Now Thorhall went into Skapti’s booth, and Skapti greeted him well, for he knew that he was a man rich in cattle, and he asked him what were the tidings.

Thorhall answered, “A wholesome counsel would I have from thee.”

“Little am I meet for that,” said Skapti; “but what dost thou stand in need of?”

Thorhall said, “So is the matter grown to be, that but a little while do my shepherds avail me; for ever will they get badly hurt; but others will not serve to the end, and now no one will take the job when he knows what bides in the way.”

Skapti answered, “Some evil things shall be there then, since men are more unwilling to watch thy sheep than those of other men.  Now, therefore, as thou hast sought rede of me, I shall get thee a shepherd who is hight Glam, a Swede, from Sylgsdale, who came out last summer, a big man and a strong, though he is not much to the mind of most folk.”

Thorhall said he heeded that little if he watched the sheep well.

Skapti said that little would be the look out for others, if he could not watch them, despite his strength and daring.

Then Thorhall went out from him, and this was towards the breaking up of the Thing.  Thorhall missed two dun horses, and fared himself to seek for them; wherefore folk deem that he was no great man.  He went up to Sledgehill, and south along the fell which is called Armansfell; then he saw how a man fared down from Godi’s-wood, and bore faggots on a horse.  Soon they met together, and Thorhall asked him of his name.  He said that he was called Glam.  This man was great of growth, uncouth to look on; his eyes were grey and glaring, and his hair was wolf-grey.

Thorhall stared at him somewhat when he saw this man, till he saw that this was he to whom he had been sent.

“What work hast thou best will to do?” said Thorhall.

Glam said, “That he was of good mind to watch sheep in winter.”

“Wilt thou watch my sheep?” said Thorhall.  “Skapti has given thee to my will.”

“So only shall my service avail thee, if I go of my own will, for I am evil of mood if matters mislike me,” quoth Glam.

“I fear no hurt thereof,” said Thorhall, “and I will that thou fare to my house.”

“That may I do,” said Glam, “perchance there are some troubles there?”

“Folk deem the place haunted,” said Thorhall.

“Such bugs will not scare me,” quoth Glam; “life seems to me less irksome thereby.”

“It must needs seem so,” said Thorhall, “and truly it is better that a mannikin be not there.”

Thereafter they struck bargain together, and Glam is to come at winter nights:  then they parted, and Thorhall found his horses even where he had just been searching.  Thorhall rode home, and thanked Skapti for his good deed.

Summer slipped away, and Thorhall heard nought of his shepherd, nor did any man know aught about him; but at the appointed time he came to Thorhall-stead.  The bonder greeted him well, but none of the other folk could abide him, and the good wife least of all.