ir came up they asked him what news
he had of Skeggi. He answered in a verse:

"Hammer-troll ogress has done him to death.
Thirsting for blood the war-fiend came.
With hard-edged blade she gaped, o'er his head,
nor spared she his teeth. I saw it myself."

Then Thorkell's men sprang up and said it was impossible that a troll
should have taken the man in full daylight. Thorkell was silent for a
moment. Then he said: "There must be something more in it. Grettir must
have killed him. What was it that really happened, Grettir?"

Grettir then told him all about their fight. Thorkell said: "It is a
most unfortunate occurrence, because Skeggi was entrusted to my service,
and was a man of good family. I will take the matter upon myself and pay
whatever compensation is adjudged. But a question of banishment does
not lie with me. Now, Grettir, there are two things for you to choose
between. Either you can go on to the Thing with us and take the chance
of what may happen there, or you can turn back and go home."

Grettir decided to go on to the Thing, and to the Thing he went. The
matter was taken up by the heirs of the man slain. Thorkell gave his
hand to pay the compensation and Grettir was to be banished for three
years.

On their way back from the Thing all the chiefs halted at Sledaass
before they parted company. It was then that Grettir lifted a stone
lying in the grass, which is still known as Grettishaf. Many went
afterwards to see this stone and were astounded that so young a man
should have lifted such a mountain.

Grettir rode home to Bjarg and told his father about his adventures.
Asmund was much put out and said he would be a trouble to everybody.

CHAPTER XVII. GRETTIR SAILS FOR NORWAY AND IS WRECKED ON HARAMARSEY

There dwelt at Reydarfell on the banks of the Hvita a man named Haflidi,
a mariner, owning a ship of his own which was lying in dock in the Hvita
river. He had as his mate a man named Bard who had a young and pretty
wife. Asmund sent a man to Haflidi asking him to take Grettir and look
after him. Haflidi answered that he had heard that Grettir was very
difficult to get on with, but out of friendship for Asmund he took him.
Grettir, therefore, prepared to go to sea. His father would not give
him any outfit for his voyage beyond his bare provisions and a little
wadmal. Grettir asked him to give him some sort of weapon. Asmund
answered: "You have never been obedient to me.