nd
I deem thee to be scarce of a woman's strength."

"That may be," said Thorstein; "yet shall thou know that these same
thin arms shall avenge thee, else shall thou never be avenged; who may
know what shall be, when all is over and done?"

No more is told of their talk together; the spring wore on, and
Grettir took ship in the summer. The brothers parted in friendship,
and saw each other never after.

CHAP. XLII.

<i>Of the Death of Asmund the Grey haired</i>.

Now must the tale be taken up where it was left before, for Thorbiorn
Oxmain heard how Thorbiorn Tardy was slain, as aforesaid, and broke
out into great wrath, and said it would please him well that <i>now
this and now that should have strokes in his garth</i>.

Asmund the Greyhaired lay long sick that summer, and when he thought
his ailings drew closer on him, he called to him his kin, and said
that it was his will, that Atli should have charge of all his goods
after his day.

"But my mind misgives me," said Asmund, "that thou mayst scarce sit
quiet because of the iniquity of men, and I would that all ye of my
kin should help him to the uttermost but of Grettir nought can I say,
for methinks overmuch on a whirling wheel his life turns; and though
he be a mighty man, yet I fear me that he will have to heed his own
troubles more than the helping of his kin: but Illugi, though he
be young, yet shall he become a man of prowess, if he keep himself
whole."

So, when Asmund had settled matters about his sons as he would, his
sickness lay hard on him, and in a little while he died, and was laid
in earth at Biarg; for there had he let make a church; but his death
his neighbours deemed a great loss.

Now Atli became a mighty bonder, and had many with him, and was a
great gatherer of household-stuff. When the summer was far gone, he
went out to Snowfellness to get him stockfish. He drave many horses,
and rode from home to Meals in Ramfirth to Gamli his brother-in-law;
and on this journey rode with him Grim Thorhallson, Gamli's brother,
and another man withal. They rode west to Hawkdale Pass, and so on,
as the road lay west to Ness: there they bought much stockfish, and
loaded seven horses therewith, and turned homeward when they were
ready.

CHAP. XLIII.

<i>The Onset on Atli at the Pass and the Slaying of Gunnar and
Thorgeir</i>.

Thorbiorn Oxmain heard that Atli and Grim were on a journey from home,
and there were with him the sons of T