d heading for the bay, Thormod taking the bow-oars with
Thorgeir amidships and Grettir in the stern. By the time they reached
Hafraklett the wind was very high. Thorgeir said: "The stern is
slackening."

Grettir said: "The stern will not be left behind if the rowing amidships
is all right."

Thorgeir then bent his back to the oars and pulled so violently that
both the rowlocks carried away. He said:

"Pull on, Grettir, whilst I mend the rowlocks."

Grettir pulled vigorously whilst Thorgeir mended the rowlocks. But when
Thorgeir was about to take over the oars again they were so damaged that
on Grettir giving them a shake on the gunwale they broke. Thormod said
it would be better to row less and not to break the ship. Then Grettir
took two spars which were on board, bored two holes in the gunwale, and
rowed so energetically that every timber creaked. As the boat was well
found and the men in good condition they reached Hvalshausholm. Grettir
asked whether they would go on home with the ox or whether they would
beach the boat. They preferred to beach the boat, and they did so with
all the water that was in her all frozen. Grettir got off the ox, which
was very stiff in its limbs and very fat and tired; when they got to
Titlingsstad it could go no more. The foster-brothers went home, for
none of them would help the other at his job. Thorgils asked after
Grettir; they told him how they had parted, and he sent men out to him.
When they came below Hellisholar they saw a man coming towards them with
an ox on his back; it was Grettir carrying the ox. They all admired his
great feat, but Thorgeir became rather jealous of Grettir's strength.

One day soon after Yule Grettir went out alone to bathe. Thorgeir knew
of it and said to Thormod: "Let us go out now and see what Grettir does
if I attack him as he comes out of the water."

"I don't care to do that," Thormod said; "and I do not think you will
get any good from him."

"I mean to go," Thorgeir said.

He went down to the bank, carrying his axe aloft. Grettir was just
coming out of the water, and when they met Thorgeir said: "Is it true,
Grettir, that you once said you would not run away from any single
person."

"I don't know whether I did," Grettir said; "but I have scarcely run
away from you."

Thorgeir raised his axe. In a moment Grettir ran at him and brought
him over with a heavy fall. Thorgeir said to Thormod: "Are you going to
stand there while this devil k