In the evenings when the others retired to bed, Bjorn used generally to go out.  One night he went to the bear’s den and found the creature inside, growling horribly.  He lay down in the path, placing his shield over him, intending to wait until the beast came out as usual.  Bruin, however, got wind of him and was rather slow in coming out.  Bjorn got very sleepy where he was lying and could not keep awake; in the meantime out came the bear from his den and saw a man lying there.  He clawed at him, dragged off his shield and threw it down the cliff.  Bjorn woke up, not a little startled, took to his heels and ran off home, narrowly escaping the bear’s clutches.  His friends knew all about it, having watched his movements; on the next morning they found the shield and made great game of his adventure.

At Yule-time Thorkell himself went out to the den with Bjorn, Grettir and others of his men, a party of eight in all.  Grettir had on a fur cape which he put off when they were attacking the bear.  It was rather difficult to get at him, since they could only reach him with spear-thrusts, which he parried with his teeth.  Bjorn kept urging them on to tackle him, but himself did not go near enough to be in any danger.  At last, when no one was looking out, he took Grettir’s fur cloak and threw it in to the bear.  They did not succeed in getting the bear out, and when night came on turned to go home.  Grettir then missed his cloak and saw that the bear had got it into his grip.

“Who has been playing tricks on me?” he cried.  “Who threw my cloak into the cave?”

Bjorn answered:  “He who did it will not be afraid to say so.”

“Things of that sort do not trouble me much,” said Grettir.

Then they started on their way home.  After they had gone a little way Grettir’s garter broke.  Thorkell told them to wait for him, but Grettir said it was not necessary.  Then Bjorn said:  “There is no need to suppose that Grettir will run away from his cloak.  He wants to have the honour of killing the beast all alone, and he will say that we eight men went away.  Then he would appear to be what he is said to be.  He has been backward enough all day.”

“I don’t know how you stand in that matter,” said Thorkell.  “You and he are not equal in valour; do not make any to-do about him.”

Bjorn said that neither he nor Grettir should choose the words out of his mouth.

There was a hill between them and Grettir, who had turned back along the footpath.  Now he had no others to reckon with in making the attack.  He drew his sword Jokulsnaut and tied a loop round the handle which he passed over his wrist, because he thought that he could carry out his plans better if his hand were free.  He went along the path.  When the bear saw a man coming, he charged savagely, and struck at him with the paw that was on the side away from the precipice.  Grettir aimed a blow at him with his sword and cut off his paw just above