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diff --git a/48622.txt b/48622.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 326232d..0000000 --- a/48622.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8238 +0,0 @@ - GRETTIR THE OUTLAW - - - - -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 Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at -http://www.gutenberg.org/license. 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. - - - -Title: Grettir the Outlaw - A Story of Iceland -Author: S. Baring-Gould -Release Date: March 31, 2015 [EBook #48622] -Language: English -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GRETTIR THE OUTLAW *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - -[Illustration: Cover art] - - - - -[Illustration: THORKELL AND THE OUTLAWED GRETTIR LEAVE THE ASSIZE.] - - - - - *Grettir the Outlaw* - - *A Story of Iceland* - - - by - - S. BARING-GOULD - - Author of "John Herring" "Mehalah" "Iceland: its Scenes and Sagas" &c. - - - - _WITH SIX PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS BY M. ZENO DIEMER_ - - - - BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED - LONDON GLASGOW AND DUBLIN - 1889 - - - - - *PREFACE.* - - - TO MY YOUNG READERS. - - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -S. BARING-GOULD. - - - - - *CONTENTS.* - -CHAP. - - I. Winter Tales - II. How Grettir played on the Ice - III. Of the Ride to Thingvalla - IV. The Doom-day - V. The Voyage - VI. The Red Rovers - VII. The Story of the Sword - VIII. Of the Bear - IX. The Slaying of Biorn - X. Of Grettir's Return - XI. The Horse-fight - XII. Of the Fight at the Neck - XIII. How Grettir and Audun made Friends - XIV. The Vale of Shadows - XV. How Grettir fought with Glam - XVI. How Grettir Sailed to Norway - XVII. The Hostel-burning - XVIII. The Ordeal by Fire - XIX. The Winter in Norway - XX. Of what Befell at Biarg - XXI. The Return of Grettir - XXII. The Slaying of Oxmain - XXIII. At Learwood - XXIV. The Foster-brothers - XXV. How Grettir was well nigh Hung - XXVI. In the Desert - XXVII. On the Great Eagle Lake - XXVIII. On the Fell - XXIX. The Fight on the River - XXX. A Mysterious Vale - XXXI. The Death of Hallmund - XXXII. Of Another Attempt against Grettir - XXXIII. At Sandheaps - XXXIV. How Grettir was Driven About - XXXV. On the Isle - XXXVI. Of Grettir on Heron-ness - XXXVII. Of Hoering's Leap -XXXVIII. Of the Attempt made by Grettir's Friends - XXXIX. Of the Old Hag - XL. How the Log came to Drangey - XLI. The End of the Outlaw - XLII. How Asdis received the News - XLIII. How Dromund kept his Word - -Epilogue - - - - - *ILLUSTRATIONS.* - - -Thorkell and the outlawed Grettir leave the Assize, _Frontis_. - -Grettir challenges Kormak and his Party - -Grettir defends Himself from the Mob - -Grettir attacked in the Rift by Thorir's Party - -Fording the quivering flood - -Illugi defends the dying Grettir - - - - -[Illustration: PEDIGREE OF THE FAMILY OF ASMUND OF BIARG] - - - - - *GRETTIR THE OUTLAW.* - - - - *CHAPTER I.* - - *WINTER TALES.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Before we begin on the story of Grettir, it will be well to say a few -words about its claim to be history. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Looking away across the great blue bay, the mountains of the hand may be -seen rising out of the sea, and looking like icebergs. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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: - - -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. - -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. - -Now, Thrand saw that King Harald was gaining the mastery everywhere, so -he fled away with his ship and sailed west. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER II.* - - *HOW GRETTIR PLAYED ON THE ICE.* - - - _An Evil Boyhood--Golf on the Ice--Grettir Quarrels with - Audun--A Threat of Vengeance_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Among the young fellows who came from Willowdale was Audun, a fine, -strapping fellow; frank, well-built, good-looking, and amiable. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"You need not hold me like a mad dog," said Grettir. "Thralls wreak -their vengeance at once, cowards never." - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER III.* - - *OF THE RIDE TO THINGVALLA.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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." - -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." - -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. - -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. - -"Ah! I see," said Thorkel. "A useful man, good and respectable, like -yourself. But what about Grettir?" - -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." - -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." - -To this Asmund agreed; and right glad was Grettir to think he was to go -to the great law-gathering. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"What have you got there?" asked Grettir, coming up panting. - -"My meal-sack," answered the fellow. - -"Let me look at it," said Grettir. "It may be mine, not yours. Let me -look before you appropriate it." - -This the man refused to do. - -Grettir's suspicion was confirmed, and he made a catch at the sack, and -tried to drag it away from the fellow. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"But as he is not here," retorted Grettir, "you are not like to get the -better of me." - -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. - -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. - -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: - - "A rock Troll did her burden throw - Down on Skeggi's skull, I trow. - O'er the battle-ogress saw I flow - Ruby rivers all aglow. - She her iron mouth a-gape - Did the life of Skeggi take." - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Grettir agreed to go on, and see how matters would turn out for him. - - - - - *CHAPTER IV.* - - *THE DOOM-DAY.* - - - _The Lava Plain--The Law of Man-slaughter--Grettir's - Sentence--The Grettir Stone_ - - -That evening they arrived at Thingvalla. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER V.* - - *THE VOYAGE.* - - - _Preparations for a Voyage--His Grandfather's Sword--A Bitter - Jester--Vain Reproaches--Haflid's Stratagem--The Tables - Turned--Shipwrecked_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -Grettir was highly pleased, and told his mother that he would rather -have the sword than anything else that could be given him. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"How can you behave as you do?" said Haflid. "Keep silence at least, and -do not madden the men with your mockery and sneers." - -"I cannot hold my tongue from stabbing," said Grettir. - -"Very well, then, stab on, but stab me." - -"No; you have not hurt me." - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -"Well," said the men, "if you shrug your shoulders and pay no regard to -his bark, why should we?" - -So Haflid, by his tact, smoothed over this difficulty, and averted a -danger from Grettir's head. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER VI.* - - *THE RED ROVERS.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Who is your leader?" he asked curtly. - -"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?" - -"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." - -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." - -"Every man knows the use of his tongue," said Grettir. "Now, follow me, -and I will do what I can for you." - -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. - -"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." - -"Who are they?" asked the housewife. - -"Thorir wi' the Paunch and Ogmund the Bad, and ten of their comrades." - -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?" - -"Stay your woman's tongue!" growled Grettir. "Now bestir yourself and -bring out dry clothes for the guests." - -Then the housewife ran away crying, and her sick daughter, who saw the -house invaded by ill-looking men all armed, hid herself. - -"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." - -"You are a different fellow from all the rest in the house." - -"I do not belong to the house. I am a stranger, an Icelander." - -"Then I don't mind taking you along with us when we go away." - -"As you will," answered the young fellow; "only mind, I don't behave -like this to every one." - -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. - -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. - -"Now, then, my men," said Grettir, "come to the table and drink, for I -doubt not you are thirsty with long rowing." - -"We are ready," said they. "But where are the cellars?" - -"Oh, if you please, I will bring you ale." - -"Certainly, you shall attend on us," said Thorir. - -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. - -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. - -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?" - -The pirates banged their drinking-horns on the table in token of -approval. Then Grettir stood up and said: - -"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." - -"Let us drink brotherhood at once," shouted the rovers. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -"That we shall!" roared Thorir, staggering to his feet. - -Then Grettir took a blazing firebrand from the hearth, and led the way -out of the hall into the night. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"There are plenty of weapons here," answered the poor woman, emerging -from her place of concealment. "But, Grettir, I mistrust you." - -"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?" - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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!" - -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. - -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. - -"I do not care even if the bonder be a bit disturbed at what he sees," -said the young man. - -"Then let me go," urged the wife. - -"You are mistress, do as you like," said Grettir bluntly. - -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." - -"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." - -Then he said, "Sit down on this rock by me and tell me all." - -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. - -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." - -Thorfin walked with his wife to the farm, and when he saw Grettir he -held out both his hands to him, and thanked him. - -"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." - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER VII.* - - *THE STORY OF THE SWORD.* - - _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_ - - -Some little while before the slaying of the Red Rovers, a strange event -had taken place. - -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. - -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." - -"If treasure be hidden there, I will dig it up," said Grettir. - -"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." - -"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." - -Audun did not relish the proposal, but he did not like to seem -behindhand with Grettir, and he reluctantly agreed to go with him. - -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 -_Haug_, pronounced almost like How; and where in England we have places -with the names ending in _hoe_, 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Where did you get all this?" he asked. - -Then Grettir answered in one of his enigmatical songs: - - "Thou who dost the wave-shine shorten, - My attempt has been to find - In the barrow what was hidden, - Deep in darkness black and blind. - Nothing of the dragon's treasure - With the dead is left behind." - - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER VIII.* - - *OF THE BEAR.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -He said the truth, but he had no idea when he spoke that it was the -truth. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"Oh, if I am to learn manners from Grettir, that is sending me to a cub -indeed!" - -"I want to know," said Grettir, "whether you threw my fur coat into the -den?" - -"I am not afraid of saying that I did." - -"Will you give me another in its place?" - -"I have not the smallest intention of doing charity to beggars." - -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: - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER IX.* - - *THE SLAYING OF BIORN.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -Directly Biorn saw Grettir he turned red, and pretended not to recognize -him; but Grettir went to him at once and said: - -"Now has come the time when we two can settle our differences." - -"Oh," said Biorn, "that is soon done. I don't object to paying a -trifle." - -"The time for paying is over," said Grettir. "Thorgils offered an -indemnity for your insolence, and you refused to consent to it." - -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. - -The fight did not last long. Grettir's sword cut him that he fell and -died. - -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: - -"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." - -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 _to -pocket it_. 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"I wish you had been killed," said the earl, "and then there would have -been an end to these disorders." - -"You would not have a man not raise his hands to save his head?" said -Grettir. - -"I see one thing," exclaimed the earl. "Ill luck attends you, and you -are doomed to commit violences wherever you are." - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER X.* - - *OF GRETTIR'S RETURN.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -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 _tun_, 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 _sel_ to fetch curds, -and would be back later. The _sel_ 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. - -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 _stead_, or so-and-so's _by_ or -farm. A _by_ is the Scotch byre, and in Icelandic is _boer_, 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 _sels_, 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"We are only in play with each other," said Grettir. - -"Rather rough play," said the man, "and likely to end in tears rather -than laughter." - -"Who are you that interfere?" asked Grettir. - -"My name is Bard." - -Then Audun scrambled to his feet. - -"What is the reason of this rough play?" asked Bard. - -Then Grettir answered, by singing: - - "Prithee, Audun, will you say - How, upon the ice one day, - You to throttle did essay? - Now, for that I this have done, - On Audun honour I have won; - Curds and wrestle make good fun." - - -"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." - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XI.* - - *THE HORSE-FIGHT.* - - - _Atli's Roan--The Coming Fight--Unfair Play--Grettir - Retaliation--Smouldering Fire_ - - -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." - -"If they begin, I shall not run away," said Grettir. - -"Not if they begin; but be very careful not to provoke a quarrel." - -"Quarrels come and are not made," said Grettir. - -"That I do not hold," answered Atli. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XII.* - - *OF THE FIGHT AT THE NECK.* - - - _The Desolate Moor--Grettir challenges Kormak--Oxmain comes on - the Scene--Slow-coach taunts Grettir--Grettir's Vexation_ - - -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. - -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. - -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." - -Then Kormak turned to his men and bade them accept the challenge and -fight. - -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. - -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. - -[Illustration: GRETTIR CHALLENGES KORMAK AND HIS PARTY.] - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XIII.* - - *HOW GRETTIR AND AUDUN MADE FRIENDS.* - - - _Audun's Pedigree--His relation to Grettir--Grettir's-heaves--In - Willowdale--The Place called Tongue--A very strange Tale_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XIV.* - - *THE VALE OF SHADOWS.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"That does not matter," said Thorhall, "so long as he can mind sheep." - -"You may trust him for that," said Skapti. "He is a Swede, and his name -is Glam." - -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. - -"Pray, what are you called?" asked Thorhall, for he suspected that this -was the man Skapti had spoken about. - -"Glam, at your service." - -"Do you like your present duties--wood-cutting?" asked the farmer. - -"No, I do not. I am properly a shepherd." - -"Then, will you come with me? Skapti has spoken of you and offered you -to me." - -"What are the drawbacks to your service?" asked Glam cautiously. - -"None, save that my sheep-walks are haunted." - -"Oh! is that all? Ghosts won't scare me. Here is my hand. I will come -to you before winter." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. _How_ -Glam had died, _by whom_ killed, no one knew, nor could they make a -guess. - -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. - -When the spring came round the disturbances lessened, and as the sun -obtained full power, ceased altogether. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -"Don't fear for me," laughed Thorgaut, "I shall be back in time for -supper, and shall attend you to church." - -Night settled in, but no Thorgaut arrived. There was little mirth at -table when the supper was brought in. All were anxious and fearful. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -So he was in the greatest possible perplexity what to do. Help came to -him from an unexpected quarter. - -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. - -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. - -Grettir put his horse into the stable, and retired for the night to one -of the beds in the hall and slept soundly. - - - - - *CHAPTER XV.* - - *HOW GRETTIR FOUGHT WITH GLAM.* - - - _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?_ - - -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. - -"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." - -"Not at all. My horse has been killed, and I must avenge it." So -Grettir remained. - -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. - -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 _louvre_ 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XVI.* - - *HOW GRETTIR SAILED TO NORWAY.* - - - _Olaf the Saint--Slowcoach with the Nimble Tongue--Slowcoach - insults Grettir--Ill Words--Death of Slowcoach--In Search of - Luck_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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." - -"I don't know that," said Thorbiorn with a scornful laugh. - -"But how did he die? What did he die of?" - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -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." - -"I don't think more of your foresight than I do of the wisdom of your -old fool of a father," said Thorbiorn. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XVII.* - - *THE HOSTEL BURNING.* - - - _Aground in the Fiord--The Light over the Water--Grettir Swims - Across--The Fight for Fire--The Burned Hostel--At Drontheim_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -"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?" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -The vessel reached Drontheim before him, and the news of the hostel -burning roused universal indignation against Grettir. - - - - - *CHAPTER XVIII.* - - *THE ORDEAL BY FIRE.* - - - _Grettir tells his Story--Preparing for the Ordeal--The - Procession--Attacked by the Mob--The King Intervenes--Wicked or - Unlucky_ - - -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: - -"Are you Grettir the Strong?" - -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." - -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." - -Grettir replied that he was ready to do whatsoever the king desired, in -order to prove his innocence. - -Then said the king to him, "Tell me the whole story, that I may be able -to judge." - -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. - -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." - -"What must I do?" asked Grettir. - -"You will have to go through the ordeal of fire," said the king. - -"What is that?" asked the young man. - -"You must lift bars of red-hot iron, and walk with bare feet on -ploughshares heated red in a furnace." - -"And what if I am burnt?" - -"Then will you be adjudged guilty." - -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." - -"You cannot undergo the ordeal now," said the king. "You would be -burned to a certainty. You must go through preparation first." - -"What preparation?" - -"A week of fasting and prayer," was the reply. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"But he says he is guiltless," argued one in the crowd. - -"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." - -"He should be given a chance of clearing himself," said one who stood -near. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -[Illustration: GRETTIR DEFENDS HIMSELF FROM THE MOB.] - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -"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." - -"What is to be done?" asked Grettir. - -The king considered. - -"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." - - - - - *CHAPTER XIX.* - - *THE WINTER IN NORWAY.* - - - _At Einar's Farm--The Bearsarks--A Visit from Snoekoll--The - Bearsark's Demand--Grettir Temporizes--The Bearsark has a - Fit--Death of Snoekoll--Dromund's History--Grettir's Arms--A - Pair of Tongs_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -One day, just after Yule, to the terror and dismay of Einar, one of the -most redoubtable of these Bearsarks, a fellow called Snoekoll, came -thundering up to his door on a huge black horse, followed by three or -four others on foot, all clothed in skins; but Snoekoll, 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. - -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. - -Snoekoll 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. - -"What do I want?" shouted Snoekoll. "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." - -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. - -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. - -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?" - -"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." - -"I see! I see!" roared Snoekoll. "You are both trembling in your -shoes. Wait till my fit is on me, and then you will shake indeed." - -"Let us see how you look in your Bearsark fit," said Grettir. - -Then Snoekoll 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. - -Now Snoekoll 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. -Snoekoll 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, Snoekoll, 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 Snoekoll, 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 Snoekoll'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 Snoekoll down off his horse on the ground, -knelt on him, and with the ruffian's own sword dealt him his death-blow. - -When the others saw the fall of their chief they ceased their antics, -turned and ran away to hide in the woods. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -One little incident is mentioned concerning that time that deserves to -be recorded. - -Grettir slept in the same apartment as did his brother. - -One morning Dromund awoke early, and he saw how that Grettir's arms were -out of bed, and he wondered at their size. - -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." - -"I need strong muscles to do what I have to do." - -"True enough, brother," said Dromund. "But I could wish there were a -little more luck as well as muscle attached to those bones." - -"Let me look at your arms," said Grettir. - -Then Dromund put his arms out of bed, and when he saw them Grettir burst -out laughing, for they were so thin and scraggy. - -"Upon my word, brother, I never saw such a wretched pair of tongs in my -life," he said. - -"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." - -No more is related of their talk together. The spring wore on, and in -summer Grettir took ship. - -The brothers parted with much affection, and they never again saw each -other's face. - - - - - *CHAPTER XX.* - - *OF WHAT BEFELL AT BIARG.* - - - _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_ - - -Whilst Grettir was in Norway, that ill-luck which pursued him did not -fail to touch and trouble his Icelandic home as well. - -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. - -The fellow said that he was in quest of service. - -"But," said Atli, "you are, I understand, one of Thorbiorn's workmen." - -"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." - -Atli replied: "I have hands enough, you had better go back to Thorbiorn, -for I do not want you." - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -So he mounted his horse and rode to Biarg, attended by two men, and -called out Atli to talk with him. - -Atli came forth and welcomed him. - -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." - -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." - -"I claim the man," said Thorbiorn; "I forbid him to do a stroke of work -here. I expect him returned to me." - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Then Thorbiorn rode home. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXI.* - - *THE RETURN OF GRETTIR.* - - - _An Old Charge--Trial in Absence--Three Messengers of - Ill--Grettir and his Mother--Grettir goes to Revenge Atli_ - - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -Towards the close of the summer Grettir arrived in a vessel off the -mouth of the White-river, an exile from Norway. - -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?" - -"Are you Grettir, Asmund's son?" asked a man rising in the boat. - -"I am," replied Grettir. - -"Then we bear you ill news: your father is dead." - -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." - -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." - -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-- - - "All at once are showered - Round me, the Rhymer, - Tidings sad--my exile, - Father's loss and brother's, - Branching boughs of battle! - Many a blue-blade-breaker - Shall suffer for my sorrow." - - -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. - -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." - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXII* - - *THE SLAYING OF OXMAIN.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXIII.* - - *AT LEARWOOD.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Then said Kuggson: "You remind me of the story of Bottle-back, which, of -course, you know." - -"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." - -Then Kuggson told Grettir - - - - *The Story of Bottle-Back* - - -"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. - -"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. - -"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." - -But the story shall be told not in Kuggson's words, but in mine. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -Then Onund sang a stave: - - "All across life's strands do run, - I who many war-wagers won, - Meadows green and pastures fair - Once were mine, and woods to spare. - Left behind, I rid the steed - That o'er wave, with wind doth speed.[#] - Cold--cold, icy back behind, - This is what alone I find, - Hard the lot that fate doth yield - To the bearer of the shield." - -[#] _i.e._ a ship. - - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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!" - -"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." - -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. - -But a song was made about this event which was never forgotten. It runs -thus:-- - - "Of the days of old - Great tales are told - How heroes went forth to fight, - Their shields, for show - Were whitened as snow, - And their weapons were burnished bright - The battle began, - In the weapon-clang, - The red blood flowed apace - In rivers shed - It dyed red - The shields o'er all their face. - But nowaday - We tune our lay - To tell a different story. - The churls who fight - Bring axes white, - With curds and whey made gory." - - -When Kuggson ceased, Grettir laughed heartily. "Ah!" said he, "that -cannot be said now, for indeed there flows much blood." - -"You speak the truth," answered Kuggson; "and I wish that this red -stream flowed less abundantly." - -"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." - -"If you will hear what follows, it must be as a new story," said -Kuggson. Again I will tell it in my own words. - - - - *The Story of the Stranded Whale* - - -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. - -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.[#] - -[#] It is still so called, Trekyllis-vic. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - - -Now when Kuggson had finished this story, then Grettir said, "You have -not told how my grandfather and great-uncle parted." - -"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." - -"Now that you have spoken so much about Coldback," said Grettir, "I will -tell you something, though it is to my discredit." - -"Say on," answered Kuggson. "Men are generally more ready to boast than -to discredit themselves." - -"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." - -"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." - - - - - *CHAPTER XXIV.* - - *THE FOSTER-BROTHERS.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -Arison said that he would. "But," said he, "there is only plain fare in -my house." - -"I am not choice as to my food, so long as I have a roof over my head," -answered Grettir. - -"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." - -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. - -With this promise Arison was content. - -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. - -So the early winter wore away. - -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. - -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. - -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?" - -Grettir answered, "The stern will not lag when the rowing afore is -good." - -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." - -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. - -"Better row with less haste and more caution," growled Thormod. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - -[#] A troll is a mountain demon or giant. - - -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. - -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. - -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." - -"I do not like this," answered Thormod; "you will vex our host, and get -no advantage over Grettir." - -"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. - -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." - -"I never said that," answered Grettir, "but anyhow you are not the man -to make me run." - -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. - -Then Thorgeir shouted to his brother, "Why do you stand by and let this -savage kill me?" - -Thormod then laid hold of Grettir, and endeavoured to drag him away, but -his strength was not sufficient to effect this. - -At that moment up came Arison, the bonder, and he bade them be quiet and -have nought to do with Grettir. - -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.[#] - - -[#] There is an entire saga relating to the history of these brothers, -called the Foster-Brothers' Saga. - - -But when spring came then they went away, all of them, away over the -heaths and moors of the interior. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXV.* - - *HOW GRETTIR WAS WELL-NIGH HUNG.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -So the farmers considered, and decided that another man who lived at -Giorvidale should have the custody of Grettir. - -"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." - -They considered again, and came to the conclusion that one Therolf of -Ere should have the charge of Grettir. - -But he replied, "No, thank you, I am short of provisions, there is -hardly food enough at my house for my own party." - -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." - -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. - -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. - -"Who is that lying in bonds there?" she asked. - -Then Grettir answered and gave his name. - -"Why, now, is it, Grettir," she said, "that you have given so much -trouble in this neighbourhood?" - -"I must needs be somewhere," he answered. "And wherever I am, there I -must have food." - -"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. - -"Hang him," answered they. - -"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?" - -"You propose the conditions," said he. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXVI.* - - *IN THE DESERT.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"I have no money," answered Grettir, "what I want I take. You must have -heard that by report." - -"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. - -"Nay, nay! We part not like this," said Grettir, and he laid his hands -on the reins of the horse the stranger rode. - -"You had better let go," said the mounted man. - -"Nay, that I will not," answered Grettir. - -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. - -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. - -"Give me your name," said he. "For, good faith! I have not encountered -a man like you." - -Then the horseman laughed and sang: - - "By the Caldron's side - Away I ride, - Where the waters rush and fall - Adown the crystal glacier wall - There you will find a stone - Joined to a hand--alone." - - -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, _hall_ is a stone and _mund_ is the hand. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXVII.* - - *ON THE GREAT EAGLE LAKE.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Accordingly he went to the moor, and after some trouble, found Grettir, -and asked if he might live with him. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -When he came in Grettir was awake also, and he asked how fared the boat. - -"She has broken from her mooring," answered Redbeard, "and has been -dashed to bits on the rocks." - -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. - -"Jump in, swim out, and bring them to shore," said he to Redbeard. The -man shook his head and answered: - -"I can do anything save swim. I have not held back from any other work -you have set me, but swim I cannot." - -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." - -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." - -Then Grettir put off his clothes, and went into the water, and swam out -to the nets. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -[Illustration: GRETTIR ATTACKED IN THE RIFT BY THORIR'S PARTY.] - -Thorir came with his men to the bottom of the hill, and shouted to -Grettir and taunted him. - -Grettir replied, "Though you may have put the spoon to your lips you -have not swallowed the broth." - -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. - -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. - -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.[#] - - -[#] 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." - - -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." - -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. - -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. - -Grettir asked his name, and the tall man replied that he was Hallmund. - -"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." - -"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." - -Then Hallmund said, "You must now come with me, for time must drag with -you solitary here on the heath." - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXVIII.* - - *ON THE FELL.* - - - _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_ - - -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." - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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." - -"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." - -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." - -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. - -"If he comes your way," said Biorn, "teach him a lesson; but don't kill -him." - -"No," said Grettir with a grim smile, "I'll merely dress his skin for -him." - -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." - -"Nay, not so," answered Gisli, for it was he. "You do not know whom you -are addressing." - -"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." - -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. - -"Are you the Gisli who were so eager to meet Grettir Asmund's son?" -asked the outlaw. - -"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." - -"Hardly yet," said Grettir grimly. "I think something was said about -skin-dressing, that is not to be overlooked." - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXIX.* - - *THE FIGHT ON THE RIVER.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Then Thorarin of Acres called out and advised delay. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Then Thorarin cried out, and bade all draw off. - -"The longer ye fight," said he, "the worse ye fare. He picks out what -men among you he chooses." - -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. - -Grettir, moreover, was marvellously wearied, but had received no wounds -to speak of. - -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. - -The point on the river Hit where this affray took place is still shown; -and is called Grettir's-point to this day. - -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. - -Then Grettir sang:-- - - "Brewer of strong barley-corn, - Pourer forth of drinking-horn, - Lo! to-day the Stonewolf fell, - Ne'er again his head be well. - Many more have got their bane, - Many in their blood lie slain; - Little life has Thorgils now, - After that bone-breaking blow. - Eight upon the river's bank - In their gore expiring sank." - - - - - *CHAPTER XXX.* - - *A MYSTERIOUS VALE.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -The Saga says:-- - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - -[#] I have given a translation of it in my _Curiosities of Olden Times_, -London, Hayes, 1869. - - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXXI.* - - *THE DEATH OF HALLMUND.* - - - _Grim's Fish Disappear--The Thief Wounded and Tracked--Death of - Hallmund_ - - -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. - -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. - -Next morning they also had disappeared. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Then the girl saw that blood was flowing from him, and she asked him -what had happened. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXXII.* - - *OF ANOTHER ATTEMPT AGAINST GRETTIR.* - - - _Thorir raises a Party against Grettir--Grettir plays the - Herdsman--A Daring Trick--Thorir a Laughing-Stock_ - - -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. - -As soon as Thorir and his band had gone out of sight, Grettir crept from -his place of hiding, and said to his companion: - -"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." - -"You surely will not be so rash?" exclaimed the other man. - -"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. - -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. - -"What sort of man is he?" asked Grettir. "Is he armed?" - -"Armed indeed is he, with a casque on his head, a long sword, and also a -short one in his girdle." - -"Is he riding?" - -"Most certainly he is." - -"Then," said Grettir, "you had better get you along after him due south; -he has gone that way not so long agone." - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXXIII.* - - *AT SANDHEAPS.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -When Steinvor saw the condition of the river, she said, "There is -plainly no way across for horse or man." - -"I suppose there is a ford somewhere," said Grettir. - -"Yes," answered Steinvor, "there is a ford at this place; but I do not -see how it is to be traversed." - -"I will carry you across," said Grettir. - -"Carry over the little maiden first," said the widow. "She is the -lightest." - -"I don't care about making two journeys when one will suffice," answered -Grettir. "Come, jump up; I will carry you in my arms." - -[Illustration: FORDING THE QUIVERING FLOOD.] - -The widow crossed herself, and said, "That will never do. How can you -manage such a burden?" - -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. - -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. - -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: - -"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." - -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. - -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:-- - - - - *The Story of the Stream-Troll* - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -On that night on which Grettir had carried Steinvor across the river, he -returned to the farm, and lay down in his bed. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Then the Troll-woman laboured away with him towards the river, and right -down towards the gulfs. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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: - -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. - -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. - -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." - -The priest, Stone, agreed, and they went together to the side of the -waterfall, and they had a rope with them. - -Stone shook his head, and he said, "It would be too risky for anyone to -venture down there." - -"I will go," said Grettir. "But you mind the rope." - -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. - -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. - -"How are you going down?" asked Stone. - -"I shall dive," said Grettir. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Then he sat down, and with a sharp knife he cut runes on a staff. And -what he wrote was this: - - "Down into the gulf I went, - Where the rocks are widely rent; - Where the swirling waters fall - O'er the black basaltic wall; - Where, with voice of thunder, leap - In the foaming darkling deep. - There the stream with icy wave - Washes the grim giant's cave." - -He had cut as much as he could on one stick, so now he took another, and -on that he cut: - - "Dreadful dweller in the cave - Underneath the falling wave, - Fierce at me he brandished glaive; - Full of rage at me he drove, - Desperate we together strove. - Lo! I smote his halft in twain, - Lo! I smote and he was slain, - Bleeding from each riven vein." - - -Then Grettir carried the bag of bones and the staves to the church, and -laid them in the porch. - -Next morning when the priest came to the church he found the bag of -bones and the staves. - -Such is the story. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXXIV.* - - *HOW GRETTIR WAS DRIVEN ABOUT.* - - - _Thorir comes too Late--The Needle of Basalt--The Island of - Drangey--The Terrors of the Dark--Brother holds to Brother_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -"Where shall I go?" asked Grettir. "I am hunted like a dog." - -"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." - -"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." - -"Well," said Gudmund, "that is my counsel. Trust none but yourself. -Treachery lies where least expected." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Then Illugi his brother said, "Grettir, I will be with you." - -"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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXXV.* - - *ON THE ISLE.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -Now Illugi, Grettir's sole surviving brother, was aged fifteen, and was -a very handsome, honest-looking boy. - -"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." - -"I would rather have you with me than anyone else," answered Grettir. -"But I cannot take you unless our mother consent." - -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." - -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. - -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." - -When she had said this she wept sore. - -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." - -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, _i.e._ 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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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? - -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." - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXXVI.* - - *OF GRETTIR ON HERON-NESS.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -Grettir thus attired sauntered between the booths erected on the -headland, till he reached the spot where games were going on. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -The man sat still, and The Hook could not drag him from his seat. - -"Well!" exclaimed The Hook, "no one else has kept his place before me -to-day. Who are you?" - -"Guest," answered Grettir shortly. - -"A wished-for guest thou wilt be, if thou furnish some entertainment to -the company," said Thorbiorn Hook. - -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?" - -Then many exclaimed that there should be fair play. - -"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." - -Again he was assured that no one would resent what he did. - -"But see," said Grettir, "I have not wrestled for many years, and have -lost all skill in the matter." - -Yet they pressed him the more. - -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." - -This all agreed to, and an oath of safe conduct was made, the form of -which is so curious that it must be given. - -A man named Hafr recited the terms of the oath, and the rest agreed to -it. - -"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. - -"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." - -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. - -After a little hesitation the oath was taken by all. - -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." - -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. - -"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." - -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: - - "Many trees-of-wealth (_men_) this morn, - Failed the well-known well to know, - Two ways turn the sea-flame-branches (_men_), - When a trick on them is tried; - Falter folk in oath fulfilling, - Hafr's talking lips are dumb." - - -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." - -Then Grettir sang: - - "Shield-lifters (_men_) rubbing of noses, - Shield-tempest-senders (men) shake beards, - Fierce-hearted serpent's-lair-scatterers (_men_), - Lay their heads one 'gainst another, - Now that they know, are regretting - The peace they have sworn to to-day." - - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXXVII.* - - *OF HOERING'S LEAP.* - - - _The Piebald Ram--In want of Fire--Not born to be - Drowned--Thorwald aids Grettir--A Stratagem--Hoering climbs the - Cliff--Hoering's Leap_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"Do not attempt that!" exclaimed Illugi. "That is what you did in -Norway, and that led to all your misfortune." - -"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." - -"But the distance is so great!" remonstrated Illugi. - -"Do not fear for me," said Grettir; "I was not born to be drowned." - -From Drangey to Reykir is, as already said, about five English miles. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -During the summer, a ship arrived in the firth, the captain of which was -a young and active man called Hoering. 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 Hoering 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. - -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 Hoering 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 Hoering to climb the cliffs unobserved and unresisted. - -The discussion went on but led to nothing. In the meantime Hoering 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. - -Now, as luck would have it, Illugi chanced to turn his head, and he saw -a man approaching from behind. - -Then he cried out, "Brother! Brother! Here comes a man at us with -uplifted axe!" - -"You go after him," said Grettir. "I will watch at the ladder." - -So Illugi started to his feet and went to meet Hoering, and when the -young merchant saw that he was discovered, he fled away across the -islet, and Illugi went after him. And when Hoering 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 Hoering's Leap to this day. - -Illugi came back, and Grettir asked him what had been the end of the -encounter. Illugi told him. - -"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." - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXXVIII.* - - *OF THE ATTEMPT MADE BY GRETTIR's FRIENDS.* - - - _The New Law-man--The Outlawry almost at an End_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XXXIX.* - - *OF THE OLD HAG.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -The Hook agreed to what she said, and so all rested till August without -the matter being again alluded to. - -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." - -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." - -"You promised to obey me without questioning," said the crone. "Follow -my advice and all will be well for you and ill for Grettir." - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -Grettir made the same reply as before, "Do what you will, in this spot I -await my fate." - -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." - -"That pleases me well," said Grettir, "for you and I are not like to -come to terms that will satisfy both." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"Brother!" exclaimed Illugi, "you should not have done this." - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -"You are a confident woman, foster-mother," said Thorbiorn. - -When a month had elapsed, the old woman was able to leave her bed, and -to limp across the room. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XL.* - - *HOW THE LOG CAME TO DRANGEY.* - - - _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_ - - -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. - -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. - -"Here is a fine beam!" exclaimed Illugi. "Help me to lift it on to my -shoulder, and I will carry it up the ladder." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Grettir jumped up, "Well done," said he, "you have been quick in your -quest." - -"Now I have brought it, you must chop it up," said Glaum. "I have done -my part." - -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. - -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." - -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. - -"My dear brother," said Illugi, "I do not think that this cut will -trouble you long." - -"I hope not," answered Grettir. "But none can see where a road leads -till they have gone through to the end." - -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. - -"Why are you so uneasy?" asked the boy. - -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. - -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. - -Illugi never left him, he sat beside him holding his hand, or bringing -him water to slake his unquenchable thirst. - -"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." - -"I misliked the casting of that stone," said Illugi. - -"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:-- - - "I fought with the sword in the bye-gone day, - In the day when I was young; - When the Rovers I slew in old Norway, - The land with my action rung. - - "I entered the grave of Karr the Old, - I rived his sword away; - I strove with the Troll at Thorod's-stead, - Before the break of day. - - "With Thorbiorn Oxmain in the marsh - I fought, and his blood I shed; - Against Thorir of Garth have I stood in arms, - Who long would have me dead. - - "For nineteen years, I a hunted man, - On mountain, on moor, and fen; - For nineteen years had to shun and flee - The face of my fellow men. - - "For nineteen years all bitter to bear - Both hunger and cold and pain; - And never to know when I laid me down, - If I might awake again. - - "And now do I lie with a burning eye, - As a wolf is fain to die; - Whilst the skies are dripping and ocean roars, - And the winds sob sadly by--" - - -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. - -"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." - - - - - *CHAPTER XLI.* - - *THE END OF THE OUTLAW.* - - - _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_ - - -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." - -Grettir answered, "Go! and do not argue with us; guard the ladder as you -have been bidden!" - -So Illugi drove the churl from the hut every morning, notwithstanding -his angry remonstrances; and Glaum was in the worst of humours. - -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. - -Now, Thorbiorn Hook was at home, ill-pleased at the failure of all his -schemes for dispossessing Grettir of the island. - -One day his foster-mother came to him, and asked whether he were ready -now to pay his final visit to the outlaw? - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"You need go but this once," said the crone. "The storm is of my -sending, and is sent to work my ends." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Now let us look again at Grettir. - -He had been in less pain that day. Illugi had not left him, but -remained faithful at his post. - -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. - -When Thorbiorn and his party reached the shore, they found to their -content that the ladder had not been removed. - -"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!" - -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. - -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." - -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." - -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. - -"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." - -The churl answered sullenly that he would speak, and he had nothing to -conceal. - -"Then tell me where the brothers are?" - -"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." - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -All at once there sounded a crash at the door, and the sleeper opened -his eyes dreamily. - -"It is only the old ram, brother," said Illugi. "He is butting, because -he wants to come in." - -"He butts hard! he butts hard!" muttered Grettir, and at that moment the -door burst open. They saw faces looking in. - -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. - -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. - -Thorbiorn Hook called to the men to act more warily--they were -twenty-five in all against two men, and one dying. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -[Illustration: ILLUGI DEFENDS THE DYING GRETTIR.] - -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. - -No one could touch him, for the brave boy warded off every blow that was -aimed at his brother. - -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. - -"Never have I seen one braver of your age," said The Hook. "I will say -that you have fought well." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -"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." - -The men present said he might say what he liked, but that they believed -Grettir was already dead when he smote him. - -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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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." - -The day was breaking. They led Illugi to the east side of the island, -and there they slew him. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XLII.* - - *HOW ASDIS RECEIVED THE NEWS.* - - - _A Charge of Witchcraft--A Heroic Mother--Thorbiorn's - Sentence--Burial of the Brothers_ - - -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. - -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." - -The lady sat proudly in her seat, and did not shed a tear; but lifting -her voice in reply, she sang: - - "Milk-sop--as timid sheep - Before a fox all cow'ring keep; - So did you--nor could prevail - So long as Grettir's strength was hale. - Woe is on the Northland side, - Nor can I my loathing hide!" - - -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. - -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." - -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. - -So he went away and never returned. - -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 _tun_ 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. - - - - - *CHAPTER XLIII.* - - *HOW DROMUND KEPT HIS WORD.* - - - _Thorbiorn Hook in Norway--Dromund on Thorbiorn's Track--The - Varangians--Grettir's Sword--Grettir is Avenged_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Oh!" laughed Thorbiorn, "that notch is no blemish at all. It is a -memorial of one of my greatest achievements." - -"What was that?" asked one of the Varangians. - -"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." - -"And his name?" asked Thorstein Dromund. - -"His name was Grettir the Strong." - -There was a pause; and in that pause the sword was handed to Dromund for -him to look at. - -"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. - -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. - - - - - *EPILOGUE.* - - - _Date of Grettir's Death--Mention of Grettir in other - Sagas--Historical Basis of the Grettir Story_ - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - THE END. - - - - - Transcriber's note: - - The source book's pages had variant headers. These headers have - been collected into the introductory paragraph at the start of - each chapter. - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GRETTIR THE OUTLAW *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/48622 - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so -the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. -Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this -license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) -electronic works to protect the Project Gutenberg(tm) concept and -trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be -used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific -permission. 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