Bardi said that certes it was a matter to be borne with, if he had had to avenge himself.

“Now I will settle matters between you,” quoth Bardi; “I will that ye part, leaving things as they are, that thereby there may be an end of all between you.”

This they let hold good, but Grettir took ill liking to Bardi and his brothers.

Now they all rode off, and when they were somewhat on their way, Grettir spake—­

“I have heard that thou hast will to go to Burgfirth this summer, and I now offer to go south with thee; and methinks that herein I do for thee more than thou art worthy of.”

Hereat was Bardi glad, and speedily said yea thereto, and bade him have thanks for this; and thereupon they parted.  But a little after Bardi came back and said—­

“I will have it known that thou goest not unless my foster-father Thorarin will have it so, for he shall have all the rule of the faring.”

“Well mightest thou, methinks, have full freedom as to thine own redes,” said Grettir, “and my faring I will not have laid under the choice of other folk; and I shall mislike it if thou easiest me aside from thy fellowship.”

Now either went their way, and Bardi said he should let Grettir know for sure if Thorarin would that he should fare with him, but that otherwise he might sit quiet at home.  Grettir rode home to Biarg, but Bardi to his own house.

CHAP.  XXIX.

Of the Horse-fight at Longfit.

That summer was settled to be a great horse-fight at Longfit, below Reeks.  Thither came many men.  Atli of Biarg had a good horse, a black-maned roan of Keingala’s kin, and father and son had great love for that horse.  The brothers, Kormak and Thorgils of Meal, had a brown horse, trusty in fight.  These were to fight their horse against Atli of Biarg.  And many other good horses were there.

Odd, the Foundling-skald, of Kormak’s kin, was to follow the horse of his kinsman through the day.  Odd was then growing a big man, and bragged much of himself, and was untameable and reckless.  Grettir asked of Atli his brother, who should follow his horse.

“I am not so clear about that,” said he.

“Wilt thou that I stand by it?” said Grettir.

“Be thou then very peaceable, kinsman,” said Atli, “for here have we to deal with overbearing men.”

“Well, let them pay for their own insolence,” said Grettir, “if they know not how to hold it back.”

Now are the horses led out, but all stood forth on the river-bank tied together.  There was a deep hollow in the river down below the bank.  The horses bit well at each other, and the greatest sport it was.

Odd drave on his horse with all his might, but Grettir held back, and seized the tail with one hand, and the staff wherewith he goaded the horse he held in the other.  Odd stood far before his horse, nor was it so sure that he did not goad Atli’s horse from his hold.  Grettir made as if he saw it not.  Now the horses bore forth towards the river.  Then Odd drave his staff at Grettir, and smote the shoulder-blade, for that Grettir turned the shoulder towards him:  that was so mighty a stroke, that the flesh shrank from under it, but Grettir was little scratched.