So they fell to rowing as the weather went, out to Drangey; and when the brothers saw that, they stood forth at the ladders, and they began to talk the matter over yet once more; and Thorbiorn said, that he was come yet again, to talk anew of their leaving the island, and that he would deal lightly with his loss of money and Grettir’s dwelling there, if so be they might part without harm.  But Grettir said that he had no words to make atwixt and atween of his going thence.

“Oft have I so said,” says he, “and no need there is for thee to talk to me thereon; ye must even do as ye will, but here will I abide, whatso may come to hand.”

Now Thorbiorn deemed, that this time also his errand was come to nought, and he said,

“Yea, I deemed I knew with what men of hell I had to do; and most like it is that a day or two will pass away ere I come hither again.”

“I account that not in the number of my griefs, though thou never comest back,” said Grettir.

Now the carline lay in the stern, with clothes heaped up about and over her, and with that she moved, and said,

“Brave will these men be, and luckless withal; far hast thou outdone them in manliness; thou biddest them choice of many goodly things, but they say nay to all, and few things lead surer to ill, than not to know how to take good.  Now this I cast over thee, Grettir, that thou be left of all health, wealth, and good-hap, all good heed and wisdom:  yea, and that the more, the longer thou livest; good hope I have, Grettir, that thy days of gladness shall be fewer here in time to come than in the time gone by.”

Now when Grettir heard these words, he was astonied withal, and said,

“What fiend is there in the boat with them?” Illugi answers, “I deem that it will be the carline, Thorbiorn’s foster-mother.”

“Curses on the witch-wight!” says Grettir, “nought worse could have been looked for; at no words have I shuddered like as I shuddered at those words she spake; and well I wot that from her, and her foul cunning, some evil will be brought on us; yet shall she have some token to mind her that she has sought us here.”

Therewithal he caught up a marvellous great stone, and cast it down on to the boat, and it smote that clothes-heap; and a longer stone-throw was that than Thorbiorn deemed any man might make; but therewithal a great shriek arose, for the stone had smitten the carline’s thigh, and broken it.

Then said Illugi, “I would thou hadst not done that!”

“Blame me not therefor,” said Grettir, “I fear me the stroke has been too little, for certes not overmuch weregild were paid for the twain of us, though the price should be one carline’s life.”

“Must she alone be paid?” said Illugi, “little enough then will be laid down for us twain.”

Now Thorbiorn got him gone homeward, with no greetings at parting.  But he said to the carline,