CHAPTER LVII

Attack on Grettir by Thorir of Gard with eighty men repulsed with the aid of Hallmund

At the All-Thing Thorir of Gard learned of Thorir Redbeard having been killed.  It was evident that the matter was not so easy to deal with.  He now determined to ride from the Thing in a westerly direction through the lower heath, and with the aid of about eighty men whom he had with him to take Grettir’s life.  Grim the son of Thorhall heard of his plans and sent word to Grettir, bidding him beware of himself.  Grettir therefore continued closely to watch the movements of men who came and went.

One day he saw a number of men coming in the direction of his place of dwelling.  He went into a gorge between two rocks, but did not go right away because he did not see the whole of the troop.  Thorir then came up with his whole party and bade them go between his head and his body, saying that the scoundrel had but a poor chance now.

“A filled cup is not yet drunk,” answered Grettir.  “You have come far to seek me, and some of you shall bear the marks of our game before we part.”

Thorir urged his men on to attack him.  The gorge was very narrow so that he could easily defend it from one end, and he wondered much that they did not get round to his rear to hurt him.  Some of Thorir’s men fell and some were wounded, but they effected nothing.  Then Thorir said:  “I always heard that Grettir was distinguished for his courage and daring, but I never knew that he was so skilled in magic as I now see he is; for there fall half as many again behind his back as before his face, and I see that we have to do with a troll instead of a man.”

So he bade his men retire, and they did so.  Grettir wondered what the explanation could be, but was terribly exhausted.  Thorir and his men withdrew and rode into the northern parts.  Their expedition was considered very disgraceful.  Thorir had left eighteen men on the ground and had many wounded.

Grettir then went up the gorge and found there a man of huge stature sitting up against the rock and sorely wounded.  Grettir asked his name, and he said it was Hallmund, adding:  “That you may recognise me I may remind you that you thought I gripped the reins rather tightly when I met you in Kjol last summer.  I think I have now made that good.”

“Indeed,” said Grettir, “I think you have done me a manly service; whenever I can I will repay it.”

“Now I wish,” said Hallmund, “that you may come to my home, for it must seem wearisome to you here on the Heath.”

Grettir said he would come willingly, and they both went together to the foot of the Balljokull, where Hallmund had a large cave.  There they found his daughter, a fine and well-grown maiden.  They treated Grettir well, and the daughter nursed both the wounded men to health again.  Grettir stayed there some time that summer.  He composed an ode on Hallmund in which the line occurs: