There was a man called Gaut Sleitason, who was akin to Thorgils Makson.  Gaut had made ready to go in this same ship wherein Thorgeir was to sail.  He bristled up against Thorgeir, and showed mighty ill-will against him and went about scowling; when the chapmen found this out, they thought it far from safe that both should sail in one ship.  Thorgeir said he heeded not how much soever Gaut would bend his brows on him; still it was agreed that Gaut should take himself off from the ship, whereupon he went north into the upper settlements, and that time nought happed between him and Thorgeir, but out of this sprang up between them ill blood, as matters showed after.

CHAP.  XXVIII.

Grettir comes out to Iceland again.

This summer Grettir Asmundson came out to Skagafirth:  he was in those days so famed a man for strength and prowess, that none was deemed his like among young men.  He rode home to Biarg forthwith, and Asmund welcomed him meetly.  At that time Atli managed the farming matters, and well things befell betwixt the brothers.

But now Grettir waxed so overbearing, that he deemed that nought was too much for him to do.  At that time had many men grown into full manhood who were young in the days when Grettir was wont to play with them on Midfirth-water before he went abroad; one of these was Audun, who then dwelt at Audunstead, in Willowdale; he was the son of Asgeir, the son of Audun, the son of Asgeir Madpate; of all men he was the strongest north there; but he was thought to be the gentlest of neighbours.  Now it came into Grettir’s mind that he had had the worst of Audun in that ball-play whereof is told before; and now he would fain try which of the twain had ripened the most since then.  For this cause Grettir took his way from home, and fared unto Audunstead.  This was in early mowing tide; Grettir was well dight, and rode in a fair-stained saddle of very excellent workmanship, which Thorfinn had given him; a good horse he had withal, and all weapons of the best.  Grettir came early in the day to Audunstead, and knocked at the door.  Few folk were within; Grettir asked if Audun was at home.  Men said that he had gone to fetch victuals from the hill-dairy.  Then Grettir took the bridle off his horse; the field was unmowed, and the horse went whereas the grass was the highest.  Grettir went into the hall, sat down on the seat-beam, and thereon fell asleep.  Soon after Audun came home, and sees a horse grazing in the field with a fair-stained saddle on; Audun was bringing victuals on two horses, and carried curds on one of them, in drawn-up hides, tied round about:  this fashion men called curd-bags.  Audun took the loads off the horses and carried the curd-bags in his arms into the house.

Now it was dark before his eyes, and Grettir stretched his foot from out the beam so that Audun fell flat down head-foremost on to the curd-bag, whereby the bonds of the bag brake; Audun leaped up and asked who was that rascal in the way.  Grettir named himself.