answered, "I am nowise eager for this; it seems to me you have much
to risk as to how the journey may speed, seeing that you will have to
deal with a man of Hel's strength, such as Grim. But if you will go,
then start with many men, so that you may have it all your own way."
"That to me is no prowess," said Thorkell, "to draw together a great
company against one man. But what I wish is, that you would lend me
the sword Skofnung, for then I ween I shall be able to overcome a mere
runagate, be he never so mighty a man of his hands." "You must have
your way in this," said Eid, "but it will not come to me unawares, if,
some day, you should come to rue this wilfulness. But inasmuch as you
will have it that you are doing this for my sake, what you ask for
shall not be withheld, for I think Skofnung well bestowed if you bear
it. But the nature of the sword is such that the sun must not shine
upon its hilt, nor must it be drawn if a woman should be near. If a
man be wounded by the sword the hurt may not be healed, unless the
healing-stone that goes with the sword be rubbed thereon." Thorkell
said he would pay careful heed to this, and takes over the sword,
asking Eid to point out to him the way to where Grim might have his
lair. Eid said he was most minded to think that Grim had his lair
north on Twodays-Heath by the Fishwaters. Then Thorkell rode northward
upon the heath the way which Eid did point out to him, and when he
had got a long way onward over the heath he saw near some great water
a hut, and makes his way for it.

CHAP. LVIII

Thorkell and Grim, and their Voyage Abroad

Thorkell now comes to the hut, he sees where a man is sitting by the water
at the mouth of a brook, where he was line-fishing, and had a cloak over
his head. [Sidenote: They fight] Thorkell leapt off his horse and tied it
up under the wall of the hut. Then he walks down to the water to where the
man was sitting. Grim saw the shadow of a man cast on the water, and
springs up at once. By then Thorkell had got very nearly close up to him,
and strikes at him. The blow caught him on his arm just above the
wolf-joint (the wrist), but that was not a great wound. Grim sprang
forthwith upon Thorkell, and they seized each other wrestling-wise, and
speedily the odds of strength told, and Thorkell fell and Grim on the top
of him. Then Grim asked who this man might be. Thorkell said that did not
at all matter to him. [Sidenote: They make peace] Grim sai