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Page 34
"That is not so clear to me," said Atli.
"Would you like me to back him?"
"Then you must keep very cool, kinsman," he said. "We have men
to deal with who are rather overbearing."
"Let them pay for their bluster," he said, "if they cannot
control it."
The stallions were led out and the mares tethered together in the
front on the bank of the river. There was a large pool just
beyond the bank. The horses fought vigorously and there was
excellent sport. Odd managed his horse pluckily and Grettir gave
way before him, holding the tail of his horse with one hand and
with the other the stick with which he pricked it on. Odd stood
in the front by his horse, and one could not be sure that he was
not pricking off Atli's horse from his own. Grettir pretended
not to notice it. The horses then came near the river. Then Odd
thrust with his pointed stick at Grettir and caught him in the
shoulder-blade which Grettir was turning towards him. He struck
pretty hard, and the flesh swelled up, but Grettir was little
hurt. At the same moment the horses reared. Grettir ducked
beneath the flank of his horse and drove his stick into Odd's
side with such violence that three of his ribs were broken and
Odd fell into the pool with his horse and all the mares that were
tethered there by the bank. Some people swam out and rescued
them. There was great excitement about it. Kormak's men on one
side and those of Bjarg on the other seized their arms, but the
men of Hrutafjord and Vatnsnes came between them and parted them.
They all went home in great wrath, but kept quiet for a time.
Atli said very little, but Grettir rather swaggered and said that
they should meet again if he had his way.
CHAPTER XXX
THORBJORN OXMAIN AND THE FRAY AT HRUTAFJARDARHALS
There was living in Thoroddsstad in Hrutafjord a man named
Thorbjorn. He was the son of Arnor Downy-Nose, the son of
Thorodd who had settled in that side of Hrutafjord which lies
opposite to Bakki. Thorbjorn was of all men the strongest, and
was called Oxmain. He had a brother named Thorodd, called
Drapustuf. Their mother was Gerd, daughter of Bodvar from
Bodvarsholar. Thorbjorn was a great swashbuckler and kept a
large troop of followers. He was noted for being worse at
getting servants than other men, and scarcely paid them any
wages. He was not a man easy to deal with. There was a kinsman
of his, also named Thorbjorn, called Slowcoach. He was a
mariner, and the two namesakes were in partnership together. He
was always at Thoroddsstad and people did not think he made
Thorbjorn any better. He liked to talk scandal and spoke
offensively of several men.
There was a man named Thorir, a son of Thorkell, at Bordeyr. He
first lived at Melar in Hrutafjord, and had a daughter named
Helga who married Sleitu-Helgi. After the Fagrabrekka affair
Thorir went South to Haukadal and lived in Skard, selling the
property at Melar to Thorhall the Winelander, the son of Gamli.
Thorhall's son Gamli married Rannveig, the daughter of Asmund
Longhair, Grettir's sister. They lived at that time in Melar and
had a good establishment. Thorir of Skard had two sons, Gunnar
and Thorgeir, both promising men, who took over the property from
their father, but were always with Thorbjorn Oxmain, and became
very overbearing.
In the summer of that year Kormak and Thorgils rode with a
kinsman of theirs named Narfi South to Nordrardal on some
business. Odd the Needy-Skald had recovered from the hurts
which he had received at the horse-fight and was of the party.
While they were south of the heath Grettir was journeying from
his home at Bjarg with two of Atli's men. They rode to Burfell
and then across the neck to Hrutafjord, reaching Melar in the
evening, where they spent three nights. Rannveig and Gamli gave
Grettir a friendly reception and invited him to stay, but he
wanted to return home. Then Grettir learned of Kormak's company
having come from the South, and that they were staying at Tunga
at night. He prepared to leave Melar at once, and Gamli offered
to send some of his men with him. Gamli's brother Grim, who was
very smart and active, and another rode with Grettir. The party,
five in number, came to Hrutafjardarhals to the west of Burfell,
where the great stone called Grettishaf lies; he struggled a long
time with that stone, trying to lift it, and delayed his journey
thereby until Kormak's party came up. Grettir went towards them
and both alighted from their horses. Grettir said it would be
more seemly for free men to set to work with all their might
instead of fighting with sticks like tramps. Kormak told them to
take up the challenge like men and to do their best. So they
went for each other. Grettir was in front of his men and told
them to see that nobody got behind him. They fought for a time
and both were hurt.
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