the Bad. They came from Halogaland and were bigger and stronger
than other men. When angry they used to fall into the berserk's fury,
and nothing escaped that was before them. They used to carry off men's
wives, keep them for a week or two and then send them back. Wherever
they came they committed robberies and other acts of violence. Jarl
Eirik had declared them outlaws throughout Norway. The man who had
been most active in getting them outlawed was Thorfinn, and they were
determined to pay him out in full for his hostility.

The jarl's expedition is told of in his saga, and the government of
Norway was left in the hands of jarl Sveinn, with the regency.

Thorfinn returned home and remained there until about Yule-tide, as has
already been told. Towards Yule-tide he made ready to go on a journey
to his farm called Slysfjord on the mainland, whither he had invited
a number of his friends. He could not take his wife with him, because
their grown-up daughter was lying sick, so they both had to stay at
home. Grettir and eight of the serving men remained with them. Thorfinn
went with thirty freemen to the Yule festival, at which there was much
gladness and merriment.

Yule-eve set in with bright and clear weather. Grettir, who was
generally abroad in the daytime, was watching the vessels which came
along the coast, some from the North, some from the South, meeting at
the places agreed upon for their drinking-bouts. The bondi's daughter
was then better and could go out with her mother. So the day passed. At
last Grettir noticed a ship rowing up to the island, not large, covered
with shields amidships and painted above the water-line. They were
rowing briskly and making for Thorfinn's boat-houses. They ran the boat
on to the beach and all sprang ashore. Grettir counted the men; there
were twelve in all, and their aspect did not look peaceful.

After hauling up their boat out of the water they all made for the
boat-house where Thorfinn's great boat, mentioned already, was stowed.
She always required thirty men to put her to sea, but the twelve shoved
her along the beach at once. Then they brought their own boat into the
boat-house. It was very evident to Grettir that they did not mean to
wait for an invitation, so he went up to them, and greeting them in a
friendly way asked who they were and who was their captain. The man whom
he addressed answered him at once, saying his name was Thorir, called
Paunch; the others were his