's shield, and threw it over the cliff. Biorn woke
suddenly and ran, just escaping its clutch; but the whole proceedings
had been watched, and he had to endure many taunts and jeers. Grettir
went afterwards and killed the beast, though not without a terrible
struggle, in which they both fell over the rocks, but the bear was
underneath, and Grettir was able to stab it to the heart. More than
ever then on account of this did ill-will against Grettir rankle in
Biorn's breast. He sailed west to England, as master of Thorkel's
ship; when he returned he met Grettir at a place called
Drontheim-firth. The two took up their old quarrel again, fought on
the strand, and Biorn was killed.

At that time Earl Svein was ruling over Norway as regent, the rightful
king being but a boy. At the court in the Earl's service was Biorn's
brother, Hiarandi, who was exceedingly wroth when he heard of Biorn's
death, and begged the Earl's assistance in the matter. Svein therefore
sent for Thorfinn and Grettir, but Hiarandi would not agree to any
terms proposed, and lay in wait to take Grettir's life. With five
others he sprang out from a certain court gate, dealt a blow at him
with an axe, and wounded him; but Grettir and a companion turned on
them and slew them all save one, who escaped and told the Earl. There
remained yet another brother of Biorn and Hiarandi to take up the
feud, but he fared no better, and was also slain. Earl Svein was now
'wondrous wroth' at this tale, for said he, 'Grettir has now slain
three brothers, one at the heels of the other, and I will not thus
bring wrongs into the land so as to take compensation for such
unmeasured misdeeds'; so he would not listen to any proposals by
Thorfinn to pay blood-money. However, many more added their words to
Thorfinn's, and prayed the Earl to spare Grettir's life, for, after
all, he had acted in self-defence, and if his life were to be forfeit,
there would be slayings throughout the whole land. These arguments at
length prevailed, Grettir was allowed to go in peace, and went back to
Iceland, the term of his outlawry being expired.

Being now grown to man's estate, and having waxed greatly in bodily
strength, he roamed about the country to see if there were any with
whom he might match himself, and took it very ill that he found none.
About this time, strange rumours were flying about to the effect that
a farm belonging to one Thorhall was haunted. Thorhall was an honest
man and very