His companion tried to dissuade him, but he would go.  He changed his dress, put on a wide hat which came down over his face and took a stick in his hand.  Then he went along the road towards them.  They addressed him and asked whether he had seen any men riding over the heath.

“I have seen the men whom you are seeking,” he said, “you very nearly came upon them; they were on your left hand just south of the marshes.”

On hearing this they galloped off towards the marshes, which were so swampy that they could not get through and had to spend a great part of the day dragging their horses out.  They swore much at the supposed traveller for playing a practical joke upon them.

Grettir returned speedily home to his companion, and when they met spoke a verse: 

“I will not ride to the warriors’ arms; too great the danger is.  I dare not meet the storm of Vidri; but homeward turn my steps.”

They rode off as fast as they could westwards towards the homestead in Gard before Thorir could come there with his company.  When they were near the place they met a man on the road who did not know them.  There was a young woman standing outside, very much dressed up, and Grettir asked who she was.  The man who had come up said she was Thorir’s daughter.  Then Grettir spoke a verse: 

“Maiden, when thy father comes tell him, little though it please him, how I rode his dwelling past; only two who with me rode.”

From this the man learnt who it was, and rode to the house to tell them that Grettir had come round.  When Thorir returned many men thought that he had been bamboozled by Grettir.  He then set spies to watch Grettir’s movements.  Grettir took the precaution of sending his companion to the western districts with his horse, while he himself went North into the mountains at the beginning of the winter, muffling up his face so that no one should recognise him.  Every one thought that Thorir had fared no better but even worse than at their former encounter.

CHAPTER LXIV

GHOSTS IN BARDARDAL

There was dwelling at Eyjardalsa in Bardardal a priest named Steinn, a good farmer and wealthy.  His son Kjartan was grown up and was now a fine young man.  Thorsteinn the White was a man who dwelt at Sandhaugar to the south of Eyjardalsa; his wife Steinvor was young and of a merry disposition.  They had children who at this time were yet young.  Their place was generally thought to be much haunted by trolls.  Two winters before Grettir came North into those parts, Steinvor the mistress of Sandhaugar went as usual to spend Yule at Eyjardalsa, while her husband stayed at home.  Men lay down to sleep in the evening, and in the night they heard a great noise in the room near the bondi’s bed.  No one dared to get up to see what was the matter because there were so few of them.  The mistress