fault, for I could not look
on and see myself robbed."

She said he might speak much about that: "The unjust man prospers ill."

She was somewhat cheered by the talk with him. Grim stayed several
nights in the cave and learned the lay; all went well with them. Grim
was in the Arnarvatn Heath all the winter after Hallmund's death.
Afterwards Thorkell the son of Eyjolf came to the heath and fought with
him. The meeting ended by Grim having Thorkell's life in his power, but
he would not kill him. Thorkell then took him in, sent him abroad and
supplied him with means; each was considered to have acted generously
towards the other. Grim became a great traveller and there is a long
saga about him.

CHAPTER LXIII. GRETTIR'S MEETING WITH THORIR ON THE REYKJA HEATH

We now return to Grettir, who came from the eastern fjords, travelling
in disguise and hiding his head because he did not wish to meet Thorir.
That summer he spent in Modrudal Heath and other places. For a time
too he was on Reykja Heath. Thorir heard of his being on Reykja Heath,
gathered his men and rode thither, determined not to let him escape.
Grettir scarcely knew of their plans before they came upon him. He was
in a hill-dairy a little off the road with another man, and when they
saw the troop they had to lay their plans quickly. Grettir said they
should make their horses lie down inside the house, and they did so.
Thorir rode forward across the heath in a northerly direction, missed
the place, did not find Grettir and turned back home. When the troop had
ridden round to the West, Grettir said: "They will not be pleased with
their expedition if they do not meet me. You stay and mind the horses
while I go after them. It would be a good jest if they did not recognise
me."

His companion tried to dissuade him, but he would go. He changed his
dress, put on a wide hat which came down over his face and took a stick
in his hand. Then he went along the road towards them. They addressed
him and asked whether he had seen any men riding over the heath.

"I have seen the men whom you are seeking," he said, "you very nearly
came upon them; they were on your left hand just south of the marshes."

On hearing this they galloped off towards the marshes, which were so
swampy that they could not get through and had to spend a great part
of the day dragging their horses out. They swore much at the supposed
traveller for playing a practical joke upon them.

Gretti