Grettir then spoke: 

“Comrade of Odin, Thorfinn was born to rescue my life from the fangs of Hel.  No less was Thorsteinn Dromund’s aid when I was doomed to the realm of the dead.”

And again: 

     “The prince’s retainers withdrew in fear
     when Bersi threatened their hearts to pierce.”

Grettir returned with Thorfinn to the North and stayed with him until he found a ship with some traders who were bound for Iceland.  Thorfinn gave him many valuable garments and a coloured saddle with a bridle.  They parted with friendship, and Thorfinn invited him to come and see him if ever he returned to Norway.

CHAPTER XXV

Events in Iceland.  Thorgils Maksson attacked by the foster-brothers and slain

Asmund Longhair was in Bjarg whilst Grettir was away, and was much respected as a bondi in Midfjord.  Thorkell Krafla had died during Grettir’s absence.  Thorvald Asgeirsson dwelt in Ass in Vatnsdal and was a great chief.  He was the father of Dalla who married Isleif, afterwards bishop in Skalaholt.  Asmund had great support from Thorvald in legal suits and in other matters.

There grew up in Asmund’s household a youth named Thorgils Maksson, a near kinsman of his.  Thorgils was a strong man of his body and made much money under Asmund’s guidance; he dwelt at Laekjamot, on a property which Asmund had bought for him.  Thorgils was a good manager and went to Strandir every year, where he obtained whales and other things.  He was a man of great courage, and went as far as the eastern Almenningar.  At that time the two foster-brothers Thorgeir Havarsson and Thormod Coalbrow-Skald were very much to the front; they kept a boat, gathering what they wanted from the country around, and had not the reputation of dealing fairly.

One summer Thorgils Maksson found a whale at the Almenningar and went out at once with his men to cut it up.  When the two foster-brothers heard of it they went there too, and at first it seemed as if matters would be settled peaceably.  Thorgils proposed that they should share equally that part of the whale which was yet uncut, but they wanted to have all the uncut part or else to share the entire whale.  Thorgils positively refused to give up any portion of what had already been cut.  They began to use threats and at last took to their arms and fought.  Thorgeir and Thorgils fought each of them desperately together without either prevailing.  After a long and furious battle Thorgils fell slain by Thorgeir.  In another place Thormod was fighting with the followers of Thorgils, and he overcame them, killing three.  Those who remained of Thorgils’ party went off after he fell to Midfjord, taking his body with them and feeling that they had suffered a great loss.  The foster-brothers took possession of the whole whale.  The affair is referred to in the memorial poem which Thormod composed upon Thorgeir.