“Thou hast now cleared thyself from all blame,” said Grettir; “but now is it best that we try between us who is of most might here.”

Said Bardi, “Too nigh to my garth have deeds of hard need been, than that I should fight with thee without a cause, and well methinks have I thrust these from me.”

“Thou growest soft, methinks, Bardi,” said Grettir, “since thou durst not fight with me.”

“Call that what thou wilt,” said Bardi; “but in some other stead would I that thou wreak thine high-handedness than here on me; and that is like enough, for now does thy rashness pass all bounds.”

Grettir thought ill of his spaedom, and now doubted within himself whether he should set on one or other of them; but it seemed rash to him, as they were six and he one:  and in that nick of time came up the men from Thorey’s-peak to the aid of Bardi and his folk; then Grettir drew off from them, and turned aside to his horse.  But Bardi and his fellows went on their way, nor were there farewells between them at parting.

No further dealings between Bardi and Grettir are told of after these things betid.

Now so has Grettir said that he deemed himself well matched to fight with most men, though they were three together, but he would have no mind to flee before four, without trying it; but against more would he fight only if he must needs defend his hand, as is said in this stave—­

  “My life trust I ’gainst three
  Skilled in Mist’s mystery;
  Whatso in Hilda’s weather
  Shall bring the swords together;
  If over four they are
  My wayfaring that bar
  No gale of swords will I
  Wake with them willingly.”

After his parting with Bardi, Grettir fared to Biarg, and very ill he it thought that he might nowhere try his strength, and searched all about if anywhere might be somewhat wherewith he might contend.

CHAP.  XXXII.

Of the Haunting at Thorhall-stead; and how Thorhall took a Shepherd by the rede of Skapti the Lawman, and of what befell thereafter.

There was a man hight Thorhall, who dwelt at Thorhall-stead, in Shady-vale, which runs up from Waterdale.  Thorhall was the son of Grim, son of Thorhall, the son of Fridmund, who settled Shady-vale.  Thorhall had a wife hight Gudrun.  Grim was their son, and Thurid their daughter; they were well-nigh grown up.

Thorhall was a rich man, but mostly in cattle, so that no man had so much of live-stock as he.  He was no chief, but an honest bonder he was.  Much was that place haunted, and hardly could he get a shepherd that he deemed should serve his turn.  He sought counsel of many men as to what he might do therewith, but none gave him a rede that might serve him.  Thorhall rode each summer to the Thing, and good horses he had.  But one summer at the Althing, Thorhall went to the booth of Skapti Thorodson the Lawman.  Skapti was the wisest of men, and wholesome were his redes when folk prayed him for them.  But he and his father differed thus much, that Thorod was foretelling, and yet was called under-handed of some folk; but Skapti showed forth to every man what he deemed would avail most, if it were not departed from, therefore was he called “Father-betterer.”