lso had sailed after them, and the
crew bore down on Stead, being hard put to it by reason of foul
weather, snow and frost; and they were all worn, weary and wet. To
save expense they did not put into the harbour, but lay to beside a
dyke, where, though perished with cold, they could not light a fire.
As the night wore on they saw that a great fire was burning on the
opposite side of the sound up which they had sailed, and fell to
talking and wondering whether by possibility any man might fetch that
fire. Grettir said little, but made ready for swimming; he had on but
a cape and sail-cloth breeches. He girt up the cape and tied a rope
strongly round his middle, and had with him a cask; then he leaped
overboard and swam across. There he saw a house, and heard much
talking and noise, so he turned towards it, and found it to be a house
of refuge for coasting sailors; twelve men were inside sitting round a
great fire on the floor, drinking, and these were the sons of Thorir.
When Grettir burst in he knew not who was there, he himself seemed
huge of bulk, for his cape was frozen all over into ice; therefore the
men took him to be some evil troll, and smote at him with anything
that lay to hand; but Grettir put all blows aside, snatched up some
firebrands, and swam therewith back to the ship. Grettir's comrades
were mightily pleased, and bepraised him and his journey and his
prowess.

[Illustration: GRETTIR OVERTHROWS THORIR REDBEARD]

Next morning they crossed the sound, but found no house, only a great
heap of ashes, and therein many bones of men. They asked if Grettir
had done this misdeed; but he said it had happened even as he had
expected. The men said wherever they came that Grettir had burnt those
people; and the news soon spread that the victims were the sons of
Thorir of Garth. Grettir therefore now grew into such bad repute that
he was driven from the ship, and scarcely anyone would say a good word
for him. As matters were so hopeless he determined to explain all to
the king, and offer to free himself from the slander by handling hot
iron without being burned. His ill-luck still pursued him, for when
all was ready in the church where the ceremony was about to take
place, a wild-looking lad, or, as some said, an unclean spirit,
started up from no one knew where, and spoke such impertinent words to
Grettir that he felled him with a blow of his fist. After this the
king would not allow the ceremony to go on: 'Thou a