e the claws. Then the
creature tried to strike him with his sound paw, but to do so he had to
drop on the stump, which was shorter than he expected, and over he fell
into Grettir's embraces. Grettir seized the beast by the ears and held
him off so that he could not bite. He always said that he considered
this holding back the bear the greatest feat of strength that he ever
performed. The beast struggled violently; the space was very narrow, and
they both fell over the precipice. The bear being the heavier came down
first on the beach; Grettir fell on the top of him, and the bear was
badly mauled on the side that was down. Grettir got his sword, ran it
into the heart of the bear and killed him. Then he went home, after
fetching his cloak which was torn to pieces. He also took with him the
bit of the paw which he had cut off.

Thorkell was sitting and drinking when Grettir entered. They all laughed
at the ragged cloak which he was wearing. Then he laid the piece of the
paw upon the table. Thorkell said: "Where is my kinsman Bjorn? I never
saw iron bite like that in your hands. Now I would like you to show
Grettir some honour to make up for the shame which you cast upon him."

Bjorn said that could wait, and that it mattered little to him whether
Grettir was pleased or not. Grettir then spoke a verse:

"Oft returned the watcher at night
trembling home, but sound in limb.
None ever saw me sit in the dusk
at the cave; yet now I am home returned."

"It is true," said Bjorn, "that you have fought well; and also true that
our opinions differ. I suppose you think that your taunts hurt me."

Thorkell said: "I should be glad, Grettir, if you would not revenge
yourself upon Bjorn. I will pay the full weregild of a man for you to be
reconciled."

Bjorn said he might invest his money better than in paying for that;
and that it would be better for him and Grettir to go on bickering since
"each oak has that which it scrapes from the other." Thorkell said: "But
I ask you, Grettir, to do so much for my sake as not to attack Bjorn
while you are both with me."

"That I promise," said Grettir.

Bjorn said that he would walk without fear of Grettir wherever they met.
Grettir grinned, and would accept no money on account of Bjorn. They
stayed there the winter.

CHAPTER XXII. GRETTIR KILLS BJORN AND IS SUMMONED BEFORE JARL SVEINN

In the spring Grettir went North to Vagar with Thorkell's men. They
parte