or Grettir, who defended
himself with his shield but would not use his weapons against Thorodd.
They fought for a time without his being wounded. Grettir then said:

"Let us stop this play; you will not gain the victory in a battle with
me."

Thorodd struck at him most furiously. Grettir was tired of it, so he
took hold of him and set him down next to himself, saying: "I could do
what I liked with you; but I have no fear of your killing me. I am much
more afraid of your grey-headed father, Snorri the Godi, and of his
counsels, which have brought many a man to his knees. You should take up
tasks which you are able to accomplish; it is no child's play to fight
with me."

When Thorodd saw that there was nothing to be done he quieted down,
and then they parted. He rode home to Tunga and told his father of his
encounter with Grettir. Snorri smiled and said: "Many a man has a high
opinion of himself; but the odds against you were too great. While you
were aiming blows at him he was doing what he pleased with you. But he
was wise not to kill you, for it would not have been my purpose to leave
you unavenged. I will now rather use my influence on his side if I ever
have to do with his affairs."

Snorri showed his approval of Grettir's action towards Thorodd, for his
counsels were always friendly to Grettir.

CHAPTER LXIX. GRETTIR'S LAST VISIT TO BJARG AND JOURNEY WITH ILLUGI TO
DRANGEY

Soon after Thorodd left him Grettir rode North to Bjarg and remained
there in hiding for a time. His fear of the dark grew so upon him that
he dared go nowhere after dusk. His mother offered to keep him there,
but said she saw that it would not do for him because of the feuds
which he had throughout the land. Grettir said she should not fall into
trouble through him, "but," he said, "I can no longer live alone even to
save my life."

Illugi his brother was then fifteen years old and was a most goodly
young man. He heard what they were saying. Grettir told his mother what
Gudmund the Mighty had advised him to do, and declared he would try to
get to Drangey if he could. Yet, he said, he could not go there unless
he could find some faithful man to stay with him. Then Illugi said: "I
will go with you, brother. I know not whether I shall be a support to
you, but I will be faithful to you and will not run from you so long as
you stand upright. And I shall know the better how it fares with you if
I am with you."

Grettir answered: "Yo