raskogafjall and the third
winter had set in, he went South into Myrar to the farm called
Laekjarbug, where he took six wethers without their owner's permission.
Then he went down to Akrar and drove off two oxen for slaughter with
several sheep, and went up South to the Hitara. When the bondis heard of
his exploits they sent word to Thord at Hitarnes and asked him to take
the lead in the slaying of Grettir. He was rather reluctant, but as they
had asked him he sent his son Arnor, afterwards called Jarlsbard, to go
with them, and told them not to let Grettir escape. Messengers were then
sent round to all the farms.

There was a man named Bjarni who dwelt in Jorvi in Flysjuhverfi. He
collected men on the other side of the Hitara; the intention was that
each band should keep on its own side. Grettir had two men with him,
one named Eyjolf, a stout man, the son of a bondi in Fagraskogar, and
another. The party came on, about twenty in number, under Thorarin from
Akrar and Thorfinn of Laekjarbug. Grettir tried to get out across the
river, but was met by Arnor and Bjarni coming from the coast. There was
a narrow point jutting out into the river on Grettir's side, and when
he saw the men approaching he drove his animals on to it, for he never
would let go anything of which he had once got possession. The Myramen
prepared to attack in good order and Grettir told his companions to
guard his rear. They could not all come on at once. There was a hard
struggle between them; Grettir used his short sword with both hands and
they found it not easy to get at him. Some of the Myramen fell and some
were wounded. The men on the other side of the river were rather slow in
coming up because there was no ford near. Before they had been fighting
very long they fell back. Thorarin of Akrar was a very old man and not
able to join in the fighting. When the battle was over there came up
his son Thrand, his brother Ingjald's son Thorgils, Finnbogi the son
of Thorgeir, the son of Thorhadd of Hitardal, and Steinolf the son
of Thorleif of Hraundal. They set on their men and there was a hard
struggle.

Grettir saw that there was no choice left but either to flee or else
to do his utmost and not spare himself. He pressed on hard and nothing
could hold against him, for his foes were so numerous that there was
no chance of escaping except by fighting to the last before he fell. He
tried always to engage those who seemed most courageous; first he went
fo