country was -roused. He was not alone, he had two men with -him—one the son of the farmer at Fairwood Fell, with -whom he was on good terms, the other a farm-servant. -They advised him to desert the cattle and -sheep and run for it, cross the river and take -refuge in his place of vantage; but this Grettir was too -proud to do.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Presently he could see coming on behind him a -large band of men, about twenty in all, under -Thorarin of Acres and Thorfin of Brookbend. Now, as -these were pursuing him over the marshes, up the -opposite side of the river came Arnor, the son of -Thord of Hitness, and with him a farmer named -Biarni of Jorvi.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir managed to reach the river before his -enemies came up with him, and he had also time to -secure a place of vantage. This was a ness of rock -that ran out into the river, or round which the river -swept, so that he was protected by the water on all -sides but one. Grettir said to the two men with -him, that they must guard his back, see that none -came up the sides in his rear, and then he took his -short-sword in both his hands, planted his feet wide -apart on the rock, and prepared to sell his life dear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The party headed by Thorarin of Acres and -Thorfin of Brookbend came up, twenty in all,—but -more were coming, for Thorarin had begun the -pursuit before all the farmers were collected, and he -knew that a body of some twenty or thirty more -would arrive before long. Thorarin himself was an -old man, and he did not enter into the fray, but -urged on his men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The fight was hard. Grettir was not easily -reached where he stood, and he smote at all who -approached. Some of the Marshmen fell, and several -were wounded. In vain did they attempt to -dislodge him by combined rushes, he drove them over -the edge into the water, or cut them down with his -sword. At last his arm was weary, and he called -to the farmer's son to step into his place. He did -so, and held the ground valiantly, whilst Grettir -rested. Then the party drew back, discomfited. At -that moment up came the fresh body of men under -Thrand, the brother of Thorarin of Acres, and -Stonewolf of Lavadale. These egged on their men eagerly, -and they thought they would obtain an easy victory, -for Grettir had been fighting for some time, and was weary.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorarin of Acres called out and advised delay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"For," said he, "the third party of men under -Arnor and Biarni of Jorvi have not come up on the -other side of the river."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This piece of advice was rejected by the -newcomers. What did they want with more men? -They were a large party, fresh and untired, and -Grettir had but two men with him, and they were -wearied with fighting. So the signal was given for -the onslaught.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir saw that he must either jump into -the river, swim across, and desert the sheep and -bullocks he had driven there, or use almost -superhuman exertions to defend himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His position was, indeed, desperate; for, even if -he did hold his own against this second body of -men, a third was on its way up the other bank of -the river to intercept him on his way up to the -Fell. For one moment he hesitated, and then was -resolved. No, he would not run. He would die -there, and die only after having strewn the ground -with his foes. Foremost among his assailants was -Stonewolf of Lavadale, and Grettir made a sudden -rush at him, and with a tremendous stroke of his -sword he clove his head down to the shoulders. -Thrand, who sprang forward to avenge him, Grettir -struck on the thigh, and the blow took off all the -muscle, and he fell, crippled for life. Then Grettir -fell back to his place of safety, and dared others to -come on. They sprang out on the neck of rock, -but would not meet his weapon, one after another -fell or was beaten back.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorarin cried out, and bade all draw off.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The longer ye fight," said he, "the worse ye -fare. He picks out what men among you he chooses."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The party withdrew, and there were ten men -fallen, and five had received mortal wounds, or were -crippled; and hardly one of the two parties was -without some hurt or other.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir, moreover, was marvellously wearied, but -had received no wounds to speak of.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, hardly had the men withdrawn, carrying -their dead and wounded, than up came the third -detachment under Arnor and Biarni, on the other -side of the river. There can be no question but that, -had they crossed and fallen on Grettir, he could not -have defended himself longer, so overcome was he -with weariness; but Arnor knew that his father -had entered on the matter reluctantly, and he was -discouraged by the ill-success of the other companies. -Consequently, he neither waded through the river -at the ford, a little higher, nor did he maintain his -ground and cut off Grettir's retreat. Instead, he -withdrew with all his men, and left Grettir to -recover his strength, and cross and escape to the Fell. -This conduct of Arnor provoked much comment; -and he was accused of cowardice, an accusation that -clung to him through life. Even his father -rebuked him, for the father saw what discredit he had -brought upon himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The point on the river Hit where this affray took -place is still shown; and is called Grettir's-point to -this day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the fight was over Grettir and the two -men went to the Fell, and as they passed the farm -the farmer's daughter came out of the door, and -asked for tidings.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir sang:—</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Brewer of strong barley-corn,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Pourer forth of drinking-horn,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Lo! to-day the Stonewolf fell,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Ne'er again his head be well.</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Many more have got their bane,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Many in their blood lie slain;</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Little life has Thorgils now,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>After that bone-breaking blow.</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Eight upon the river's bank</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>In their gore expiring sank."</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-mysterious-vale"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXX.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">A MYSTERIOUS VALE.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The Dome of Snow—Cold Dale—A Fair Valley—The -Mottled Ewe—With Thorir and his Daughters—The -Stone on Broad-shield—Thorir's Cave</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>In the spring of 1024 Grettir went away from -Fairwood Fell; for he had been there so long, -and had preyed for such a time on the bonders of the -marshes, that he himself saw that it would be best -for him to remove into quite another part of the -island. So he visited his friend Hallmund once -more, under the ice of Ball-jokull, and Hallmund -advised him where to go. He could not give him -hospitality himself that winter, because his stock of -goods was run so short that it would hardly suffice -for his daughter and himself; but he told him of a -valley unknown to anyone, save a friend of his -called Thorir and himself. And he informed him -how it was to be reached.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, as already said, there are passes in Iceland -between the several blocks of ice mountains, and -such a pass exists between Goatland-jokull and a -curious domed snowy mountain called Ok. The -pass is called the Cold Dale, because it lies for many -hours ride between ice mountains, and under the -precipitous Goatland-jokull, whose rocks are crowned -with green ice that falls over incessantly in great -avalanches. It is seven hours' ride from one blade of -grass to another through that dale. I went through -it on midsummer-day, and saw the bones of horses -lying about that had died unable to get through; -perhaps becoming lame or exhausted on the way.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Half through this long trough of the Cold Dale -stands up a buttress of rock, or rather a sort of ness, -projecting from Goatland-jokull, so precipitous that -hardly any snow rests on it, and this is called the -Half-way Fell.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, Hallmund told Grettir he must go through -the Cold Dale till he reached the Half-way Fell, -and there he must strike up over the snow and -glaciers of Goatland-jokull, due south, and he would -all at once drop into a valley known to few.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So Grettir went up the moor till he struck the -White River, that flowed out of the Eagle Lakes he -knew so well, and under the cliffs and icy crown of -Erick's-jokull, then he climbed over broken trachyte -rocks for several hundreds of feet, till he found -himself in the Cold Dale, and along that he trudged till -he had reached Half-way Fell, standing up like a -wall as though to stop the pass. There he turned -to the left, and as at this point Goatland is no -longer precipitous, but slopes in a series of steps to -the Cold Dale, he climbed up through the snow, a -long and tedious ascent, till he stood on the neck of -the mountain, and there he saw that the snow slopes -fell away rapidly to the south, and he descended and -soon beheld before him a valley in which were a great -many boiling springs that threw up clouds of steam, -and he saw also, what greatly pleased him, that -there was rich and abundant grass in this valley. -This is what the saga says: "The dale was long -and somewhat narrow, locked up by glaciers all -round, in such a manner that the ice walls -overhung the dale. He scrambled down into it, as best -he could, and there he saw fair hillsides grass-grown -and set with bushes. Hot springs were -there, and it appeared to him that it was the -earth-fires which prevented the ice walls from closing in -on the valley. A little river ran down the dale, -with level banks. The sun rarely shone into the -valley; but the number of sheep there could hardly -be reckoned, they were so many; and nowhere had -he seen any so fat and in such good condition."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir did not see Thorir, Hallmund's friend, at -first; so he built himself a hut of such wood as he -could get, and with turf. He killed the sheep he -wanted, and found that there was more meat on one -of them than on two elsewhere.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Saga says:—</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There was one ewe there, brown mottled, with -a lamb, and she was a beauty. Grettir killed the -lamb, and took three stone of suet off it, the meat -was some of the best he had ever eaten. But when -the mottled ewe missed her lamb, she went up on -Grettir's hut every night, and bleated so plaintively -as to trouble his sleep, and made Grettir quite -troubled that he had killed her lamb."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now Grettir noticed that at evening the sheep -ran in one direction, and once or twice he heard a -call; so he went after the sheep one evening, and was -led by them to the hut where Thorir dwelt. He -was a strange man, who had spent so many years -away from the society of his fellow-men as not to -care any more to meet them, so he did not welcome -Grettir very warmly. However he had three -daughters, and they were glad to have someone to talk -to, and as the winter crept on Thorir himself -became more amiable, and so the winter did not pass -as drearily as Grettir had feared it would. He sang -his songs and related stories, and the party played -draughts with knuckle-bones of sheep.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When spring came, however, he was fain to go; -and he did not leave by the way he came, but -followed the little river, and it led him out between -rock and glaciers into a piece of desert, covered with -lava beds that have poured out of a volcano, or -rather two that stand opposite this entrance to -Thorir's valley. These two volcanoes are quite unlike -each other, though side by side, one, called Hlothu-fell -has upright walls, like Erick's-jokull, and a -crater filled up and brimming over with ice; but -the other Skialdbreith, or the Broad-shield, is like -a conical round silver shield laid on the ground. -The entrance to Thorir's Dale is completely hidden -by a round snowy mountain that blocks it, and then -a second snowy mountain stands further out in front -of the opening, so that not a sign of any valley can -be seen from anywhere.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So difficult did Grettir think it would be to find -it, that he ascended on Broad-shield and set up a -stone there with a hole in it, so that anyone -looking through this hole would see directly into the -narrow entrance of Thorir's Dale. This stone still -stands where Grettir had placed it; but has sunk on -one side, so that by looking through the hole the -eye is no longer directed to the entrance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>No one had ever visited Thorir's Dale since Grettir -left it till the year 1654, when it was explored by -two Icelandic clergymen, and an account of their -expedition in Icelandic is to be found in the British -Museum.[#] The valley as far as I know has not -been explored since. It is marked on the map of -Iceland, but apparently from the description left by -the two clergymen, not from any visit made to it -by the map-maker.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">[#] I have given a translation of it -in my </span><em class="italics small">Curiosities of Olden Times</em><span class="small">, London, Hayes, 1869.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>When the two men visited the valley they went -to it in the same way as did Grettir. They found no -hot springs, and the valley was utterly barren; but -then they had no time to descend it, they only -looked down on it from above. They found the cave -with a door, and a window to it, which was probably -the habitation of Thorir and his daughters.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-death-of-hallmund"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXXI.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE DEATH OF HALLMUND.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Grim's Fish Disappear—The Thief Wounded and -Tracked—Death of Hallmund</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Now, there was a man called Grim, who was an -outlaw for his ill-deeds, and he thought that -as Grettir no longer abode in his hut on the Eagle -Lake, he might go there and occupy it. This did not -please Hallmund, for Grettir had left him his nets, -and he was wont to fish in the lake.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grim had supplied himself with nets, and he one -day caught a hundred char, large red-fleshed fish, -delicious eating; so he piled them up outside his -hut. Next morning to his great surprise all his -char had disappeared. Then he went fishing again, -and caught even more fish, and he brought them to -land, and heaped them up as before.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning they also had disappeared.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He could not understand it; so he fished again, -and had on this occasion extraordinary luck: he -must have netted nearly three hundred fish. He -brought them home, and put them in the same -place as before; but he did not go to sleep this -time: he remained within, and watched his store -through a peep-hole in the door.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>During the night he heard someone who trod -heavily coming along the ness, and then he saw a -man picking up his fish, and putting them into a -basket he had on his back. Grim watched till he -had filled the basket, which he now heaved upon -his shoulders. Instantly Grim threw open the -door, rushed out, and whilst the man was still -stooping adjusting his load, he swung up a very sharp -axe he held, holding it in both hands, and smote at -the man's neck. The axe hit the basket, and that -somewhat broke its force, but it glanced aside and -sank into the shoulder. Then the man started aside, -and set off running with the basket to the south, -skirting a lava field that had flowed out of -Erick's-jokull, and which now goes by the name of -Hallmund's Lava-bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grim ran after him, and saw that he was making -for Ball-jokull; but the man, who was of great -size and strength, though wounded and losing blood, -ran on, and did not stay till he reached a cave in -the face of the cliff, above which was the ice, and -with long icicles hanging over the front. Into this -he entered. There was a fire burning inside, and a -young woman sitting by it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grim heard her welcome the man, and call him -her father, and name him Hallmund. He cast his -basket of fish down, and groaned aloud.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the girl saw that blood was flowing from -him, and she asked him what had happened.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Hallmund told what had befallen him, and said -that he was wounded to the death, and that he -trusted Grettir would avenge him, for he had no -other friend to do so.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After that Hallmund began a lay, and sang the -history of his life, the achievements he had wrought, -and he sang on till his breath failed, and either he was -unable to finish his lay, or Grim could not remember -all of it. A good deal, however, of Hallmund's -death-song has been retained and is given in the saga.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Hallmund's hope or expectation that Grettir -would avenge him was disappointed, for Grim -managed to get away from Iceland, and did not -return to it again during the lifetime of Grettir.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="of-another-attempt-against-grettir"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXXII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">OF ANOTHER ATTEMPT AGAINST GRETTIR.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Thorir raises a Party against Grettir—Grettir -plays the Herdsman—A Daring Trick—Thorir a -Laughing-Stock</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Now, during the summer, tidings came to Thorir -of Garth that Grettir was somewhere about on -Reekheath in the north-east. There was his lair -which was examined a few years ago, and which -remains in tolerable condition, as already mentioned -when his lair at Fairwood Fell was described. Now, -Thorir of Garth, when he got this tidings was -resolved to make another attempt to kill him; and -no wonder, for with singular audacity Grettir had -come into his neighbourhood. Grettir no doubt -thought that he had preyed long enough on men -who had not harmed him, and that now he would -prey on the goods and cattle of the man who had -made an outlaw of him, and who pursued him with -such remorseless hostility. Thorir gathered a -number of men together and went in pursuit of Grettir. -Grettir was not at that time in his den but out on -the moor, and he was near a mountain-dairy that -stood back somewhat from the wayside, and there -was another man with him, when they spied the party -of Thorir, all armed, coming along. They had not -been observed, so they hastily led their horses into -the shed attached to the dairy, and concealed -themselves. Thorir came along, went to the dairy, -looked about to see if anyone were there who could -inform him if Grettir had been seen, noticed only a -couple of horses tied up, but supposed they belonged -to the farmer whose summer dairy this was, and, -without looking further, went on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As soon as Thorir and his band had gone out of -sight, Grettir crept from his place of hiding, and -said to his companion:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is a pity they should have come such a ride -to see me, and should be disappointed. You watch -the horses, and I will go on and have a word with -them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You surely will not be so rash?" exclaimed the -other man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I cannot let them come all this way without -exchanging words with me," said Grettir, and -leaving the horses under the care of his comrade, he -strode away over the moor to a place where he was -sure he could be observed. Now, Grettir had a -slouched hat on and a long staff in his hand, and at -the dairy he had found some clothes belonging to -the herdsman usually there, and these he had put on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Directly Thorir and his party saw a man with a -staff striding about on the moor they rode to him. -None of them knew Grettir's face, for, indeed, they -had not been given the chance. So they thought -this great rough man was the herdsman, and they -asked him if he had seen the outlaw Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What sort of man is he?" asked Grettir. "Is he -armed?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Armed indeed is he, with a casque on his head, -a long sword, and also a short one in his girdle."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is he riding?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Most certainly he is."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then," said Grettir, "you had better get you -along after him due south; he has gone that way -not so long agone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When they heard this Thorir and his party struck -spurs into their horses, put them into a gallop, and -away they went as hard as they could in the direction -indicated. Now, Grettir knew the country very -well, and he was well aware that south of where he -stood were impassable bogs. Thorir and his fellows -were too eager in pursuit to attend to the nature of -the ground over which they rode; besides, they -thought that if Grettir had ridden that way they -could ride it as well. They were speedily mistaken, -for in they floundered into a bottomless morass; -some of the horses were in to their saddles; the men -got off and got out with difficulty, and they had -much ado to get their horses out at all. Indeed, -some were wallowing there more than half the day. -Many curses were heaped on the churl who had -befooled them, but they could not find him when -the went after him to chastise him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir hastened back to the dairy, mounted his -horse, and rode to Garth itself, whilst the master -was floundering in the bog. As he came to the -farm he saw a tall, well-dressed girl by the door, -and he asked who she was. He was told this was -Thorir's daughter. Then Grettir sang a stave to her, -the meaning of which was that he who came there -was the man whom Thorir was vainly pursuing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Much laughter was occasioned by this failure of -Thorir to take Grettir when he was in his own -neighbourhood, and by his being so deceived and -befooled by Grettir when he had him in his power.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="at-sandheaps"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXXIII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">AT SANDHEAPS.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">A Deadly Enemy—In the Service of Steinvor—The -Way to Church—Crossing the Quivering Flood—The -Priest's Caution—A Weird Tale—The Old Hag—The -Stream-churl—Steinvor's Husband's Death—The -Foundation of the Story—The Troll-woman of -Grettir—The Basaltic Troll-wife—The Search -under Goda-foss—Grettir's Dive—The Fight with the -Stream-churl—Runes of the Fight—A Bag of Bones</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The summer was passing away, and Grettir could -not remain without shelter through the winter; -so he considered what was best to be done. He -could not ask any farmer in the north-east to shelter -him, because they were all afraid of Thorir of Garth, -who would have pursued with implacable animosity -the man who befriended and housed the outlaw. -Moreover, Thorir had his spies everywhere, and -Grettir found he had to shift quarters repeatedly to -escape his deadly enemy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, when the first snows fell Grettir sent his man -away with his horses across country to Biarg, and -he went further away from where Thorir was; but -never stayed long anywhere, nor gave his real -name. He had no relatives in this part of the -island, and no friends.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, a little before Yule—that is Christmas—he -came to a farm called Sandheaps, on that river -which is called the Quivering Flood. This farm -belonged to a widow woman called Steinvor, who -had recently lost her husband.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir came and offered his services; he said his -name was Guest, that he was out of work, and that -he had come there because he heard she was short -of hands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Steinvor looked at him, and saw that he was a -very powerfully-built man, and that there was a -certain dignity and nobility in his face; so she -accepted him, against the opinion of the rest in the -house, who were frightened at the appearance of -Grettir, and did not know what to make of him, -whether he were an ordinary human being or a wild -man, half mountain-goblin or troll.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It came to pass on Christmas-eve that the widow -Steinvor was very desirous to go to church, but the -church was on the further side of the river, and -there was no bridge.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir heard Steinvor lament that she could not -go to church, so he said bluntly: "You can go. I -will attend you and see you over the water."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then she made ready for worship, and took her -little daughter with her. Now, at times the river -froze hard across, and then it was possible to cross -on the ice. At other times it might be traversed at -a ford. But when Grettir came to the side of the -Quivering Flood, it was plain to him that by the ice -the water could not be crossed. For there had been -a rapid thaw, and now the river was overflowed and -very full of water; and, moreover, it was rolling -down great masses of ice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Steinvor saw the condition of the river, she -said, "There is plainly no way across for horse or -man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I suppose there is a ford somewhere," said -Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," answered Steinvor, "there is a ford at -this place; but I do not see how it is to be traversed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I will carry you across," said Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Carry over the little maiden first," said the -widow. "She is the lightest."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't care about making two journeys when -one will suffice," answered Grettir. "Come, jump -up; I will carry you in my arms."</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 61%" id="figure-87"> -<span id="fording-the-quivering-flood"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="FORDING THE QUIVERING FLOOD." src="images/img-297.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">FORDING THE QUIVERING FLOOD.</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>The widow crossed herself, and said, "That will -never do. How can you manage such a burden?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But without more ado Grettir caught up Steinvor -on his arm, and then he picked up the little girl -and set her on her mother's lap, and strode into the -water; they were on his left arm, but he kept the -right free. They were so frightened that they durst -not cry out. He waded on in the river, and the -water foamed up to his breast; and then he saw a -great ice-floe coming bearing down upon him. He -put out his right hand, gave the mass of ice a thrust, -and it was whirled past them by the current. Then -he waded further, and the water washed about his -shoulders, and that was the deepest point. After -that the river shallowed, and he bore the mother -and child safely to the shore and set them down.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now Grettir turned to go back, and he took up a -great stone and set it on his head, and so waded -back. If he had tried to go through the water -without a stone he would have been washed away; -but the great stone on his head enabled him to stand -firm and resist the current of the water. Those who -have not been through an Icelandic river can hardly -imagine the intensity of the cold. I have ridden -through these rivers, my horse swimming under me, -and when I reached the further side have thrown -myself off and lain on the sand for a quarter of an -hour before I could recover from the numbness -caused by the deadly cold; for some of these rivers -are as broad as the Thames at London Bridge, and -the water is milky because full of undissolved snow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Steinvor reached the church every one was -astonished to see her, and asked how she had -managed to get across the Quivering Flood. But when -the priest heard the story, he called Steinvor aside, -and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mind and do not say too much about your new -man; do not talk about his strength, and set folk -a-wondering who he may be. I have my own -opinion, and I think you will do well to house him, -and say nothing to anyone about his being in any -way remarkable."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And now there comes into the saga of Grettir a -story which is certainly untrue, but how it comes in -can be made out pretty easily.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The real truth was, as the saga writer confesses, -that Grettir remained hidden at Sandheaps all that -winter, and no one in the country round knew that -he was there. But then, the saga writer did not feel -satisfied with such a dull winter, in which nothing -happened; so, to fill out his story and say -something interesting, he worked into his history a -wonderful tale. The story, which I tell in my own -words, is this:—</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">The Story of the Stream-Troll</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>There is on the Quivering Flood some miles below -Sandheaps a mighty foss, or waterfall. The whole -river pours over a ledge in a thundering, magnificent -cascade. The stream in the middle is broken -by an island. You can hear the roar of the falling -water for a long way around, and see the spray -thrown up from the fall like a cloud or column of -steam rising high into the air. This waterfall is -called Goda-foss, and was long supposed to be the -finest in the island; but there is another, which I -was the first to see, on the Jokull-river, called -Detti-foss, which is infinitely finer, but which is in a -region of utter desert of sand and volcanic crater, -many miles from any human habitation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It happens that there is a curious black lava rock -standing near the river, higher up than the fall, -which bears a quaint resemblance to an old woman, -and this stone is called The Old Hag; and the story -goes that it is a troll-woman turned to stone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, you must know that throughout Norway and -Iceland, and, indeed, wherever the Scandinavian race -is found, a superstition exists that every river has -its spirit, that lives in the river; and it was held -that these river-spirits demanded a sacrifice of a -human life, at least once a year. If a sacrifice were -not given to them, then they took some man or -woman, when crossing the water, and carried the -victim away. And in heathen times there can be -no doubt whatever that human sacrifices were -offered to every river; generally an evildoer or a -prisoner was thrown in and drowned, to propitiate -the Stream-churl, as he was called, so that he should -not snap at and carry off other and more valuable -lives. Wherever there was a cataract, there the -Stream-churl was believed to live, hidden away -behind the curtain of falling water. If the stream was -small, then this spirit or demon was small; if, -however, it were a mighty river, then the spirit was a -great troll or giant. Even to this day in Iceland -and Norway, the ignorant and superstitious believe -that there are these Stream-churls, and tell stories -about them, and cannot but suspect that, when anyone -is drowned, it is the Stream-churl exacting his toll.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, it is quite certain that Steinvor, although -she was a Christian, believed in there being a great -Stream-churl living under Goda-foss; and as she had -lost her husband and one of her servants who had -been drowned in the Quivering Flood, she held that -they had been carried off by the Troll of the waterfall.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There had been, as it happened, something -mysterious about the death of Steinvor's husband. Two -years before Grettir came to Sandheaps, on Christmas-eve, -he had disappeared. She had gone off to see -some friends at a distance, and when she returned -home next day she heard that her husband had not -been seen—he was gone, and not a trace of him -remained. It occurred to her that in all probability -he had gone across the river to church, and had been -carried off by the river—that is, by the Stream-churl. -But she could be certain of nothing, and she was -greatly distressed because she could not give his -body burial. A year passed and not a word about her -husband could she hear. His body had not be -found anywhere washed up by the river, supposing -he had been drowned.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next year she lost one of her men-servants in the -same way. He vanished, and none knew how or -whither he had gone. If he had run away, she -would probably have had tidings of him; but she -heard none, and his body was also never found.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>I have no doubt that she told Grettir about this, -and also that she believed that the Stream-churl -who lived under Goda-foss had carried off both her -husband and the servant. I believe also that, to -satisfy her, Grettir undertook to look, and that he -actually dived under the fall, and came up and -searched between the sheet of falling water and the -rock, and found—nothing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That is the foundation of a wonderful story which -has found its way into the saga. It did not satisfy -those who told the tale of Grettir that he should -have spent the winter at Sandheaps and done -nothing—that he should have dived under Goda-foss -and found nothing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So by degrees old nursery tales got mixed up with -this incident about Grettir's search for the -Stream-churl, and all was worked into a wonderful story, -which you shall hear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On that night on which Grettir had carried Steinvor -across the river, he returned to the farm, and -lay down in his bed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When midnight arrived, then a great din was -heard outside, and presently the hall door was thrown -open and in through it came a gigantic woman, a -Troll-wife, with a trough in one hand and a huge -chopper in the other.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As she entered she peered about her, and saw -Grettir where he lay, and she ran at him. Then -he jumped up and went to meet her, and they fell -a-wrestling terribly, and struggled together so -furiously, that all the panelling of the hall side was -broken.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She was the stronger, and she dragged Grettir -towards the door, and forth towards the entrance, -in spite of all his efforts. She had got him as far -as the entrance, when there he made a final struggle, -and in the struggle the door-posts and fittings were -torn from their place, and fell outwards.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the Troll-woman laboured away with him -towards the river, and right down towards the gulfs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir was exceedingly weary, yet he saw that -his only chance was to make a last effort, or be flung -by her over the edge into the deep, boiling river.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All night they contended in such fashion, and -ever was he drawing nearer to the edge. But just -as she was preparing to fling him into the water, he -got his right hand free, and he swiftly seized his -short-sword, and struck off her arm; and at that -moment the sun rose, and the Troll-woman was -turned into stone. There she stands with her -amputated arm-socket, as a mass of black basalt or lava -to this day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>If the reader will recall the story of Grettir's -struggle with Glam at Thorod's-stead, in the valley -of Shadows, he will see that this is only the same -story over again almost in every particular,—except -that the first fight was with a man, and this is with -a woman. The reason why this story was concocted -and put in here, was to account for the stone figure -which stands by the river, and which is called the -Troll-wife. So far the story carries its character on -its face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now we will go on to the next part of the tale. -It did not satisfy people that Grettir should have -dived under Goda-foss and found nothing, so the -story was thus told:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the goodwife, Steinvor, came from church, -she thought that her house had been rudely handled; -so she went to Grettir and asked him what had -occurred. Then he told her all, and she prayed him -to go and make a search for her husband's bones, -under Goda-foss.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir consented, but he asked that the priest -might be sent for. His name was Stone. Steinvor -sent for him, and Stone was curious to know whether -his suspicions about this stranger were true. So he -asked him questions, but Grettir answered that if -the priest wanted to know who he was, he must find -out. The priest laughed at the story of the Troll-wife, -and said he did not believe a word about the -struggle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir said, "Well, priest, I see that you -have no faith in my tale; now I propose that you -accompany me to Goda-foss, and we will search for -the Troll himself, and see if we can recover the bones -of Steinvor's husband."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The priest, Stone, agreed, and they went together -to the side of the waterfall, and they had a rope with -them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Stone shook his head, and he said, "It would be -too risky for anyone to venture down there."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I will go," said Grettir. "But you mind the rope."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The priest drove a peg into the sward on the cliff, -and heaped stones over it, so as to make the end -firm, and then he seated himself by the heap.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir made a loop in the end of the rope, -and put a stone through the loop, and threw the -stone down, and the end of the rope went to the -bottom of the gulf.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How are you going down?" asked Stone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shall dive," said Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he stripped, but girt on a short-sword, and -so leaped off the cliff into the foss. The priest saw -only the soles of his feet as he went into the water, -and then saw no more.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, Grettir had gone in below the fall, and he -dived and went under the curtain of water and -came up near the rock. The whirlpool below the -falls was so strong that he had a desperate struggle -with the water before he could reach the rock.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he rose, he saw that the water fell over a -lip of rock, quite clear, and that in the face of the -rock was a cavern, and that smoke issued from this -cave, and mingling with the spray and foam passed -away, and was not discerned beyond.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir climbed over the stones into the cave, and -there he saw a great fire flaming from amidst brands -of drift-wood; and there was the Stream-churl seated -there, a great Troll with a hideous face. When he -saw Grettir he roared and jumped up, and caught -a glaive that was near him, and smote at the -newcomer. Grettir hewed back at him with his -short-sword, and smote the handle of the glaive and broke -it. Then the giant stretched back for a sword that -hung up to a peg against the side of the cave, but as -he was thus leaning back Grettir smote him across -the breast, and cut through to the ribs, and gashed -open his belly. The blood poured forth out of the -cave and mingled with the stream. When the priest -saw the bloody foam beneath the fall, he was so -frightened that he ran away, for he made sure that -Grettir was dead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir remained in the cave, standing across the -giant, till he had killed him. Then he took up a -flaming brand and searched the cave through. He -found nothing more than dead men's bones, and -these he put together into a bag, threw that over -his shoulder, and went again into the water.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He rose beyond the foss and looked up, but could -see nothing of the priest; so he caught the rope, -and by means of that he swarmed up to the top of -the cliff.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he sat down, and with a sharp knife he cut -runes on a staff. And what he wrote was this:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Down into the gulf I went,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Where the rocks are widely rent;</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Where the swirling waters fall</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>O'er the black basaltic wall;</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Where, with voice of thunder, leap</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>In the foaming darkling deep.</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>There the stream with icy wave</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Washes the grim giant's cave."</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>He had cut as much as he could on one stick, so -now he took another, and on that he cut:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Dreadful dweller in the cave</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Underneath the falling wave,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Fierce at me he brandished glaive;</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Full of rage at me he drove,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Desperate we together strove.</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Lo! I smote his halft in twain,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Lo! I smote and he was slain,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Bleeding from each riven vein."</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Then Grettir carried the bag of bones and the -staves to the church, and laid them in the porch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning when the priest came to the church -he found the bag of bones and the staves.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Such is the story.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, it is clear that a good bit of it is simply -transferred from the story of Grettir going down -into the cairn of Karr the Old.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The real truth of the tale is no more than what -has been stated, that Grettir went under the -waterfall and found nothing. It is, of course, possible -that he may have hoaxed the priest; but I think it -more probable that all this marvellous matter is -simply tacked on to one simple fact, and that it was -taken, partly from the story of Grettir in the barrow -of Karr, and partly from that of his struggle with Glam.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>What the saga writer does admit is that the -versions of the story do not quite agree, and that—in -spite of this wonderful achievement, folks did not -know that Grettir was at Sandheaps that winter.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="how-grettir-was-driven-about"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXXIV.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">HOW GRETTIR WAS DRIVEN ABOUT.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Thorir comes too Late—The Needle of Basalt—The -Island of Drangey—The Terrors of the Dark—Brother -holds to Brother</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>After a while rumours reached Thorir of Garth -that either Grettir, or someone very like -Grettir,—a tall, powerful man with reddish hair, -and one who gave no account of whence he came,—was -lodging at Sandheaps, and Thorir made ready -to go there after him. Fortunately Grettir, or -rather the housewife Steinvor, heard of his intention, -and so Grettir made off out of the valley of -the Quivering Flood before Thorir came there in -quest of him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He escaped to Maddervales, in the Horg-river -Dale. This is a noble valley of the Horg River, -with chains of snowy peaks on each side, of peculiar -shape, barred with precipices of basalt, on which lie -slopes of snow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Some way up this valley are some very remarkable -spires of basaltic rock, one of which that is like -a needle is said to have been climbed by Grettir -whilst staying in this valley. It is not so said in -the saga, but I was told so on the spot, and the tale -goes that when he climbed to the top he slipped his -belt round the needle, and there it hangs round it -still—but no one has been up since to find if it be -there where he left it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He could not remain long there, for Gudmund -the Rich, who was farmer at Maddervales, was afraid -to house him for long. Thorir of Garth would come -and burn his house if he harboured Grettir. However, -he kept him for some little while, and then he -gave him advice what he should do.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It had come to such a pass with Grettir now that -no one dared to shelter him for long, and Thorir had -spies everywhere to inform him where Grettir was.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gudmund the Rich said to Grettir: "You can -find no safety anywhere that men dwell; for if there -be not treachery, yet the news flies about that you -are there. So I advise you to go where you shall -be alone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where shall I go?" asked Grettir. "I am hunted -like a dog."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is an island," answered Gudmund, "lying -in the Skagafirth, called Drangey. It is a place -excellent for defence, as no one can reach it without -a ladder. If you could get upon Drangey, no one -could come on you unawares. You would see -anyone who came by boat to the island, and you could -pull up a rope-ladder, without which no one would -be able to ascend."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I will try that," said Grettir; "but I have -become so fearsome in the dark that not even at the -risk of my life can I endure to be alone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," said Gudmund, "that is my counsel. -Trust none but yourself. Treachery lies where least -expected."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir thanked him for his advice, and went -away west to see his mother. And he was most -joyfully welcomed by her and his young brother -Illugi at Biarg. There he remained some nights—not -many; for Ramsfirth was only over a brow of -hill, and the tidings of his return home was sure in -a few days to reach the relatives of Oxmain, when -he would again be set on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>I said, after giving an account of Grettir's -adventure at Thorhall's-stead with Glam, that there must -have been something of fact in that story, and not -pure fiction; and now it has been seen how that -event coloured and affected his whole after life, -leaving his nerves so shaken, that he could not -drive off the impression then made on him, and -he was ready to run serious risks rather than be -subject to the terrors that came on him in the dark -when alone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He told his mother and Illugi how it was with -him, and how that he had been advised to go to -Drangey, but that he could not; he dare not, in the -long winter night, be on that lonely islet by himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Illugi his brother said, "Grettir, I will be -with you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Brother holds to brother as hand clasps hand," -answered Grettir, and so they parted. All that -summer he wandered about in wild places, shifting -his quarters repeatedly, and living how he could.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="on-the-isle"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXXV.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">ON THE ISLE.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Illugi will go to Drangey—Asdis gives Consent—Asdis -prophesies Woe—Within Sight of Drangey—Glaum -becomes Grettir's Servant—Thorwald rows Grettir -to Drangey—Thorbiorn Hook—The Bonders visit the -Island—Grettir in Possession—An Inaccessible Spot</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>When summer was now over, and the first snow -of winter began to fall, when the days were -rapidly shortening, and the sun had gone out of the -north to the south, where it began to move in a -rapidly narrowing arc, Grettir returned to Biarg -and remained there a while. "But," says the saga, -"so great grew his fear in the dark that he durst -go nowhere as soon as dusk set in." We can see -that the many years strain on his nerves had broken -them. Hunted about as a wild beast, always forced -to be on his guard, never able to sleep without fear -of being murdered in his sleep, the trial had told on -him. This was now the winter of 1028. He was -aged but thirty-one; his strength of body was not -abated, only his nervous force. He had been in -outlawry altogether fifteen years, three for the -slaying of Skeggi, then he had been outlawed by King -Olaf in 1016. On his return to Iceland he had -been outlawed in 1017; this was the eleventh year -of his outlawry at the suit of Thorir of Garth, an -outlawry not only unjust, but according to general -opinion illegal, because he had been tried and -sentenced in his absence, and without any witnesses -having been called to establish his guilt—condemned -on hearsay evidence, and he never allowed to defend -himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now Illugi, Grettir's sole surviving brother, was -aged fifteen, and was a very handsome, honest-looking -boy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Grettir," said he, "you know what I said. I -will go with you to Drangey, if you will take me. -I know not that I will be of much help to you, but -this I know, that I will be ever true to you, and -will never run from you so long as you stand up. -Besides, I shall like to be with you, for here at home -we are ever in anxiety for news about you, always -fearing the worst; but if I am at your side, I shall -know how you fare."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I would rather have you with me than anyone -else," answered Grettir. "But I cannot take you -unless our mother consent."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then said Asdis, "Now I can see that I have the -choice of evils. I can ill spare Illugi; yet I know -your trouble, Grettir, and that something must be -done for you. It grieves me, my sons, to see you -both leave me; yet I will not withhold my youngest -from you, Grettir. It is right that brother should -help brother."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That rejoiced Illugi. Then Asdis gave her sons -what things she thought they might want on the -island, and they made them ready to depart.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>She led them outside the farm inclosure, and then -she took farewell of them, saying, "My two sons! -There you depart from me, and I dreamed last night -that you left me for ever, and would fall together. -What is fated none may fly from. Never shall I see -you again, either of you. Be it so, that one fate -overtake you both. In my dream I saw your bones -whitening on Drangey. Be careful and watchful. -My dreams have troubled me greatly. Above all -beware of witchcraft. None can cope with the craft -of the old."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When she had said this she wept sore.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then said Grettir, "Weep not, mother, for if we -be set on with weapons it will be said of thee that -thou hadst men and not girls for thy children. Live -on well, and be hale."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So they parted. Grettir and Illugi went to their -relatives and visited them, never, however, staying -long in any place, and so on by Swine Lake, a long -sheet of water in a shallow basin, to the Blend River. -This river is of the colour of milk and water, because -it is so full of undissolved snow, and milk and water -is called Bland, </span><em class="italics">i.e.</em><span> Blend, in Icelandic. Another -river enters it that is called the Black Stream, -because of the dark colour of the water. Grettir -turned up the valley of the Black River and then -over a pass by a pretty lake lying in a mountain -lap, down into a broad marshy valley in which are -three or four rivers, and boiling springs pouring -forth clouds of steam on the hill-slopes. The valley -is commanded by a beautiful mountain peak, called -the Measuring Peak, because the natives thereabouts -reckon distances from it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir and Illugi went down this valley till they -reached the sea, and now there opened before them -a glorious view of the fiord, extending out north -about forty miles, and from ten to fifteen miles -across, between mountains and precipitous cliffs. A -little way back from the eastern shore stood up the -Unadals Jokull, crowned with perpetual snows and -with glaciers rolling down the sides, and on the -west, close to the sea, seeming to rise in a wall out -of it and running up into fantastic peaks, was the -range of Tindastoll, famous for its cornelians and -agates and other precious stones. In the offing, -fifteen miles out, right in the midst of the fiord, -stood up the isle of Drangey with sheer cliffs, about -which the sea perpetually danced and foamed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir and Illugi skirted the shore on the west. -The wind was blowing cold, and snow was driving -before it, as they passed a farm. The farmer stood -in his door, and saw a great man stride by with an -axe over his shoulder, his hood thrown back, and his -wild red hair blowing about in the gale. "Verily," -said the farmer, "that must be a strange fellow not -to cover his head with his hood in such weather as -this." Near this little farm the brothers stumbled -upon a tall, thin man, dressed in rags and with a -very big head. They asked each other's names, and -the fellow called himself Glaum. He was out of -work, and he went along with the brothers chatting, -and telling them all the gossip of the neighbourhood. -Then Glaum asked if they were in want of -a servant, and Grettir gladly accepted him, and the -man became thenceforth his constant attendant. -But the fellow was a sad boaster, and most people -thought him both a fool and a coward. He was -not fond of work, and he spent his time strolling -about the country picking up and retailing news.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir and his brother and Glaum reached a -farm called Reykir as the day closed in, where was -a hot spring in the farm paddock. The farmer's -name was Thorwald; and Grettir asked him to put -him across in a boat to Drangey. Thorwald shook -his head and said, "I shall get into trouble with -those who have rights of pasturage on the island. -I had rather not."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir offered him a bag of silver which his -mother had given him, and at the sight of this, -Thorwald raised his eyebrows and thought that he -might perhaps do what was asked. The distance -was just five miles.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So on a moonshiny night Thorwald got three of -his churls and they rowed Grettir and the two who -went with him over. On reaching his destination -Grettir was well pleased with the spot, for it was -covered with a profusion of grass, and the sides were -so precipitous that it seemed a sheer impossibility -for anyone to ascend it without the aid of the -rope-ladder that hung from strong staples at the summit. -In summer the place would swarm with sea-birds, -and at the time there were eighty sheep left on the -island for fattening.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A good many farmers had rights of pasturage on -the island. Hialti of Hof was one, whose brother's -name was Thorbiorn Hook, of whom more hereafter. -Another was Haldor, who lived at Head-strand; he -had married the sister of these brothers. Biorn, Eric, -and Tongue-stone were the names of three others.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorbiorn Hook was a hard-headed, ill-disposed -fellow. His father had married a second time, and -there was no love lost between the stepmother and -Thorbiorn. It is said that one day as The Hook was -sitting at draughts, she passed, and looking over his -shoulder laughed, because he had made a bad move. -Thorbiorn Hook thereupon said something abusive -and insulting; this so enraged her that she snatched -up a draught-man, and pressing it against his -eye-socket, drove the eyeball out. He started to his -feet, and with the draught-board struck her over the -head such a blow that she took to her bed, and -died of the injury. The Hook now went from bad -to worse, and leaving home settled at Woodwick -on the fiord, a small farm. It will be understood -from this story that he was a violent and brutal -fellow, and that, indeed, the life in his father's house -had not been of an orderly description.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As many as twenty farmers claimed rights to -turn out their sheep on Drangey in summer. The -way they managed it is the way still employed by -their successors. They take the sheep out in boats, -and then put them over their shoulders, with the -feet tied under their chins, and so they climb the -rope-ladder, carrying the sheep up on their backs. -Though all these farmers claimed rights on Drangey, -The Hook and his brother had the largest share, -that is to say, the right to turn out more sheep -than the rest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, about the time of the winter solstice, that -is just before Yule, the bonders made ready to visit -the island, and bring home their sheep for slaughtering -for the Christmas feasting. They rowed out -in a large boat, and on nearing the island were -much surprised to see figures moving on top of the -cliffs. How anyone had got there without their -knowledge puzzled them, for Thorwald had kept his -counsel, and told no one what he had done for -Grettir. They pulled hard for the landing-place, -where hung the ladder, but Grettir drew it up -before they landed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The bonders shouted to know who were on the -crags, and Grettir, looking over, told his name and -those of his companions. The farmers then asked -how he had got there? who had put him across?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir answered, "If you very much wish to -know, it was not one of you below now speaking to -us. It was someone else, who had a good boat and -a pair of lusty arms."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let us fetch our sheep away," called the bonders, -"then you come to land with us. We will not -make you pay for the sheep you have eaten, and we -will do you no harm."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well offered," answered Grettir; "but he who -takes keeps hold; and a bird in the hand is worth -two in the bush. Believe me, I will not leave this -island till the time of my outlawry is expired, -unless I be carried from it dead."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The bonders were silenced, it seemed to them -that they had got an ugly customer on Drangey, to -get rid of whom would be no easy matter; so they -rowed home, very ill-satisfied with the result of -their expedition.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The news spread like wildfire, and was talked -about all through the neighbourhood. Thorir of -Garth was the more embittered, because he could -see no way in which Grettir could be reached and -overmastered in this inaccessible spot.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="of-grettir-on-heron-ness"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXXVI.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">OF GRETTIR ON HERON-NESS.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Grettir goes to Heron-ness—At the Games—The Hook's -Challenge—Amongst Strangers—The Oath of Safe-conduct—An -old Formula—A Surprise for the Bonders—Regretting the -Oath—The two Brothers—Grettir returns to Drangey</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Winter passed, and at the beginning of summer -the whole district met at an assize held -on the Herons'-ness, a headland in the Skaga-firth, -between the rivers that discharge into the fiord. -It is, in fact, the seaward point of a large island in -the delta of the river that divides about eight miles -higher up, inland. The gathering was thronged, and -the litigations and merry-makings made the assize -last over many days. Grettir guessed what was -going on by seeing a number of boats pass to the -head of the fiord. He became restless, and at last -announced to his brother that he intended being -present at the assize, cost what it might. Illugi -thought it was sheer madness, but Grettir was -resolute. He begged his brother and Glaum to watch -the ladder and await his return.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, Grettir was on very good terms with the -farmer at Reykir, and with some others on that -side of the firth, and they were not unwilling to -help him. Sometimes his mother sent things to -the brothers that she thought they would need, and -then there were not wanting men to take these over -to the island. So Grettir got put across by his -friend Thorwald to the mainland, and he borrowed -of him a set of old clothes, and thus attired he went -along the coast boldly to Heron-ness. He had on a -fur cap, which was drawn closely over his eyes, and -concealed his face, so that no one might recognize -him. Now, in parts of Iceland, the flies are such -torments that men have to wear literally cloth -helmets, with only nose and eyes showing, the cloth -fitting tight to the head, and round over the ears -and neck, exactly like a helmet, or a German knitted -sledging cap. When I was in Iceland, when the -flies were troublesome, I put my head into a -butterfly net, and buckled it round my neck tightly with -a leather strap. Now, Grettir's cap was something -like those I have described, and no one was surprised -at his wearing it, as the whole of that valley -is one vast marsh, and is infested with flies that -blacken the air and madden men and beasts.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir thus attired sauntered between the booths -erected on the headland, till he reached the spot -where games were going on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, Hialti and Thorbiorn Hook were the chief -men in these sports. Hook was specially noisy and -boisterous, and drove men together to the sports, -and whether men liked it or not, he insisted on -their attendance. He would take this man and that -by the hands and drag him forth to the field, where -the wrestling and other games went on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, first wrestled those who were weakest, and -then each man in turn, and great fun there was. -But when most men had tried their strength -except the very strongest, it was asked who would be -a match for Hialti and The Hook. These two being -the strongest and the roughest of all, went round -inviting each man in turn to wrestle with them, -but all declined.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorbiorn Hook, looking round, spied a tall -fellow in the shabbiest and quaintest of suits, sitting -by himself, speaking to no one. Thorbiorn walked -up to him, laid his hands on his shoulders and asked -him to wrestle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man sat still, and The Hook could not drag -him from his seat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well!" exclaimed The Hook, "no one else has -kept his place before me to-day. Who are you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Guest," answered Grettir shortly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A wished-for guest thou wilt be, if thou -furnish some entertainment to the company," said -Thorbiorn Hook.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir answered, "I am indisposed to make a -fool of myself before strangers. How am I to know, -supposing that I give you a fall, that I shall not be -set upon by you or your kindred, and be unfairly treated?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then many exclaimed that there should be fair play.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is all very well your saying Fair-play now; but -will you say Fair-play, and stick to it, supposing I -get the better of this man. You are all akin, or -friends, and I am a stranger to you all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Again he was assured that no one would resent -what he did.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But see," said Grettir, "I have not wrestled -for many years, and have lost all skill in the -matter."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Yet they pressed him the more.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he said, "I will wrestle with whom you -will, if you will swear to show me no violence so -long as I am among you as a guest."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This all agreed to, and an oath of safe conduct -was made, the form of which is so curious that it -must be given.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A man named Hafr recited the terms of the oath, -and the rest agreed to it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Here set I peace among all men towards this -man Guest, who sits before us, and in this oath I -bind all magistrates and well-to-do bonders, and all -men who bear swords, and all men whatsoever in -this district, present or absent, named or unnamed. -These are to show peace to, and give free passage -to the aforenamed stranger, that he may sport, -wrestle, make merry, abide with us and depart from -us, without stay, whether he go by land or flood. -He shall have peace where he is, in all places where -he may be till he reaches his house whence he set -out, so long and no longer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I set this treaty of peace between him and us, -our kinsmen male and female, our servants and -children. May the breaker of this compact be cast -out of the favour of God and good men, out of his -heavenly inheritance and the society of just men -and angels. May he be an outcast from land to its -farthest limits, far as men chase wolves, as Christians -frequent churches, as heathen men offer sacrifices, -as flame burns, earth produces herb, as baby calls its -mother, and mother rocks her child; far as fire is -kindled, ships glide, lightnings flicker, sun shines, -snow lies, Finns slide on snow-shoes, fir-trees grow, -falcons fly on a spring day with a breeze under their -wings; far as heaven bends, earth is peopled, winds -sweep the water into waves, churls till corn; he -shall be banished from churches and the company -of Christian men, from heathen folk, from house -and den, from every house—save hell! Now let us -be agreed whether we be on mountain or shore, on -ship or skate, on ground or glacier, at sea or in -saddle, as friend with friend, as brother with -brother, as father with son, in this our compact. Lay -we now hand to hand, and hold we true peace and -keep every word of this oath."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, this formula is very curious. It must have -been brought by the Icelandic settlers with them -from Norway, for parts of it are inappropriate to -their land. There are no Finns there, nor do -fir-trees grow there, nor is any corn tilled. But all -that about Christians is of later origin.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After a little hesitation the oath was taken by all.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then said Grettir, "You have done well, only -beware of breaking your oath. I am ready to do my -part, without delay, to fulfil your wishes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thereupon he flung aside his hood and garments, -and the assembled bonders looked at each other, -and were disconcerted, for they saw that they had -in their midst Grettir Asmund's son. They were -silent, and thought that they had taken the oath -somewhat unadvisedly, and they whispered the one -into another, to find if there were not some -loophole by which they might evade the obligation to -observe the oath.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come now," said Grettir, "let me know your -purpose, for I shall not long stand stripped. It will -be worse for you than for me if you break your -oath, for it will go down in story to the end of time -that the men of Heron-ness swore and were perjured."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He received no answer. The chiefs moved away; -some wanted to break the truce, and argued that -an oath taken to an outlaw was not legally binding; -others insisted that the oath must be observed. -Then Grettir sang:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Many trees-of-wealth (</span><em class="italics">men</em><span>) this morn,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Failed the well-known well to know,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Two ways turn the sea-flame-branches (</span><em class="italics">men</em><span>),</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>When a trick on them is tried;</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Falter folk in oath fulfilling,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Hafr's talking lips are dumb."</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Then Tongue-stone said, "You think so, do you, -Grettir? Well, I will say this of you, you are a -man of dauntless courage. Look how the chiefs are -deep in discussion how to deal with you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir sang:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Shield-lifters (</span><em class="italics">men</em><span>) rubbing of noses,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Shield-tempest-senders (men) shake beards,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Fierce-hearted serpent's-lair-scatterers (</span><em class="italics">men</em><span>),</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Lay their heads one 'gainst another,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Now that they know, are regretting</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>The peace they have sworn to to-day."</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>In these staves a number of periphrases for men -or warriors are used—and the use of these -periphrases constitute the charm of these verses.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Hialti of Hof burst away from the rest, and -said, "No, never, never shall it be said of us men of -Heron-ness, that we have broken an oath because -we have found it inconvenient to keep it. Grettir -shall be at full liberty to go to his place in peace, -and woe betide him who lays hand on him, to do -him an injury. But an oath no longer binds us -should he venture ashore again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All except Thorbiorn Hook, Hialti's brother, agreed -to this, and felt their minds and consciences relieved, -that he had spoken out as a man of honour. And -thus was seen how of those two brothers, rude and -violent though both were, Hialti had some nobleness -in him that was lacking in the other.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The wrestling began by Grettir being matched -with Thorbiorn Hook, and after a very brief struggle -Grettir freed himself from his antagonist, leaped -over his back, caught him by the belt, lifted him off -his legs, and flung him over his back. This is a -throw called "showing the white mare," among -Cornish wrestlers of the present day, and a very -dangerous throw it is, for it sometimes breaks the -back of the man thrown. The Hook, however, picked -himself up, and the wrestling continued with unabated -vigour, and it was impossible to tell which side had -the mastery, for, though Grettir was matched against -both brothers, and after each bout with one brother -fell to with the other, he was never thrown down. -After all three were covered with blood and bruises -the match was closed, the judges deciding that the -two brothers conjointly were not stronger than -Grettir alone, though they were each of them as -powerful as two ordinary able-bodied men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir at once left the place of gathering, rejecting -all the entreaties of the farmers that he would leave -Drangey. And, so, after all but The Hook had thanked -him for his wrestling and praised his activity and -strength, he departed. He was put across from -Reykir to his island, and was received with open -arms by Illugi.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There now they abode peaceably, and Grettir told -his brother and his churl Glaum the story of what -had taken place at the assize, and thus the summer -wore away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was much talk through the island of Iceland -about this adventure, and all good men approved the -conduct of the men of the Skagafiord that they had -kept the oath they had so inconsiderately taken.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="of-hoering-s-leap"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXXVII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">OF HŒRING'S LEAP.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The Piebald Ram—In want of Fire—Not born to be -Drowned—Thorwald aids Grettir—A Stratagem—Hœring -climbs the Cliff—Hœring's Leap</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The smaller farmers began seriously to feel their -want of the islet Drangey for pasture in summer, -and, as there seemed no chance of their getting rid -of Grettir, they sold their rights to Thorbiorn Hook, -who set himself in earnest to devise a plan by which -he might possess himself of the island.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Grettir had been two winters on the island, -he had eaten all the sheep except one piebald ram, -with magnificent horns, which became so tame that -he ran after them wherever they went, and in the -evening came to the hut Grettir had erected and -butted at the door till let in.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The brothers liked this place of exile, as there was -no dearth of eggs and birds, besides which, some -drift-wood was thrown upon the strand, and served -as fuel.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir and Illugi spent their days in clambering -among the rocks, and rifling nests, and the occupation -of the thrall was to collect drift timber and keep -up the fire in the hut. He was expected to remain -awake and watch the fire whilst the others slept. -He got very tired of his life on the islet, became -idle, morose, and reserved. One night, -notwithstanding Grettir's warnings to him to be more -careful, as they had no boat, he let the fire go out. -Grettir was very angry, and told Glaum that he -deserved a sound thrashing for his neglect. The -thrall replied that he loathed the life he led; and -that it seemed it was not enough to Grettir that he -should keep him there as a prisoner, he must also -maltreat him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir consulted his brother what was best to be -done, and Illugi replied that the only thing that could -be done was to await the arrival of a boat from the -friendly farmer at Reykir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We shall have to wait long enough for that," -said Grettir. "The bonders have taken it ill that -he has favoured us, and he is now unwilling to be -seen visiting Drangey. The only chance is for me -to swim ashore and secure a light."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do not attempt that!" exclaimed Illugi. "That -is what you did in Norway, and that led to all your -misfortune."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This case is different," answered Grettir. "Then -I brought fire for ill-conditioned men, now it is for -ourselves. Then I knew not who was on the other -side, but now I can get the fire for the asking from -Thorwald."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But the distance is so great!" remonstrated Illugi.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do not fear for me," said Grettir; "I was not -born to be drowned."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From Drangey to Reykir is, as already said, about -five English miles.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir prepared for swimming, by dressing in -loose thin drawers and a sealskin hood; he tied his -fingers together, that they might offer more resistance -to the water when he struck out.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The day was fine and warm. Grettir started in -the evening, when the tide was in his favour, setting -in; and his brother anxiously watched him from the -rocks. At sunset he reached the land, after having -floated and swum the whole distance. Immediately -on coming ashore, he went to the warm spring and -bathed in it, before entering the house. The hall -door was open, and Grettir stepped in. A large fire -had been burning on the hearth, so that the room -was very warm; Grettir was so thoroughly exhausted -that he lay down beside the hot embers, and was -soon fast asleep. In the morning he was found by -the farmer's daughter, who gave him a bowl of milk, -and brought her father to him. Thorwald furnished -him with fire, and rowed him back to the island, -astonished beyond measure at his achievement, in -having swum such a distance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, the farmers on the Skagafiord began to taunt -Thorbiorn Hook with his unprofitable purchase of -the island, and Hook was greatly irritated and -perplexed what to do.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>During the summer, a ship arrived in the firth, -the captain of which was a young and active man -called Hœring. He lodged with Thorbiorn Hook -during the autumn, and was continually urging his -host to row him out to Drangey, that he might try -to climb the precipitous sides of the island. The -Hook required very little pressing; and one fine -afternoon he rowed his guest out to Drangey, and -put him stealthily ashore, without attracting the -notice of those on the height. For in some places -the cliffs overhung, so that a boat passing beneath -could not be seen from above. Now Hœring had -lain in the bottom of the boat, covered with a piece -of sailcloth, so that the brothers saw nothing of him -as the boat was approaching the islet.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They saw and recognized Thorbiorn Hook and his -churls, and at once drew up the ladder. Now it was -whilst they were watching at the landing-place that -Thorbiorn put Hœring out on another point, where -the cliffs seemed possible to be climbed by a very -skilful man, and then came on to the usual landing -place, and there shouted to Grettir. Grettir replied, -and then Thorbiorn began the usual arguments to -persuade the outlaw to leave the isle. He promised -to give him shelter in his house the winter, if he -would do so. All was in vain. What he sought -was to divert Grettir's attention so as to allow time -and occasion for Hœring to climb the cliffs -unobserved and unresisted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The discussion went on but led to nothing. In the -meantime Hœring had managed most cleverly to get -up by a way never ascended by man before or after; -and when he came to the top and had his feet on the -turf, he saw where the brothers stood with their backs -turned towards him, and he thought that now an -opportunity had come for him to make himself a -great name. Grettir suspected nothing, and -continued talking to Thorbiorn, who was getting, or -feigning to get, angry, and used big and violent -words.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, as luck would have it, Illugi chanced to -turn his head, and he saw a man approaching from -behind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he cried out, "Brother! Brother! Here -comes a man at us with uplifted axe!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You go after him," said Grettir. "I will watch -at the ladder."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So Illugi started to his feet and went to meet -Hœring, and when the young merchant saw that he -was discovered, he fled away across the islet, and -Illugi went after him. And when Hœring came to -the edge he leaped down, hoping to fall into the sea; -but he had missed his reckoning, and he went upon -some skerries over which the waves tossed, and broke -every bone in his body, and so ended his life. The -spot is called Hœring's Leap to this day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Illugi came back, and Grettir asked him what had -been the end of the encounter. Illugi told him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, Thorbiorn," shouted Grettir; "we have had -enough of profitless talk. Go round to the other -side of the island and gather up the remains of your -friend."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Hook pushed off from the strand and returned -home, ill pleased with the result of the expedition, -and Grettir remained unmolested on Drangey the -ensuing winter.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="of-the-attempt-made-by-grettir-s-friends"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXXVIII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">OF THE ATTEMPT MADE BY GRETTIR's FRIENDS.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The New Law-man—The Outlawry almost at an End</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The ensuing summer, that is to say, the summer -of 1031, at the great annual assize at Thingvalla, -all Grettir's kin and friends brought up the -matter of outlawry, and contended that he ought to -have his sentence done away with. They said that -no man could be an outlaw all his life, that was not -a condition contemplated by their laws. They said -that he had been outlawed first in 1011 for the -slaying of Skeggi, and that he had been in outlawry -ever since, which made nineteen years.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The old law-man was dead, and now there was -another at the assize, whose name was Stein. He laid -down that no man might by law be in outlawry more -than twenty years. Now, when they came to reckon -since 1011 it was nineteen years. It was true that -he had been outlawed thrice, once for Skeggi, then -by King Olaf, and lastly by the court for the burning -of the sons of Thorir of Garth, still—the fact -remained that for nineteen years he had been an -outlaw, and Stein laid down that by next assize, that is -to say in one year, his outlawry would have expired.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thereat Grettir's kinsfolk were pleased, for they -thought that he would only have to spend one winter -more on Drangey, and afterwards his troubles -would be at an end; Thorir of Garth and his other -foes could no more pursue him, and the price set on -his head would fall away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But on the other hand, Thorir of Garth, who had -not become more charitable and forgiving as he grew -old, became still more incensed and impatient to have -Grettir killed before this year would expire, also -Thorbiorn Hook cast about how he might be avenged -for the deprivation of his rights over Drangey. The -men who had sold their claims came to Thorbiorn, -and told him he must do one of two things: get rid -of Grettir and assert his rights by turning out sheep -on the islet, or they would regard the sale as quashed, -by his non-usance of the pasture, and they would -reclaim their shares of the island as soon as Grettir's -outlawry was at an end, and he left the place.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="of-the-old-hag"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XXXIX.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">OF THE OLD HAG.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The Hook's Foster-mother—The Hag's Request—The -Witch in the Boat—The Hag's Dooming—An Unlucky -Throw—Working Bane—The Magic Runes</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Now it was so, that Thorbiorn Hook had a -foster-mother, a woman advanced in age, and of a -very malicious disposition. When the people of -Iceland accepted Christianity, she, in her heart, -remained a heathen, and would not be baptized and -have anything to do with the new religion. She -had always been reckoned a witch, but with the -introduction of Christianity witchcraft had been -made illegal, and anyone who had recourse to -sorcery was severely dealt with. The old woman had -not forgotten her incantations and strange -ceremonies, whereby she thought to be able to conjure -the spirits of evil, and send ill on such as offended her.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Thorbiorn Hook found that he could contrive -in no way to get Grettir out of Drangey, and -when he saw that if his expulsion were delayed, and -Grettir left of his own accord, he would forfeit the -money he had paid for the rights of pasturage on the -island, he went to his foster-mother, and told her -his difficulty, and pretty plainly let her understand -that as he could get help nowhere else, he did not -mind having recourse to the black art.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah!" cackled she, "I see how it is, when all else -fails, man's arms and man's wit, then you come to -the bed-ridden crone and seek her aid. Well, I will -assist you to the best of my power, on one condition, -and that is, that you obey me without questioning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Hook agreed to what she said, and so all -rested till August without the matter being again -alluded to.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then one beautiful day the hag said to Thorbiorn, -"Foster-son, the sea is calm and the sky bright, what -say you to our rowing over to Drangey and stirring -up the old strife with Grettir? I will go with you -and hear what he says, then I shall be able to judge -what fate lies before him, and I can death-doom him -accordingly."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Hook answered, "It is waste of labour going -out to Drangey. I have been there several times -and never return better off than when I went."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You promised to obey me without questioning," -said the crone. "Follow my advice and all will be -well for you and ill for Grettir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I will do as you bid me, foster-mother," said -Thorbiorn, "though I had sworn not to go back to -Drangey till I was sure I could work the bane of -Grettir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That man is not laid low hastily, and patience -is needed; but his time will come, and may be close -at hand. What the end of this visit will be I -cannot say. It is hid from me, but I know very well -that it will lead to his or to your destruction."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorbiorn ran out a long boat, and entered it -with twelve men. The hag sat in the bows coiled -up amongst rugs and wadmal. When they reached -the island, at once Grettir and Illugi ran to the -ladder, and Thorbiorn again asked if Grettir would -come to his house for the winter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir made the same reply as before, "Do what -you will, in this spot I await my fate."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now Thorbiorn saw that this expedition also was -likely to be resultless, and he became very angry. -"I see," he said, "that I have to do with an -ill-conditioned churl, who does not know how to accept a -good offer when made. I shall not come here again -with such an offer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That pleases me well," said Grettir, "for you and I -are not like to come to terms that will satisfy both."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At that moment the hag began to wriggle out of -her wraps in the bows. Grettir had not perceived -her hitherto. Now she screamed out, "These men -may be strong, but their strength is ebbing. They -may have had luck, but luck has left. See what a -difference there is between men. Thorbiorn makes -good offers, and such they blindly, foolishly reject. -Those who are blinded and cast away chances do -not have chances come to them again. And now -Grettir"—she raised her withered arms over her head—"I -doom you to all ill, I doom you to loss of health, -to loss of wisdom and of foresight. I doom you to -decline and to death. I doom your blood to fester, -and your brain to be clouded. I doom your marrow -to curdle and chill. Henceforth, so is my doom, all -good things will wane from you, and all evil things -will wax and overwhelm you. So be it." As she -spoke a shudder ran over Grettir's limbs, and he -asked who that imp was in the boat. Illugi told -him he fancied it must be that old heathen woman, -the foster-mother of Thorbiorn Hook.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Since the powers of evil are with our foes," said -Grettir, "how may we oppose them? Never before -has anything so shaken me with presentiment of evil -as have the curses of this witch. But she shall have -a reminder of her visit to Drangey."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thereupon he snatched up a large stone and threw -it at the boat, and it fell on the bundle of rags, in -the midst of which lay the old hag. As it struck -there rose a wild shriek from the witch, for the stone -had hit and broken her leg.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Brother!" exclaimed Illugi, "you should not -have done this."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Blame me not," answered Grettir gloomily. "It -had been well had the stone fallen on her head. But -I trow the working of her curse is begun, and what -I have done has been because my understanding and -wit are already clouded."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the return of Thorbiorn to the mainland the -crone was put to bed, and The Hook was less pleased -than ever with his trip to the island. His -foster-mother, however, consoled him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do not be discouraged," she said. "Now is -come the turning-point of Grettir's fortunes, and -his luck will leave him more and more as the light -dies away up to Yule. But the light dies and comes -again. With Grettir it will not be so, it will die, -and die, till it goes out in endless night."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are a confident woman, foster-mother," said -Thorbiorn.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When a month had elapsed, the old woman was -able to leave her bed, and to limp across the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One day she asked to be led down to the beach. -Thorbiorn gave her his arm, and she had her crutch, -and she hobbled down to where the water was lapping -on the shingle. And there, just washed up on -the beach, lay a log of drift-timber, just large enough -for a man to carry upon his shoulder. Then she -gave command that the log should be rolled over -and over that she might examine each side. The -log on one side seemed to have been charred, and -she sent to the house for a plane, and had the burnt -wood smoothed away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When that was done she dismissed every one save -her foster-son, and then with a long knife she cut -runes on the wood where it had been planed—that -is to say, words written in the peculiar characters -made of strokes which Odin was supposed to have -invented. Then she cut herself on the arm, and -smeared the letters she had cut with her blood. -After that she rose and began to leap and dance, -screaming a wild spell round the log, making the -most strange and uncouth contortions, and waving -her crutch in the air, making with it mysterious -signs over the log. Presently, when the incantation -was over, she ordered the log to be rolled back -into the sea. The tide was now ebbing, and with -the tide the log went out to sea further and further -from land till Thorbiorn saw it no more.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="how-the-log-came-to-drangey"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XL.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">HOW THE LOG CAME TO DRANGEY.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Food for the Winter—Cast up by the Sea—The Log -comes back again—The Worst is come—An ugly -Wound—The Hag's Revenge—Grettir sings his Great -Deeds—Presage of Evil</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>In the meantime Grettir, Illugi, and the churl -Glaum were on Drangey catching fish and fowl -for winter supplies. The fish in Iceland are beaten -hard with stones and then dried in the wind, that -makes them like leather; but it preserves them for -a very long time, and they form the staple of food, -as the people have no corn, and consequently no -bread. They put butter on these dry fish, and tear -them with their teeth. What Grettir did with the fowl -he caught was to pickle them with salt water from -the sea, and when the frost and snow came on -then he would take them out of pickle and freeze -them. Now, the whole of the sheep had been eaten -some time ago, except the old mottled ram, which -Grettir could not find in his heart to kill; and, as -may be supposed, he and his brother suffered from -want of change of food. Especially deficient were -they in any green food; and we know, though he -did not, that the eating of green food is a very -essential element of health. He had nothing for -consumption but salted birds and dried fish—no -milk, no bread, no vegetables. Such a diet was -certain to disorder his health.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The day after that on which the hag had charmed -the piece of timber, the two brothers were walking -on the little strand to the west of the island looking -for drift-wood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Here is a fine beam!" exclaimed Illugi. "Help -me to lift it on to my shoulder, and I will carry it -up the ladder."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir spurned the log with his foot, saying, "I -do not like the looks of it, Little brother. Runes are -cut on it, and what they portend I do not know. -There may be written there something that may -bring ill. Who can tell but this log may have been -sent with ill wishes against us." They set the log -adrift, and Grettir warned his brother not to bring -it to their fire.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the evening they returned to their cabin, and -nothing was said about the log to Glaum. Next -day they found the same beam washed up not far -from the foot of the ladder. Grettir was dissatisfied, -and again he thrust it from the shore, saying that -he hoped they had seen the last of it, and that the -stream and tide would catch it and waft it elsewhere. -And now the equinoctial gales began to rage. The -fine Martinmas summer was over. The weather -changed to storm and rain; and so bad was it that -the three men remained indoors till their supply of -firewood was exhausted.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Grettir ordered the thrall to search the shore -for fuel. Glaum started up with an angry -remonstrance that the weather was not such as a dog -should be turned out in, with unreason, not -considering that a fire was as necessary to him as -to his master. He went to the ladder, crawled -down it, and found the same beam cast at its very -foot.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Glad not to have to go far in his search, Glaum -shouldered the log, crept up the ladder, bore it to -the hut, and throwing open the door, cast it down -in the midst.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir jumped up, "Well done," said he, "you -have been quick in your quest."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now I have brought it, you must chop it up," -said Glaum. "I have done my part."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir took his axe. The fire was low and -wanted replenishing, and without paying much -attention to the log, he swung his axe and brought -it down on the log. But the wood was wet and -greasy with sea-weed, and the axe slipped, glanced -off the beam, and cut into Grettir's leg below the knee, -on the shin, with such force that it stuck in the bone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir looked at the beam; the fire leaped up, -and by its light the runic inscription on it was -visible. Grettir at once saw evil. "The worst is -come upon us," he said sadly, as he cast the axe -away, and threw himself down by the fire. "This -is the same log that I have twice rejected. Glaum, -you have done us two ill turns, first when you -neglected the fire and let it go out, and now in that -you have brought this beam to us. Beware how -you commit a third, for that I foresee will be your -bane as well as ours."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Illugi bound up his brother's wound with rag; -there was but a slight flow of blood, but it was an -ugly gash. That night Grettir slept soundly. For -three days and nights he was without pain, and the -wound seemed to be healing healthily, the skin to -be forming over it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My dear brother," said Illugi, "I do not think -that this cut will trouble you long."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I hope not," answered Grettir. "But none can -see where a road leads till they have gone through -to the end."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the fourth evening they laid them down to -sleep as usual. About midnight the lad, Illugi, -awoke hearing Grettir tossing in his bed as though -suffering.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why are you so uneasy?" asked the boy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir replied that he felt great pain in his leg, -and he thought, he said, that some change must -have taken place in the condition of the wound.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Illugi at once blew up the embers on the hearth -into a flame, and by its light examined his brother's -leg. He found that the foot was swollen and -discoloured, and that the wound had reopened, and -looked far more angry than he had seen it yet. -Intense pain ensued, so that poor Grettir could not -remain quiet for a moment, but tossed from side to -side. His cheeks were fevered, and his tongue -parched. He could obtain no sleep at all.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Illugi never left him, he sat beside him holding -his hand, or bringing him water to slake his -unquenchable thirst.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The worst approaches, and there is no avoiding -it," said Grettir. "This sickness is sent by the old -witch in revenge for the stone I had cast at her."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I misliked the casting of that stone," said Illugi.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was ill that it did not fall on her head," said -Grettir. "But what is done may not be undone." Then -he heaved himself up into a sitting posture -and sang, supporting himself against his brother's -shoulder, a lay, of which only fragments have come -down to us. A good deal of the lay refers to incidents -in Grettir's life, of which no record remains in -the saga, and many staves have fallen away and -been lost. So we give but a few verses:—</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"I fought with the sword in the bye-gone day,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>In the day when I was young;</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>When the Rovers I slew in old Norway,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>The land with my action rung.</span></div> -</div> -</div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"I entered the grave of Karr the Old,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>I rived his sword away;</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>I strove with the Troll at Thorod's-stead,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>Before the break of day.</span></div> -</div> -</div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"With Thorbiorn Oxmain in the marsh</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>I fought, and his blood I shed;</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>Against Thorir of Garth have I stood in arms,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>Who long would have me dead.</span></div> -</div> -</div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"For nineteen years, I a hunted man,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>On mountain, on moor, and fen;</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>For nineteen years had to shun and flee</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>The face of my fellow men.</span></div> -</div> -</div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"For nineteen years all bitter to bear</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>Both hunger and cold and pain;</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>And never to know when I laid me down,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>If I might awake again.</span></div> -</div> -</div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"And now do I lie with a burning eye,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>As a wolf is fain to die;</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>Whilst the skies are dripping and ocean roars,</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>And the winds sob sadly by—"</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The song was probably composed before, as otherwise -it is not easy to account for its preservation. -His head was burning, his thoughts wandered, and -he ceased singing. He seemed to be dozing off. But -presently he started and shivered, and looked hastily -about him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let us be cautious now," he said, "for Thorbiorn -Hook will make another attempt. To me it matters -little—but to you, brother. Glaum, watch the -ladder by day, and draw it up at night. Be a faithful -servant, for now all depends on you. Illugi will -not leave me, so we are in your hands."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-end-of-the-outlaw"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XLI.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE END OF THE OUTLAW.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">The Shadow of Death—Thorbiorn and his -Foster-mother—The Hook sails for Drangey—Out in -the Gale—The Unguarded Ladder—Glaum is Captured—The -Brothers' last Evening—Defending the Hut—Grettir -Wounded—Illugi Taken—The Notch in the Sword—Illugi -vows Vengeance—Death of Illugi</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The weather became daily worse, and a fierce -north-east wind raged over the country, bearing -with it cold and sleet, and covering the fells -with the first snows of winter. Grettir inquired -every night if the ladder had been drawn up, according -to order. Glaum answered churlishly, "How -can you expect folk to live out in such a storm as -this? Do you think they are so eager to kill you -that they will jeopardize their lives in trying to do -this? It is easy to see that a little cut was all that -lacked to let your courage leak out."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir answered, "Go! and do not argue with -us; guard the ladder as you have been bidden!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So Illugi drove the churl from the hut every -morning, notwithstanding his angry remonstrances; -and Glaum was in the worst of humours.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The pain became more acute, and the whole leg -inflamed and swollen, signs of mortification -appeared, and wounds opened in different parts of the -limb, so that Grettir felt that the shadow of death -hung over him. Illugi sat night and day with his -brother's head on his shoulder, bathing his forehead, -and doing his utmost to console the fleeting spirit. -A week had elapsed since the wound had been made.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, Thorbiorn Hook was at home, ill-pleased at -the failure of all his schemes for dispossessing Grettir -of the island.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One day his foster-mother came to him, and asked -whether he were ready now to pay his final visit to -the outlaw?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorbiorn replied that he had paid quite as many -visits to him as he liked, and that he should not go -to Drangey again till Grettir left it; and then, with -a sneer he asked his foster-mother whether she -wanted to have her second leg broken, and was not -satisfied with the fracture of one.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I will not go to Drangey myself," answered the -old woman. "That is unnecessary. I have sent him -my salutation, and by this he has received it. Speed -away now to Drangey, and find how he relishes my -message. But I warn you, you must go now or you -will be too late."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorbiorn would not listen; he said that her advice -last time had led to no advantage when he followed -it, and that the weather was too bad to go out in.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You need go but this once," said the crone. -"The storm is of my sending, and is sent to work -my ends."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Finally he allowed himself to be persuaded. So -he got together men, and asked his neighbours to -help him; and a large vessel was manned. That -is to say, the other farmers consented to lend him -men, but none of them would accompany him -themselves. The Hook took twelve of his own men; -his brother, Hialti, lent him three; Erick of -Gooddale sent one man; Tongue-stone furnished him -with two; another, named Halldor, let him have -six. Of all these, the only two whose name need -be mentioned are Karr and Vikarr.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorbiorn got a large sailing-boat for his purpose, -and started from Heron-ness. None of the men -were in good spirits, as the weather was bad; -moreover, they had no liking for their leader. By dusk -the boat was afloat, the sail spread, and they ran -out to sea. As the wind was from the north-east, -they were under the lee of the high cliffs, and were -not exposed to the full violence of the storm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Heavy scuds of rain and sleet swept the fiord; -the sky was overcast with whirling masses of vapour, -charged with snow, and beneath their shadow the -waters of the firth were black as ink. For one -moment the clouds were parted by the storm, the -rowers looked up, and saw the heavens tinged with -the crimson rays of the northern light. A flame ran -along the cordage, and finally settled on the -masthead of the vessel, swaying and dancing with the -motion of the boat. It was that electric spark, which -is called in the Mediterranean S. Elmo's fire.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A line of white foam marked the base of Drangey; -and now and then a great wave from the mouth of -the fiord boomed against the crags, and shot in -spouts of foam high into the air. Along the western -shore of the firth, which was exposed to the full -brunt of the gale, the mighty billows were beaten -into white yeasty heaps of water. From the top -of Drangey one tiny spark shone from the window -of the hovel where lay the dying outlaw.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now let us look again at Grettir.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had been in less pain that day. Illugi had -not left him, but remained faithful at his post.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The thrall, Glaum, had been sent out as usual to -collect fuel and to watch the ladder, and to draw it -up at nightfall. But instead of doing as he was -bidden, the fellow laid himself down at the head of -the steps, under a shelter-hut of turf that had been -there erected, and went to sleep.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Thorbiorn and his party reached the shore, -they found to their content that the ladder had not -been removed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good luck attends on those who wait," said The -Hook "Now, my fellows! the journey will not -prove as bootless as you expected. Up the ladder -with you! and let us all be cautious and bold!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So they ascended, one after the other, The Hook -taking the lead. On reaching the top he looked -into the shelter-hut, and there found Glaum, asleep -and snoring. Thorbiorn struck him over the -shoulders, and asked him who he was.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Glaum turned on his side, rubbed his eyes, and -growled forth, "Can you not leave a poor wretch -alone? Never was a man so ill-treated as am I. I -may not even sleep out here in the cold."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Hook then knew who this was. "Fool!" -shouted he. "Look up, and see who are come. We -are your foes, and intend to kill every one of -you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Glaum started now to his feet full awake, and -shrieked with dismay when he saw the black figures -crowding up from the ladder and surrounding him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Make no noise," said Thorbiorn Hook. "I give -you the choice of two things; answer the questions -I put to you truthfully, or die at once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The churl answered sullenly that he would speak, -and he had nothing to conceal.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then tell me where the brothers are?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"In the hovel I left them, where there is a fire. -Not out in the cold. Grettir is sick and nigh on -death, and Illugi is with him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Hook asked for particulars, and then Glaum -told him about the log, and how Grettir was -wounded. Thereat the Hook burst out laughing, -and said, "Woe to the man that leans on a churl! -That is a true proverb. Shamefully have you -betrayed your trust, Glaum."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thereupon Glaum was dragged along to the cabin -where Grettir lay, and they treated him so roughly, -that what with their blows and what with fear, he -was nearly senseless when he reached it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Illugi had been sitting by the fire with his brother's -head in his lap, whilst Grettir lay in some sheepskins -beside the hearth. All that evening the sick -man's eyes had been wandering about the roof, -watching the light play among the rafters, as the -firewood blazed up or smouldered away. Illugi saw that -his fingers plucked at the wool of the sheep-skins, -riving it out, and that he knew was a bad sign. He -felt sure that Grettir would die that night, and he -watched his face intently, and could not bear to -withdraw his eyes from him, for he loved him dearly. -Presently Grettir turned his head, and smiled when -he saw how he was watching him, and said that he -felt easier, and would sleep. In a few moments his -eyes closed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he dozed, his face became calmer than Illugi -had seen it before; the muscles relaxed, and the -wrinkles furrowed in his brow by care and suffering -were now smoothed quite away. Grettir's face was -never handsome, but it was grave and earnest, and -the sorrow and trial he had passed through had left -its trace on his features. His breath now came more -evenly in sleep.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All at once there sounded a crash at the door, -and the sleeper opened his eyes dreamily.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is only the old ram, brother," said Illugi. -"He is butting, because he wants to come in."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He butts hard! he butts hard!" muttered Grettir, -and at that moment the door burst open. They -saw faces looking in.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Illugi was on his feet in a moment. He seized his -sword, flew to the doorway and defended it bravely, -so that no one could pass through.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorbiorn called to some of the men to get upon -the roof, and he was obeyed. The hovel was low, -and in a moment four or five were on top of it -tearing off the turf that covered it. Grettir tried -to rise to his feet, but could only stagger to his knees. -He seized his spear and drove it through the roof, -so that it struck Karr in the breast, and the wound -was his death.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorbiorn Hook called to the men to act more -warily—they were twenty-five in all against two -men, and one dying.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So the men pulled at the gable ends of the house -and got the ridge-piece out, that it broke and fell, -and with it a shower of turfs, into the hut.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir drew his short-sword—the sword he had -taken from the barrow of Karr the Old—and smote -at the men as they leaped upon him from the wall. -With one blow he struck Vikarr over the left -shoulder, as he was on the point of springing down. -The sword cut off his arm. But the blow was so -violent, that Grettir, having dealt it, fell forward, -and before he could raise himself Thorbiorn Hook -struck him between the shoulders, and made a -fearful wound.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then cried Grettir, "Bare is the back without -brother behind it!" and instantly Illugi threw his -shield over him, planted one foot on each side of -him as he lay on the floor, and defended him with -desperate courage.</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 64%" id="figure-88"> -<span id="illugi-defends-the-dying-grettir"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="ILLUGI DEFENDS THE DYING GRETTIR." src="images/img-368.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">ILLUGI DEFENDS THE DYING GRETTIR.</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>The mist of death was in Grettir's eyes; he -attempted in vain to raise himself, but sank again -on the sheep-skins, which were now drenched in blood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>No one could touch him, for the brave boy warded -off every blow that was aimed at his brother.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Thorbiorn Hook ordered his men to form a -ring round and close in on them with their shields -and with beams. They did so, and Illugi was taken -and bound; but not till he had wounded most of his -opponents, and had killed three of Thorbiorn's men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never have I seen one braver of your age," said -The Hook. "I will say that you have fought well."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then they went to Grettir, who lay where he had -fallen, unable to resist further, for he had lost -consciousness. They dealt him many a blow, but -hardly any blood flowed from his wounds. When -all supposed he was dead, then Thorbiorn tried to -disengage the sword from his cold fingers, saying -that he considered Grettir had wielded it long -enough. But the strong man's hand was clenched -around the handle so firmly that his enemy could -not free the sword from his grasp.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Several of the men came up, and tried to unweave -the fingers, but were unable to do so. Then the -Hook said, "Why should we spare this wretched -outlaw? Off with his hand!" And his men held -down the arm whilst Thorbiorn hewed off the hand -at the wrist with his axe.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After that, standing over the body, and grasping -the hilt of the sword in both hands, he smote at -Grettir's head; the edge of the blade was notched -by the blow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look!" laughed Thorbiorn. "This notch will -be famous in story for many generations; for men -will point to it and say, 'This was made by Grettir's -skull.'" He struck twice and thrice at the outlaw's -neck, till the head came off in his hands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now have I slain a notable man!" exclaimed -Thorbiorn. "I will take this head with me to land, -and claim the price that was set on it; and none -shall deny that it was my hand that slew that -Grettir whom all else feared."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The men present said he might say what he liked, -but that they believed Grettir was already dead -when he smote him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorbiorn now turned to Illugi, and said, "It is -a pity that a brave lad like you should die, -because you are associated with outlaws and evil-doers."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I tell you this," said Illugi, "that I will appear -before you at the great assize, and there will charge -you with having practised witchcraft to effect my -brother's death."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You hearken to me, boy," said Thorbiorn. "Put -your hand to mine, and swear that you will not -seek to avenge the death of your brother, and I will -let you go; but if you will not take this oath, you -shall die."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And hearken to me, Thorbiorn," said lllugi. -"If I live, but one thought shall occupy my heart -night and day, and that will be how I may best -avenge my brother. Now that you know what to -expect of me—take what course you will."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorbiorn drew his companions aside to ask their -advice; but they shrugged their shoulders, and -replied that, as he had planned the expedition, he -must carry it out as he thought best.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," said The Hook, "I have no fancy for -having the young viper lying in wait to sting me -wherever I tread. He shall die."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, when Illugi knew that they had determined -on slaying him, he smiled and said, "You have -chosen that course which is best to my mind. I do -not desire to be parted from my brother."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The day was breaking. They led Illugi to the -east side of the island, and there they slew him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It is told that they neither bound his eyes nor his -hands, and that he looked fearlessly at them when -they smote him, and neither changed colour nor -even blinked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then they buried the brothers beneath a cairn in -the island, but they took the head of Grettir and -bore it to land. On the way they also slew the -thrall Glaum.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="how-asdis-received-the-news"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XLII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">HOW ASDIS RECEIVED THE NEWS.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">A Charge of Witchcraft—A Heroic Mother—Thorbiorn's -Sentence—Burial of the Brothers</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Had the old hag, Thorbiorn's foster-mother, any -hand in the death of Grettir? Certainly none. -It was true that Grettir was wounded in the way -described, by his own axe, but the condition of the -wound was due to the scorbutic condition of his -blood, through lack of green food. This the -Icelanders did not understand; they could not -comprehend how a wound could seem to be healing well -and then break out and mortify afterwards, and -they supposed that this was due to witchcraft. -Then, again, Grettir's kin could not take the case of -Grettir's murder into court, because Thorbiorn had -acted within the law when killing him; but by -charging him with the practice of witchcraft they -made him amenable to the law. So, partly, no -doubt, in good faith, they trumped up against Thorbiorn -the accusation of having effected Grettir's death -by witchcraft.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, it must be told how that, one day after -the slaying of Grettir, Thorbiorn Hook at the head -of twenty armed men rode to Biarg, in the Midfirth-dale, -with Grettir's head slung from his saddlebow. -On reaching the house he dismounted and -strode into the hall, where Grettir's mother was -seated with a servant. Thorbiorn threw her son's -head at her feet, and said: "See! I have been to -the island and have prevailed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The lady sat proudly in her seat, and did not shed -a tear; but lifting her voice in reply, she sang:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Milk-sop—as timid sheep</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Before a fox all cow'ring keep;</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>So did you—nor could prevail</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>So long as Grettir's strength was hale.</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Woe is on the Northland side,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Nor can I my loathing hide!"</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>After this The Hook returned home, and folk -wondered at Asdis, saying that only a heroic -mother could have had sons so heroic. When Yule -was over The Hook rode east away to Garth, and -told Thorir what he had done, and claimed the -money set on Grettir's head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Thorir was crafty, and just as the Biarg folk -sought a charge against Thorbiorn for his deed, so -did Thorir, that he might escape having to pay the -silver. He answered, "I do not deny that I offered -the money on Grettir's head, promising it to -whomsoever should slay Grettir, but I will pay nothing -to him who compassed his death by witchcraft; -and if what the men who went with you say be -true, you did not slay him with a sword, but hacked -off his head after he was dead."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This made Thorbiorn Hook very angry, and when -summer came he brought his suit against Thorir -for the money. But simultaneously Grettir's kin -brought a charge against Thorbiorn for having -practised witchcraft. Also they had a summons -against him for the slaying of Illugi. Now, the case -was tried, and hotly discussed, and it ended this -way:—It was judged that Thorbiorn had struck off -the head of a man who was already dead, and that -he had brought about the death of that man by -witchcraft; thereupon it was judged that he should -receive nothing of the money, and that he should be -outlawed from Iceland.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So he went away and never returned.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, Grettir and Illugi were brought to land, and -their bones lie at Reykir, where was the friendly -farmer who had helped them when they were at -Drangey. But Grettir's head was buried at Biarg. -There is now no church or churchyard there, but -there is a mound in the </span><em class="italics">tún</em><span> where his head is said -to lie. I obtained leave to dig there, and I -examined the spot, but found only a great stone under -the turf, and this we had not the appliances to move. -And perhaps it was as well; for if Grettir's head be -there, it were better that there it should rest -undisturbed.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="how-dromund-kept-his-word"><span class="bold large">CHAPTER XLIII.</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">HOW DROMUND KEPT HIS WORD.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Thorbiorn Hook in Norway—Dromund on Thorbiorn's -Track—The Varangians—Grettir's Sword—Grettir is -Avenged</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Now, after that Thorbiorn Hook had been outlawed, -he found that he had gotten to himself -no advantage, but great harm by what he had done -upon Drangey. He was forced to leave Iceland; -and he saw, withal, that never again might he set -foot therein again with safety, for all the relatives -of the Biarg family would seek his life. Accordingly -he made over his farm at Woodwick to his brother -Hialti, and also all his rights over the island of -Drangey, such as they were. Then he collected -together what moveable goods he had, and went on -board ship and sailed for Norway.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On reaching Norway he bragged much of what -he had done in having slain Grettir, of whom tales -were told in Norway; and, as may well be understood, -he told the tale of the slaying of Grettir in -his own way, magnifying his heroism, and saying -nothing about such matters as lessened the greatness -of his deed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>During the early winter tidings reached Thorstein -Dromund at Tunsberg that his brother Grettir -was dead, and also that the man who slew him was -in the north of the country. When Dromund heard -the tidings he was very sorrowful, and he called to -mind the words he had said to Grettir when they -showed each other what sort of arms they had. -Dromund considered that he was bound to avenge -his brother's death on his murderer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thorbiorn Hook also was aware that there was a -half-brother of Grettir in Norway, and when he -knew that he was wary, for he suspected that -Dromund would seek his life. And, indeed, Thorstein -Dromund sent spies to watch Thorbiorn Hook; but -the latter was so careful of himself that Dromund -was not able to attempt anything against him all -that winter. No sooner did the soft, warm, spring -breezes begin to blow, than The Hook got away out -of Norway by the earliest opportunity. He had -heard much talk how that the Emperors of the East, -at Constantinople, kept a guard of Norsemen about -them, and paid them well, and how that this guard -was held in high esteem. So Thorbiorn Hook -considered he could not do better than go to -Constantinople, and try his fortune there. But before -he left Norway he talked of his intention, and this -was reported to Dromund at Tunsberg. So Dromund -put his lands and affairs into the hands of his -kinsmen, and got ready for journeying in search of -Hook, whom he had never seen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He sailed away after him, and wherever he came -he made inquiries after the ship in which Thorbiorn -Hook had been, and he was always just too late. -He never could catch the ship up. And then finally -Thorbiorn left the vessel and journeyed overland, -and Thorstein lost his traces.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>However, Dromund knew that Thorbiorn Hook -was going to Constantinople, so he travelled thither -also, and reached the imperial city. Now there -were a great many Norsemen and Icelanders there -in the company called the Varangians, who acted as -a bodyguard to the Emperor, and among these men -were some twenty or more called Thorbiorn, and -which among them was the murderer of Grettir, -Thorstein Dromund did not know. The Hook, as -may well be imagined, did not tell anyone what his -nickname was; not that he imagined he was pursued, -but because it was not a pretty and flattering name. -Thorstein also offered himself as a soldier in the -guard, and was enrolled. He also merely gave his -name as Thorstein, and told no one of his nickname -of Dromund, lest the man he pursued should take -alarm and leave.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So time passed, and Thorstein Dromund could not -find out his man; and he lay awake in bed many -nights musing on what he had undertaken, on the -sad lot of Grettir, and on his ill-success in finding -the murderer of his half-brother. Now, it fell out -that on a certain day the order came to the Varangian -guard that they were to be ready, as they were -about to be sent on an expedition of importance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was usual, before any such an expedition, that -all the men of the guard should burnish up their -weapons and armour, and show them, that they were in condition.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So was it on this occasion also. They were -assembled in the guard-room, and each produced his -weapon. Then Thorbiorn held forth his short-sword—the -very weapon that Grettir had taken from the -tomb of Karr the Old, the sword with which he -The Hook had hewed off Grettir's head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now, when Thorbiorn held forth the sword all the -other guardsmen praised it, and said it was an -excellent weapon; but it had one grievous blemish, -for that there was a notch in the edge.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh!" laughed Thorbiorn, "that notch is no -blemish at all. It is a memorial of one of my -greatest achievements."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What was that?" asked one of the Varangians.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"With this sword," answered Thorbiorn, "I slew -the man who was esteemed the greatest and most -powerful champion of his time; a man who was in -outlawry for twenty years, who had in his time -fought and beaten off as many as thirty or forty -who attacked him. But I was too much for him. -When I went against him, then he had to give way. -We fought for an hour without flagging, and finally -I smote him down. Then I took from him his own -sword, and with it I smote off his neck; and thus -got the sword its notch."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And his name?" asked Thorstein Dromund.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"His name was Grettir the Strong."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a pause; and in that pause the sword -was handed to Dromund for him to look at.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thus is Grettir avenged!" suddenly exclaimed -Dromund. He struck across the table at Thorbiorn -with Grettir's own sword; and so great was the -stroke that it smote through his skull to the -jaw-teeth, and The Hook fell without a word, dead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was said, in after times, that Grettir was -wonderful in his life, and wonderful in his death—for -in life no man had been his equal in strength, and -had had a sadder span of life; and in death he was -wonderful—for of all Icelanders he was the only one -who was avenged far away from home by the shores -of the Bosphorus, in the City of the Emperors.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="epilogue"><span class="bold large">EPILOGUE.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">Date of Grettir's Death—Mention of Grettir in other -Sagas—Historical Basis of the Grettir Story</em></p> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>In the Icelandic annals the death of Grettir is set -down as having occurred in 1033, but the dates -are not quite correct, and the real date should be -1031.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir is mentioned in other Icelandic sagas. -He is spoken of and his pedigree given in the -Landnama Book, the Icelandic Domesday, the most -reliable book for history they have. The persons -spoken of in the saga of Grettir are heard of in -several other quite independent sagas, and in no -case is there any serious anachronism.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Grettir, it will be recalled, was taken by the -farmers in the Ice-firth. This incident is also related -in the saga of the Foster-brothers; so is another -incident about a contest concerning a dead whale I -have not related, as likely to break the continuity -of the history. In the saga of Thord, the hero is -said to have blessed the Middle-firth in these words: -"Let the man who grows up in this vale never be -hung." And this blessing was thought to have had -something to do with the saving of Grettir's neck -in the Ice-firth. The story of Gisli has been told -whom Grettir whipped. Now, in the Viga-styr saga, -the most ancient of all Icelandic sagas, we hear of -this same Gisli, and his character is painted in the -same colours as in the saga of Grettir, but no -mention is made of the whipping administered by -Grettir. The murder of Atli, the brother of our -outlaw, and the consequent slaying of Thorbiorn -Oxmain is spoken of in the saga of Bard. The -circumstance of Grettir having lived in a cave on the -farm in Hit-dale is spoken of in the saga of Biorn. -In the history of Grettir mention is made of the -strife which took place between Biorn and Thord, -but the full particulars of what is there alluded to -casually are given in the saga of Biorn of Hit-dale. -In our saga, Grettir is spoken of as meeting Bard -wounded after a hard fight, in which he had avenged -the death of his brother, but no particulars are given. -In the saga of the Heath-fights we recover the -whole story. Thus one saga explains and supports -another.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It is therefore impossible to set down the story -of Grettir as fabulous. It is historical; but the -history has been somewhat embellished, partly by -family vanity which led to the undue glorification of -their hero, and partly by superstition which -imagined the marvellous where all was really natural.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>THE END.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>Transcriber's note:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The source book's pages had variant headers. 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