een shipwrecked,
and got aland there: so they row up to where the ladders were, when
lo, the first-comers drew up the ladders.

Then the bonders deemed that things were taking a strange turn, and
hailed those men and asked them who they were: Grettir named himself
and his fellows withal: but the bonders asked who had brought him
there.

Grettir answered, "He who owned the keel and had the hands, and who
was more my friend than yours."

The bonders answered and said, "Let us now get our sheep, but come
thou aland with us, keeping freely whatso of our sheep thou hast
slaughtered."

"A good offer," said Grettir, "but this time let each keep what he
has got; and I tell you, once for all, that hence I go not, till I am
dragged away dead; for it is not my way to let that go loose which I
have once laid hand on."

Thereat the bonders held their peace, and deemed that a woeful guest
had come to Drangey; then they gave him choice of many things, both
moneys and fair words, but Grettir said nay to one and all, and they
gat them gone with things in such a stead, and were ill content with
their fate; and told the men of the country-side what a wolf had got
on to the island.

This took them all unawares, but they could think of nought to do
herein; plentifully they talked over it that winter, but could see no
rede whereby to get Grettir from the island.

CHAP. LXXII.

<i>Of the Sports at Heron-ness Thing</i>.

Now the days wore till such time as men went to the Heron-ness Thing
in spring-tide, and many came thronging there from that part of the
country, wherefrom men had to go to that Thing for their suits. Men
sat there long time both over the suits and over sports, for there
were many blithe men in that country-side. But when Grettir heard that
all men fared to the Thing, he made a plot with his friends; for he
was in goodwill with those who dwelt nighest to him, and for them
he spared nought that he could get. But now he said that he would
go aland, and gather victuals, but that Illugi and Noise should stay
behind. Illugi thought this ill counselled, but let things go as
Grettir would.

So Grettir bade them watch the ladders well, for that all things
lay thereon; and thereafter he went to the mainland, and got what he
deemed needful: he hid himself from men whereso he came, nor did
any one know that he was on the land. Withal he heard concerning the
Thing, that there was much sport there, and was fain to go