nd asked her what she could do for him.

She replied, "Now it seems to me to have come to this, as the saying is:
Many go to the goat-house to get wool. What would I less than to think
myself above the other men of the country, and then to be as nothing
when it comes to the trial? I see not that it fares worse with me than
with you, even though I scarce rise from my bed. If you will have my
counsel then I must have my way in all that is done."

He consented, and said that she had long given him counsel for his good.
The "double month" of the summer was now approaching. One fine day the
old woman said to Angle: "The weather is now calm and bright; I will
that you go to Drangey and pick a quarrel with Grettir. I will go with
you and learn what caution is in his words. I shall have some surety
when I see how far they are prospering, and then I will speak over them
such words as I please."

Angle said: "Let us not go to Drangey. It is always worse in my mind
when I leave that place than when I arrive."

The woman said: "I will not help you if you will not let me do as I
like."

"Far be that from me, my foster-mother. I have said that I will go there
a third time, that something may come of it for us."

"You may venture it," she said, "much labour will you have before
Grettir is laid in the earth; often your lot will be doubtful and hard
will it go with you before it is finished. And yet you are so bound that
somehow you must get yourself out of it."

Then Thorbjorn Angle had a ten-oared boat manned and went on board with
eleven men. The woman was with them and they rowed out to Drangey. When
the brothers saw them coming they came forward to the ladder and began
once more to talk about their case. Thorbjorn said he had come once more
to hear their answer whether Grettir would leave the place. He said he
would treat the destruction of his property and Grettir's stay there
as a light thing, provided they parted in peace. Grettir said he had
no intention of coming to any terms about his going away. "I have often
told you," he said, "that there is no use in talking to me about it. You
may do whatever you please; I mean to stay here and abide what happens."

Thorbjorn saw that his end would not be gained this time, and said: "I
knew very well with what men of Hel I had to do. It is most likely that
some days will pass before I come here again."

"It would not hurt me if you never came at all," said Grettir.

The woman