|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 32
Asmund and Thorsteinn gained great glory by this case. The men
rode home from the Thing. There were some who said that Thorgils
had not taken much trouble in the case, but he paid little
attention and let them say what they pleased.
When Thorgeir heard that he was banished, he said that if he had
his way, those who had brought it about should be repayed in full
before it was over.
There was a man named Gaut, called the son of Sleita, a kinsman
of Thorgils Maksson. He was intending to travel in the same ship
with Thorgeir, with whom he was on very bad terms, and frowned on
him. The traders thought it would never do to have them both
together in the ship. Thorgeir said he did not care what Gaut
did with his eyebrows. Nevertheless they decided that Gaut
should leave the ship. He went into the northern districts and
for that time nothing happened, but the affair brought about a
feud between them which broke out later.
CHAPTER XXVIII
GRETTIR'S VISIT TO AUDUN IN VIDIDAL; OFFERS HIS SERVICES TO BARDI
In the course of that summer Grettir Asmundsson returned to
Skagafjord. He had such a reputation for strength that none of
the younger men was supposed to be his equal. He soon came to
his home in Bjarg, and Asmund gave him a fitting welcome. Atli
was then managing the property and the brothers agreed well
together, but Grettir became so over-weening that he thought
nothing was beyond his powers.
Many of the youths with whom Grettir had played at Midfjordsvatn
before he left were now grown up. Audun, the son of Asgeir, the
son of Audun, was now living at Audunarstad in Vididal. He was a
good bondi and a kindly man, and was the strongest of all the men
in the northern parts, as well as the most modest.
Grettir had not forgotten how he had seemingly been worsted by
Audun at the ball-play, as related above, and he was anxious to
try which of them had gained most since. With this object he
went at the beginning of the hay-harvest to Audunarstad. Grettir
put on all his finery and rode with the coloured and richly
ornamented saddle which Thorfinn had given him, on a splendid
horse and in his best armour to Audun's place, where he arrived
early in the day and knocked at the door. Few of the men were
in the house, and to Grettir's question whether Audun was at
home, they replied that he had gone to the hill-dairy to bring
home some produce. Grettir took the bridle off his horse. The
hay had not been mown in the meadow and the horse went for the
part where the grass was thickest. Grettir entered the room and
sat down on the bench, where he fell asleep. Soon Audun returned
home and saw a horse in the meadow with a coloured saddle on its
back. He was bringing two horses loaded with curds in skins tied
at the mouth--so-called "curd-bags." Audun took the skins off
the horses and was carrying them in his arms so that he could not
see in front of him. Grettir's leg was stretched out before him
and Audun stumbled over it, falling on the curd-bags which broke
at the neck. Audun sprang up and asked what rascal that was in
his house. Grettir told him his name.
"That was very awkward of you," said Audun. "But what do you
want here?"
"I want to fight with you."
"First I must look after my dairy produce," Audun said.
"You can do that," answered Grettir, "if you have no one else to
do it for you."
Audun bent down, gathered up the skin and threw it right into
Grettir's breast, telling him to take what he sent him. Grettir
was all covered with curds, and felt more disgusted than at any
wound which Audun could have given him. Then they went for each
other and wrestled pretty smartly. Grettir rushed at him, but
Audun escaped his grasp. He saw, however, that Grettir had
gained upon him. They drove up and down the room, overthrowing
everything that was near them. Neither of them spared himself,
but Grettir had the advantage, and at last Audun fell, after
tearing off all Grettir's weapons. They struggled hard and the
din was terrific.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|