He went up and felt him, but saw at once that he was dead with his back broken.  It had been broken over the flat stone which separated the two stalls.  Evidently it was not safe to remain any longer on his estate, so he fled with everything that he could carry away.  All the live-stock which he left behind was killed by Glam.  After that Glam went right up the valley and raided every farm as far as Tunga, while Thorhall stayed with his friends during the rest of the winter.  No one could venture up the valley with a horse or a dog, for it was killed at once.  As the spring went on and the sun rose higher in the sky the spook diminished somewhat, and Thorhall wanted to return to his land, but found it not easy to get servants.  Nevertheless, he went and took up his abode at Thorhallsstad.  Directly the autumn set in, everything began again, and the disturbances increased.  The person most attacked was the bondi’s daughter, who at last died of it.  Many things were tried but without success.  It seemed likely that the whole of Vatnsdal would be devastated unless help could be found.

CHAPTER XXXIV

GRETTIR VISITS HIS UNCLE JOKULL

We have now to return to Grettir, who was at home in Bjarg during the autumn which followed his meeting with Warrior-Bardi at Thoreyjargnup.  When the winter was approaching, he rode North across the neck to Vididal and stayed at Audunarstad.  He and Audun made friends again; Grettir gave him a valuable battle-axe and they agreed to hold together in friendship.  Audun had long lived there, and had many connections.  He had a son named Egill, who married Ulfheid the daughter of Eyjolf, the son of Gudmund; their son Eyjolf, who was killed at the All-Thing, was the father of Orin the chaplain of Bishop Thorlak.

Grettir rode to the North to Vatnsdal and went on a visit to Tunga, where dwelt his mother’s brother, Jokull the son of Bard, a big strong man and exceedingly haughty.  He was a mariner, very cantankerous, but a person of much consideration.  He welcomed Grettir, who stayed three nights with him.  Nothing was talked about but Glam’s walking, and Grettir inquired minutely about all the particulars.  Jokull told him that no more was said than had really happened.

“Why, do you want to go there?” he asked.

Grettir said that it was so.  Jokull told him not to do it.

“It would be a most hazardous undertaking,” he said.  “Your kinsmen incur a great risk with you as you are.  There does not seem to be one of the younger men who is your equal.  It is ill dealing with such a one as Glam.  Much better fight with human men than with goblins of that sort.”

Grettir said he had a mind to go to Thorhallsstad and see how things were.  Jokull said:  “I see there is no use in dissuading you.  The saying is true that Luck is one thing, brave deeds another.”