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Page 33
Then there was a loud noise below. Grettir heard a man ride up
to the house, get off his horse and come quickly inside. He saw
a handsome man in a red jacket wearing a helmet. Hearing the
commotion going on in the room where they were wrestling, he
came in and asked what was in the room. Grettir told him his
name; "but who is it that wants to know?" he asked.
"My name is Bardi," answered the stranger.
"Are you Bardi the son of Gudmund from Asbjarnarnes?"
"The same," he replied. "But what are you after?"
Grettir said: "I and Audun are playing here."
"I don't know about your play," said Bardi. "But you are not
alike. You are overbearing and insolent, while he is modest and
good-natured. Let him get up at once."
Grettir said: "Many a man seizes the lock for the door. You
would do better to avenge your brother Hall than to come between
me and Audun when we are contending."
"I am always hearing that," said Bardi, "and I don't know whether
I shall ever obtain my vengeance. But I want you to leave Audun
in peace, for he is a quiet man."
Grettir said he was willing to do so because of Bardi's
intercession, though he did not like it much. Bardi asked what
they were contending about. Grettir replied in a verse:
"I know not if for all your pride
he may not try your throat to squeeze.
Thus when within my home I dwelt
did he once belabour me."
Bardi said there was certainly some excuse if he was taking
revenge. "Let me now settle it between you," he said. "Let
matters remain as they are and cease your strife."
So they consented, for they were kinsmen. But Grettir had little
liking for Bardi or his brothers. They all rode away together.
On the way Grettir said: "I hear, Bardi, that you intend to go
South to Borgarfjord this summer; I propose that I shall go with
you, which I think is more than you deserve."
Bardi was very pleased with this offer, and at once accepted it
most thankfully. Then they parted. Bardi then turned back and
said to Grettir: "I would like it to be understood that you only
come with me if it meets with Thorarin's approval, since all the
arrangements for the expedition are with him."
"I thought," said Grettir, "you were competent to make your
arrangements for yourself. I do not leave my affairs to other
people to settle. I shall take it very ill if you refuse me."
Then each went his own way. Bardi promised to send Grettir word
"if Thorarin wished him to go." Otherwise he could remain
quietly at home. Grettir then rode to Bjarg and Bardi to his own
home.
CHAPTER XXIX
HORSE-FIGHT AT LANGAFIT
That summer there was a great horse-fight at Langafit below
Reykir, whither a great many people came together. Atli of Bjarg
had a good stallion of Keingala's race; grey with a dark stripe
down his back. Both father and son valued the horse highly. The
two brothers Kormak and Thorgils in Mel had a very mettlesome
brown stallion, and they arranged to match it against that of
Atli from Bjarg. Many other excellent stallions were brought.
Odd the Needy-Skald, Kormak's kinsman, had the charge of their
horse on the day. He had grown into a strong man and had a high
opinion of himself; he was surly and reckless. Grettir asked
Atli who should have charge of his stallion.
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