“I thought,” said Grettir, “you were competent to make your arrangements for yourself.  I do not leave my affairs to other people to settle.  I shall take it very ill if you refuse me.”

Then each went his own way.  Bardi promised to send Grettir word “if Thorarin wished him to go.”  Otherwise he could remain quietly at home.  Grettir then rode to Bjarg and Bardi to his own home.

CHAPTER XXIX

HORSE-FIGHT AT LANGAFIT

That summer there was a great horse-fight at Langafit below Reykir, whither a great many people came together.  Atli of Bjarg had a good stallion of Keingala’s race; grey with a dark stripe down his back.  Both father and son valued the horse highly.  The two brothers Kormak and Thorgils in Mel had a very mettlesome brown stallion, and they arranged to match it against that of Atli from Bjarg.  Many other excellent stallions were brought.  Odd the Needy-Skald, Kormak’s kinsman, had the charge of their horse on the day.  He had grown into a strong man and had a high opinion of himself; he was surly and reckless.  Grettir asked Atli who should have charge of his stallion.

“That is not so clear to me,” said Atli.

“Would you like me to back him?”

“Then you must keep very cool, kinsman,” he said.  “We have men to deal with who are rather overbearing.”

“Let them pay for their bluster,” he said, “if they cannot control it.”

The stallions were led out and the mares tethered together in the front on the bank of the river.  There was a large pool just beyond the bank.  The horses fought vigorously and there was excellent sport.  Odd managed his horse pluckily and Grettir gave way before him, holding the tail of his horse with one hand and with the other the stick with which he pricked it on.  Odd stood in the front by his horse, and one could not be sure that he was not pricking off Atli’s horse from his own.  Grettir pretended not to notice it.  The horses then came near the river.  Then Odd thrust with his pointed stick at Grettir and caught him in the shoulder-blade which Grettir was turning towards him.  He struck pretty hard, and the flesh swelled up, but Grettir was little hurt.  At the same moment the horses reared.  Grettir ducked beneath the flank of his horse and drove his stick into Odd’s side with such violence that three of his ribs were broken and Odd fell into the pool with his horse and all the mares that were tethered there by the bank.  Some people swam out and rescued them.  There was great excitement about it.  Kormak’s men on one side and those of Bjarg on the other seized their arms, but the men of Hrutafjord and Vatnsnes came between them and parted them.

They all went home in great wrath, but kept quiet for a time.  Atli said very little, but Grettir rather swaggered and said that they should meet again if he had his way.