There was a girl named Asdis who was being brought up in Thorkell’s house.  She was a daughter of Bard the son of Jokull, the son of Ingimund the Old, the son of Thorsteinn, the son of Ketil Raum.  Her mother’s name was Aldis, whom we have already heard of as the daughter of Ofeig Grettir.  Asdis was not betrothed as yet, and was a most desirable match, both on account of her connections and her wealth.  Asmund now became sick of travelling about and wanted to settle down in Iceland.  So he spoke up and asked for Asdis as his wife.  Thorkell knew all about him and knew that he was a man of wealth, able to manage his affairs, so the marriage was arranged.  Asmund married Asdis, and became a close friend of Thorkell.  He was a great man of affairs, learned in the law and very strenuous.  Soon afterwards Thorgrim Greyhead died at Bjarg; Asmund succeeded to his property and took up his residence at Bjarg.

CHAPTER XIV

ASMUND’S CHILDREN.  GRETTIR’S CHILDHOOD

Asmund Longhair now set up a large and sumptuous household in Bjarg, where he maintained a numerous retinue and became very popular.  His children were as follows:  The eldest was Atli, an able and accomplished man, tactful and easy to deal with; he was much liked by all.  His second son was called Grettir.  He was very hard to manage in his bringing up.  He spoke little and was rough in his manners and quarrelsome, both in words and deeds.  He got little affection from his father Asmund, but his mother loved him dearly.  Grettir was a handsome man in appearance, with a face rather broad and short, red-haired and somewhat freckled; not very precocious in his youth.  There was a daughter named Thordis, who afterwards married Glum the son of Ospak, Kjallak’s son from Skridinsenni.  Another daughter was named Rannveig; she married Gamli the son of Thorhall of Vineland, and they dwelt at Melar in Hrutafjord and had a son named Grim.  Glum and Thordis had a son named Ospak who fell into a dispute with Odd the son of Ofeig, which is told of in the “Saga of the Banded Men.”

Grettir grew up at Bjarg until he was ten years old, when he began to develop a little.  Asmund told him that he must do some work.  Grettir said that would not suit him very well, but asked what he was to do.

“You must mind the geese,” said Asmund.

“That is wretched work, only fit for an idiot,” Grettir answered.

“You do that properly,” his father said, “and we shall get on better together.”

So Grettir went to mind the geese.  There were fifty of them, and a number of goslings.  Before long he began to find them troublesome, and the goslings would not come on quickly enough.  This put him out, for he could never control his temper.  Soon afterwards some wanderers found the goslings lying outside dead, and the geese with their wings broken.  This was in the autumn.  Asmund was very much annoyed and asked Grettir whether he had killed the birds.  Grettir grinned and answered: