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.

Now Atli became a mighty bonder, and had many with him, and was a great gatherer of household-stuff.  When the summer was far gone, he went out to Snowfellness to get him stockfish.  He drave many horses, and rode from home to Meals in Ramfirth to Gamli his brother-in-law; and on this journey rode with him Grim Thorhallson, Gamli’s brother, and another man withal.  They rode west to Hawkdale Pass, and so on, as the road lay west to Ness:  there they bought much stockfish, and loaded seven horses therewith, and turned homeward when they were ready.

CHAP.  XLIII.

The Onset on Atli at the Pass and the Slaying of Gunnar and Thorgeir.

Thorbiorn Oxmain heard that Atli and Grim were on a journey from home, and there were with him the sons of Thorir from the Pass, Gunnar and Thorgeir.  Now Thorbiorn envied Atli for his many friendships, and therefore he egged on the two brothers, the sons of Thorir, to way-lay Atli as he came back from the outer ness.  Then they rode home to the Pass, and abode there till Atli and his fellows went by with their train; but when they came as far as the homestead at the Pass, their riding was seen, and those brothers brake out swiftly with their house-carles and rode after them; but when Atli and his folk saw their faring, Atli bade them take the loads from the horses, “for perchance they will give me atonement for my house-carle, whom Gunnar slew last summer.  Let us not begin the work, but defend ourselves if they be first to raise strife with us.”

Now the brothers came up and leaped off their horses.  Atli welcomed them, and asked for tidings:  “Perchance, Gunnar, thou wilt give me some atonement for my house-carle.”

Gunnar answered, “Something else is your due, men of Biarg, than that I should lay down aught good therefor; yea, atonement is due withal for the slaying of Thorbiorn, whom Grettir slew.”

“It is not for me to answer thereto,” said Atli; “nor art thou a suitor in that case.”

Gunnar said he would stand in that stead none-the-less.  “Come, let us set on them, and make much of it, that Grettir is not nigh them now.”

Then they ran at Atli, eight of them altogether, but Atli and his folk were six.

Atli went before his men, and drew the sword, Jokul’s gift, which Grettir had given him.

Then said Thorgeir, “Many like ways have those who deem themselves good; high aloft did Grettir bear his short-sword last summer on the Ramfirth-neck.”

Atli answered, “Yea, he is more wont to deal in great deeds than I.”

Thereafter they fought; Gunnar set on Atli exceeding fiercely, and was of the maddest; and when they had fought awhile, Atli said,

“No fame there is in thus killing workmen each for the other; more seeming it is that we ourselves play together, for never have I fought with weapons till now.”

Gunnar would not have it so, but Atli bade his house-carles look to the burdens; “But I will see what these will do herein.”

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