e would not take men's goods from them, as they went from
or to the north over the Keel, because he was hard put to it to get
wares.

Now on a day, when as Grettir would keep about the north at
Doveness-path, he saw a man riding from the north over the Keel; he
was huge to behold on horseback, and had a good horse, and an embossed
bridle well wrought; another horse he had in tow and bags thereon;
this man had withal a slouched hat on his head, nor could his face be
clearly seen.

Now Grettir looked hard at the horse and the goods thereon, and went
to meet the man, and greeting him asked his name, but he said he was
called Air. "I wot well what thou art called," said he, "for thou
shalt be Grettir the Strong, the son of Asmund. Whither art thou
bound?"

"As to the place I have not named it yet," said Grettir; "but as to
my errand, it is to know if thou wilt lay down some of the goods thou
farest with."

Said Air, "Why should I give thee mine own, or what wilt thou give me
therefor?"

Grettir answers, "Hast thou not heard that I take, and give no money
again? and yet it seems to most men that I get what I will."

Said Air, "Give such choice as this to those who deem it good, but not
thus will I give up what I have; let each of us go his own way."

And therewithal he rode forth past Grettir and spurred his horse.

"Nay, we part not so hastily," said Grettir, and laid hold of the
reins of Air's horse in front of his hands, and held on with both
hands.

Said Air, "Go thy ways, nought thou hast of me if I may hold mine
own."

"That will now be proven," said Grettir.

Now Air stretched his hands down the head-gear and laid hold of the
reins betwixt Grettir's hands and the snaffle-rings and dragged at
them so hard that Grettir's hands were drawn down along the reins,
till Air dragged all the bridle from him.

Grettir looked into the hollow of his hands, and saw that this man
must have strength in claws rather than not, and he looked after him,
and said, "Whither art thou minded to fare?"

Air answered and sang--

"To the Kettle's side
Now will I ride,
Where the waters fall
From the great ice-wall;
If thou hast mind
There mayest thou find
With little stone[17]
Fist's land alone."

[Footnote 17: Hall, a "stone": mund, is hand, and by periphrasis "land
of fist"; so that Hallmund is meant by this couplet, and that was the
real name of "Air," who is not a mere man, but a friendly spirit of