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Page 23
"We will talk about that afterwards; but now let each do what he
can; it is the last chance."
"Now indeed were God in the dwelling," she said, "if anything
should happen to save us. Over Thorfinn's bed there hangs the
great halberd which belonged to Kar the Old; there, too, is a
helmet and a corselet and a good short sword. The weapons will
not fail if your heart holds firm."
Grettir took the helmet and spear, girt the sword about him and
went quickly out. The mistress called to her men and bade them
follow their brave champion. Four of them rushed to their arms,
but the other four durst not go near them.
Meantime the berserks thought that Grettir was a long time away
and began to suspect some treachery. They rushed to the door and
found it locked. They strained at the woodwork till every timber
groaned. At last they tore down the wooden partition and so
gained the passage where the privy was, and thence the steps.
Then the berserks' fury fell upon them and they howled like dogs.
At that moment Grettir returned, and taking his halberd in both
hands he thrust it right through Thorir's body just as he was
about to descend the steps. The blade was very long and broad.
Ogmund the Bad was just behind pushing him on, so that the spear
passed right up to the hook, came out at his back between the
shoulderblades and entered the breast of Ogmund. They both fell
dead, pierced by the spear. Then all the others dashed down as
they reached the steps. Grettir tackled them each in turn, now
thrusting with the spear, now hewing with the sword, while they
defended themselves with logs lying on the ground or with
anything else which they could get. It was a terrible trial of a
man's prowess to deal with men of their strength, even unarmed.
Grettir slew two of the Halogaland men there in the enclosure.
Four of the serving-men then came up. They had not been able to
agree upon which arms each should take, but they came out to the
attack directly the berserks were running away; when these turned
against them they fell back on the house. Six of the ruffians
fell, all slain by Grettir's own hand; the other six then fled
towards the landing place and took refuge in the boat-house,
where they defended themselves with oars. Grettir received a
severe blow from one of them and narrowly escaped a serious hurt.
The serving-men all went home and told great stories of their own
exploits. The lady wanted to know what had become of Grettir,
but they could not tell her. Grettir slew two men in the boat-
house, but the other four got away, two in one direction, two in
another. He pursued those who were nearest to him. The night
was very dark. They ran to Vindheim, the place spoken of before,
and took refuge in a barn, where they fought for a long time
until at last Grettir killed them. By this time he was terribly
stiff and exhausted. The night was far spent; it was very cold
and there were driving snow-storms. He felt little inclination
to go after the two who yet remained, so he went back home. The
goodwife kindled a light and put it in a window in the loft at
the top of the house, where it served him as a guide, and he was
able to find his way home by the light. When he came to the door
the mistress came to meet him and bade him welcome.
"You have earned great glory," she said, "and have saved me and
my household from a disgrace never to be redeemed if you had not
delivered us."
"I think I am much the same person as I was last evening when
you spoke so roughly to me," said Grettir.
"We knew not then the might that was in you," she said, "as we
know it now. Everything in the house shall be yours, so far as
it is fitting for me to bestow and right for you to receive. I
doubt not that Thorfinn will reward you in a better way when he
comes home."
"There is little that I want as a reward at present," said
Grettir. "But I accept your offer until your husband returns. I
think now that you will be able to sleep in peace undisturbed by
the berserks."
Grettir drank little before he retired and lay all night in his
armour. In the morning, directly the day broke, all the men of
the island were called together to go forth and search for the
two berserks who had escaped. They were found at the end of the
day lying under a rock, both dead from cold and from their
wounds; they were carried away and buried in a place on the shore
beneath the tide, with some loose stones over them, after which
the islanders returned home, feeling that they could live in
peace. When Grettir came back to the house and met the mistress
he spoke a verse:
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