After that folk went home, and the men of that island deemed themselves brought unto fair peace.

Now when Grettir came back to the mistress, he sang this stave—­

  “By the sea’s wash have we made
  Graves, where twelve spear-groves are laid;
  I alone such speedy end,
  Unto all these folk did send. 
  O fair giver forth of gold,
  Whereof can great words be told,
  ’Midst the deeds one man has wrought,
  If this deed should come to nought?”

The good wife said, “Surely thou art like unto very few men who are now living on the earth.”

So she set him in the high seat, and all things she did well to him, and now time wore on till Thorfinn’s coming home was looked for.

CHAP.  XX.

How Thorfinn met Grettir at Haramsey again.

After Yule Thorfinn made ready for coming home, and he let those folk go with good gifts whom he had bidden to his feast.  Now he fares with his following till he comes hard by his boat-stands; they saw a ship lying on the strand, and soon knew it for Thorfinn’s bark, the big one.  Now Thorfinn had as yet had no news of the vikings, he bade his men hasten landward, “For I fear,” said he, “that friends have not been at work here.”

Thorfinn was the first to step ashore before his men, and forthwith he went up to the boat-stand; he saw a keel standing there, and knew it for the bearserks’ ship.  Then he said to his men, “My mind misgives me much that here things have come to pass, even such as I would have given the whole island, yea, every whit of what I have herein, that they might never have happed.”

They asked why he spake thus.  Then he said, “Here have come the vikings, whom I know to be the worst of all Norway, Thorir Paunch and Ogmund the Evil; in good sooth they will hardly have kept house happily for us, and in an Icelander I have but little trust.”

Withal he spoke many things hereabout to his fellows.

Now Grettir was at home, and so brought it about, that folk were slow to go down to the shore; and said he did not care much if the goodman Thorfinn had somewhat of a shake at what he saw before him; but when the mistress asked him leave to go, he said she should have her will as to where she went, but that he himself should stir nowhither.  She ran swiftly to meet Thorfinn, and welcomed him cheerily.  He was glad thereof, and said, “Praise be to God that I see thee whole and merry, and my daughter in likewise.  But how have ye fared since I went from home?”

She answered, “Things have turned out well, but we were near being overtaken by such a shame as we should never have had healing of, if thy winter-guest had not holpen us.”

Then Thorfinn spake, “Now shall we sit down, but do thou tell us these tidings.”

Then she told all things plainly even as they had come to pass, and praised greatly Grettir’s stoutness and great daring; meanwhile Thorfinn held his peace, but when she had made an end of her tale, he said, “How true is the saw, Long it takes to try a man.  But where is Grettir now?”