in the same way."

"Now there shall be an end to it," said Asmund. "He must have something
worse than merely making good the damage."

"Let neither speak of it to the other," said Grettir, and so it
remained.

Asmund had Keingala killed. Many more childish pranks did Grettir play
which are not told in the saga. He now began to grow very big, but men
did not clearly know what strength he had because he had never been
tried in wrestling. He kept making verses and ditties which were always
a little ironical. He did not sleep in the common room and was generally
very silent.

CHAPTER XV. GAMES AT MIDFJORDVATN

There were then a good many youths growing up in Midfjord. A certain
Skaldtorfa, whose home was in Torfustadir, had a son named Bersi, an
accomplished young man and a clever poet. Two brothers named Kormak
and Thorgils lived at Mel and had with them a youth named Odd, who was
dependent upon them, and was nicknamed Odd the Needy-Skald. Another
was named Audun; he grew up in Audunarstad in Vididal, a pleasant
good-natured youth and the strongest of his age in the North. Kalf the
son of Asgeir and his brother Thorvald lived at Asgeirsa. Grettir's
brother Atli was then growing to a man; he was most gracious in manners
and universally liked.

These youths used to play at ball together at Midfjord Water. Those from
Midfjord and from Vididal used to meet there, and there came many from
Vestrhop and Vatnsnes with some from Hrutafjord. Those who came from
afar used to lodge there. Those who were about equal in the ball-game
were matched together, and generally they had much fun in the autumn.
Grettir went to the sports when he was fourteen years old at the request
of his brother Atli. The parties were made up. Grettir was matched
against Audun, the youth already mentioned, who was a few years the
elder. Audun struck the ball over Grettir's head so that he could not
reach it, and it bounded far away over the ice. Grettir lost his temper,
thinking he had done it out of mischief, but he fetched the ball,
brought it back and going up to Audun drove it straight into his
forehead, so that the skin was broken.

Audun then struck at Grettir with the bat that he was holding, but
Grettir ducked and the blow missed him. Then they seized each other
with their arms and wrestled. It was evident to the people around that
Grettir was stronger than they had supposed, for Audun was very strong
indeed of body. They struggled lo