t sink into the water. When all was ready, he took his
short sword and leapt into the water. Disappearing from the priest's
view, he dived under the waterfall--and hard work it was, for the
whirlpool was strong; but he reached a projecting rock on which he
rested awhile. A great cave was under the waterfall, and the river
fell over it from the sheer rocks. Grettir climbed into the cave,
where he found a great fire flaming, and a giant sitting beside it,
huge and horrible to look upon. He smote at the new-comer with a
broadsword, but Grettir avoided the blow, and returned such a mighty
stroke with his own sword that the giant fell dead at once. The priest
on the bank, seeing blood washed down by the swirling waters, and
thinking Grettir was killed, fled in alarm and spread the report of
his death. Grettir meanwhile stayed in the cave till far on into the
night; he found there the bones of two men, which he put in a bag;
swimming with them to the rope, he shook it, but as the priest had
gone he had to draw himself up by strength of hands. He took the bones
to the church, where he left them, returning himself to Sandheaps.
When the priest saw Grettir, the latter taxed him with breach of faith
in quitting the rope, which charge the priest must needs admit;
however, no great harm had resulted, the bones were buried, and the
district was freed from hauntings. Grettir received much credit, in so
far as he had cleansed the land from these evil wights who had wrought
the loss of the men there in the dale.

Our hero remained in hiding at Sandheaps, but Thorir of Garth heard of
him and sent men to take him. Grettir accordingly left the place and
went to Maddervales, to Gudmund the Rich, of whom he begged shelter.
Gudmund, however, dared not harbour him, but advised him to seek
shelter in an isle called Drangey in Skagafirth. The place, he said,
was excellent for defence, for without ladders no one could land.
Grettir agreed to go, and went home to Biarg to bid his mother
farewell. His brother, Illugi, was now fifteen years old, a handsome
boy, and he overheard Grettir's conversation with his mother about his
proposed departure to Drangey. 'I will go with thee, brother,' said
he, 'though I know not that I shall be of any help to thee, unless
that I shall be ever true to thee, nor run from thee whiles thou
standest up.' Asdis bade them farewell, warning Grettir against
sorcery; yet well she knew that she would never see either of he