rg; Asmund
succeeded to his property and took up his residence at Bjarg.

CHAPTER XIV. ASMUND'S CHILDREN. GRETTIR'S CHILDHOOD

Asmund Longhair now set up a large and sumptuous household in Bjarg,
where he maintained a numerous retinue and became very popular. His
children were as follows: The eldest was Atli, an able and accomplished
man, tactful and easy to deal with; he was much liked by all. His second
son was called Grettir. He was very hard to manage in his bringing up.
He spoke little and was rough in his manners and quarrelsome, both in
words and deeds. He got little affection from his father Asmund, but his
mother loved him dearly. Grettir was a handsome man in appearance, with
a face rather broad and short, red-haired and somewhat freckled; not
very precocious in his youth. There was a daughter named Thordis,
who afterwards married Glum the son of Ospak, Kjallak's son from
Skridinsenni. Another daughter was named Rannveig; she married Gamli the
son of Thorhall of Vineland, and they dwelt at Melar in Hrutafjord and
had a son named Grim. Glum and Thordis had a son named Ospak who fell
into a dispute with Odd the son of Ofeig, which is told of in the "Saga
of the Banded Men."

Grettir grew up at Bjarg until he was ten years old, when he began to
develop a little. Asmund told him that he must do some work. Grettir
said that would not suit him very well, but asked what he was to do.

"You must mind the geese," said Asmund.

"That is wretched work, only fit for an idiot," Grettir answered.

"You do that properly," his father said, "and we shall get on better
together."

So Grettir went to mind the geese. There were fifty of them, and a
number of goslings. Before long he began to find them troublesome, and
the goslings would not come on quickly enough. This put him out, for he
could never control his temper. Soon afterwards some wanderers found the
goslings lying outside dead, and the geese with their wings broken.
This was in the autumn. Asmund was very much annoyed and asked Grettir
whether he had killed the birds. Grettir grinned and answered:

"Always when winter is coming on
I like to wring the goslings' necks.
If among them there are geese
I treat the creatures all alike."

"You shan't twist any more of their necks," said Asmund.

"The friend aye warns his friend of ill," answered Grettir.

"I will give you other work to do."

"He knoweth most who most hath tried. But w