“Why askest thou not of my errand rather than of my name?”

“Why, because,” said Grettir, “it is like to be such as is of little weight:  art thou son to Snorri Godi?”

“Yea, yea,” says Thorod; “but now shall we try which of us may do the most.”

“A matter easy to be known,” says Grettir; “hast thou not heard that I have ever been a treasure-hill that most men grope in with little luck?”

“Yea, I know it,” said Thorod; “yet must somewhat be risked.”

And now he drew his sword therewith and set on Grettir eagerly; but Grettir warded himself with his shield, but bore no weapon against Thorod; and so things went awhile, nor was Grettir wounded.

At last he said, “Let us leave this play, for thou wilt not have victory in our strife.”

But Thorod went on dealing blows at his maddest.  Now Grettir got aweary of dealing with him, and caught him and set him down by his side, and said—­

“I may do with thee even as I will, nor do I fear that thou wilt ever be my bane; but the grey old carle, thy father, Snorri, I fear in good sooth, and his counsels that have brought most men to their knees:  and for thee, thou shouldst turn thy mind to such things alone as thou mayst get done, nor is it child’s play to fight with me.”

But when Thorod saw that he might bring nought to pass, he grew somewhat appeased, and therewithal they parted.  Thorod rode home to Tongue and told his father of his dealings with Grettir.  Snorri Godi smiled thereat, and said,

“Many a man lies hid within himself, and far unlike were your doings; for thou must needs rush at him to slay him, and he might have done with thee even as he would.  Yet wisely has Grettir done herein, that he slew thee not; for I should scarce have had a mind to let thee lie unavenged; but now indeed shall I give him aid, if I have aught to do with any of his matters.”

It was well seen of Snorri, that he deemed Grettir had done well to Thorod, and he ever after gave his good word for Grettir.

CHAP.  LXIX.

How Grettir took leave of his Mother at Biarg, and fared with Illugi his Brother to Drangey.

Grettir rode north to Biarg a little after he parted with Thorod, and lay hid there yet awhile; then so great grew his fear in the dark, that he durst go nowhere as soon as dusk set in.  His mother bade him abide there, but said withal, that she saw that it would scarce avail him aught, since he had so many cases against him throughout all the land.  Grettir said that she should never have trouble brought on her for his sake.

“But I shall no longer do so much for the keeping of my life,” says he, “as to be alone.”

Now Illugi his brother was by that time about fifteen winters old, and the goodliest to look on of all men; and he overheard their talk together.  Grettir was telling his mother what rede Gudmund the Rich had given him, and now that he should try, if he had a chance, to get out to Drangey, but he said withal, that he might not abide there, unless he might get some trusty man to be with him.  Then said Illugi,