On the same day Thorbjorn Oxmain had ridden across the neck to Burfell, and as he returned with Thorbjorn Slowcoach, Gunnar and Thorgeir, the sons of Thorir, and Thorodd Drapustuf, he saw the fight going on.  On coming up, Thorbjorn called upon his men to go between them, but they were struggling so furiously that nobody could get at them.  Grettir was making a clean sweep of everything round him.  Before him were the sons of Thorir.  He pushed them back and they both fell over.  This made them furious, and the consequence was that Gunnar gave a blow to one of Atli’s men which killed him.  Thorbjorn on seeing that ordered them to separate, saying that he would give his support to whichever side obeyed him.  By then two of Kormak’s men had fallen.  Grettir saw that it would scarcely do if Thorbjorn joined the opposite side, so he gave up the battle.  All those who had fought were wounded.  Grettir was much disgusted at their being separated, but both parties rode home and were not reconciled on this occasion.

Thorbjorn Slowcoach made great game of all this, and the relations between the men of Bjarg and Thorbjorn Oxmain became strained in consequence, until at last there was a regular feud, which however broke out later.  No compensation was offered to Atli for his man, and he went on as if he knew nothing of it.  Grettir stayed at Bjarg till the Tvi-month.  It is not known that he and Kormak ever met again; at least it is not mentioned anywhere.

CHAPTER XXXI

GRETTIR’S VAIN ENDEAVOUR TO PROVOKE BARDI

Bardi the son of Gudmund and his brothers rode home to Asbjarnarnes when they left Grettir.  They were the sons of Gudmund the son of Solmund.  Solmund’s mother was Thorlaug, daughter of Saemund the Southerner, the foster-brother of Ingimund the Old.  Bardi was a man of great distinction.  Soon he went to see his foster-father Thorarin the Wise, who welcomed him and asked what help he had been able to obtain, for Bardi’s journey had been arranged beforehand by them both.  Bardi answered that he had engaged a man whose help he thought worth more than that of two others.  Thorarin was silent for a moment and then said:  “That must be Grettir the son of Asmund.”

“The guess of the wise is truth,” said Bardi.  “That is the very man, my foster-father.”

Thorarin answered:  “It is true that Grettir is beyond all other men of whom there is now choice in the country; nor will he be easily subdued by arms so long as he is sound.  But great arrogance is in him now, and I have misgivings as to his luck.  It is important for you that all your men on your expedition are not men of an evil star.  It is enough if he does not fare with you.  He shall not come if my counsel is followed.”

“I did not expect, my foster-father,” said he, “that you would deny me the man who is bravest in all that he undertakes.  A man in such straits as I seem to be in cannot provide against everything.”