The Story of Grettir the Strong eBook

Allen French
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 319 pages of information about The Story of Grettir the Strong.

The Story of Grettir the Strong eBook

Allen French
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 319 pages of information about The Story of Grettir the Strong.

Grettir said that he should like that very well.  But Thorkel said, “Yet I hope, Grettir, that thou wilt do this for my sake, not to do aught against Biorn while ye are with me.”

“That shall be,” said Grettir.

Biorn said he would walk fearless of Grettir wheresoever they might meet.

Grettir smiled mockingly, but would not take boot for Biorn.  So they were here that winter through.

CHAP.  XXII.

Of the Slaying of Biorn.

In the spring Grettir went north to Vogar with chapmen.  He and Thorkel parted in friendship; but Biorn went west to England, and was the master of Thorkel’s ship that went thither.  Biorn dwelt thereabout that summer and bought such things for Thorkel as he had given him word to get; but as the autumn wore on he sailed from the west.  Grettir was at Vogar till the fleet broke up; then he sailed from the north with some chapmen until they came to a harbour at an island before the mouth of Drontheimfirth, called Gartar, where they pitched their tents.  Now when they were housed, a ship came sailing havenward from the south along the land; they soon saw that it was an England farer; she took the strand further out, and her crew went ashore; Grettir and his fellows went to meet them.  But when they met, Grettir saw that Biorn was among those men, and spake—­

“It is well that we have met here; now we may well take up our ancient quarrel, and now I will try which of us twain may do the most.”

Biorn said that was an old tale to him, “but if there has been aught of such things between us, I will boot for it, so that thou mayst think thyself well holden thereof.”

Then Grettir sang—­

  “In hard strife I slew the bear,
  Thereof many a man doth hear;
  Then the cloak I oft had worn,
  By the beast to rags was torn;
  Thou, O braggart ring-bearer,
  Wrought that jest upon me there,
  Now thou payest for thy jest,
  Not in words am I the best?”

Biorn said, that oft had greater matters than these been atoned for.

Grettir said, “That few had chosen hitherto to strive to trip him up with spite and envy, nor ever had he taken fee for such, and still must matters fare in likewise.  Know thou that we shall not both of us go hence whole men if I may have my will, and a coward’s name will I lay on thy back, if thou darest not to fight.”

Now Biorn saw that it would avail nought to try to talk himself free; so he took his weapons and went aland.

Then they ran one at the other and fought, but not long before Biorn got sore wounded, and presently fell dead to earth.  But when Biorn’s fellows saw that, they went to their ship, and made off north along the land to meet Thorkel and told him of this hap:  he said it had not come to pass ere it might have been looked for.

Soon after this Thorkel went south to Drontheim, and met there Earl Svein.  Grettir went south to Mere after the slaying of Biorn, and found his friend Thorfinn, and told him what had befallen.  Thorfinn gave him good welcome, and said—­

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The Story of Grettir the Strong from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.