Thorkell, a man of some consideration in Salfti in Halogaland. Grettir
went to visit Thorkell in his home, where he received a hearty welcome
and a very pressing invitation to stay there for the winter. Grettir
accepted the invitation and stayed the winter with Thorkell, who treated
him with great honour.

CHAPTER XXI. ADVENTURE WITH A BEAR

There was a man named Bjorn who was then on a visit to Thorkell. He was
of a somewhat violent character of good family and related in some way
to Thorkell. He was not generally liked, because he was too much given
to talking against the men who were about Thorkell and drove many away
from him. He and Grettir did not get on at all. Bjorn thought him of
small account compared to himself; Grettir paid him little deference,
and it became an open feud. Bjorn was a boisterous swaggering man, and
many of the younger men imitated him, loitering about outside in the
evenings.

It happened at the beginning of the winter that a savage brown bear
broke out of its den and raged about destroying men and cattle. Every
one declared that it had been provoked by the noise which Bjorn and his
company made. The beast became most mischievous, attacking the flocks in
the very face of the men themselves. Thorkell, being the wealthiest man
of that part, suffered most. One day he called up his men to come with
him and search out the bear's den. They found it in a cliff by the sea
where there was a cave under an overhanging rock, with a narrow path
leading to the entrance. Below was a sheer precipice down to the beach,
threatening certain death to any one who stumbled. In this den the
bear lay in the daytime, going abroad at night. Fences were of no avail
against him, nor could the dogs do anything, so that all were in the
utmost distress. Thorkell's kinsman Bjorn declared that the main thing
was gained now that they had found the den. "Now we shall see," he said,
"how the game will go with me and my namesake." Grettir pretended not to
hear what he said.

In the evenings when the others retired to bed, Bjorn used generally
to go out. One night he went to the bear's den and found the creature
inside, growling horribly. He lay down in the path, placing his shield
over him, intending to wait until the beast came out as usual. Bruin,
however, got wind of him and was rather slow in coming out. Bjorn got
very sleepy where he was lying and could not keep awake; in the meantime
out came the bear from his