The Story of Burnt Njal: The Great Icelandic Tribune, Jurist, and Counsellor

rfinn. He was a son of Kar the Old, who had lived there

ixteen-oared boat. He put out as quickly as possible with some thirty men to save the cargo of the trader, which then sank and was lost, along with much property. Thorf

abroad every day. This annoyed Thorfinn, but he did not like to refuse Grettir his hospitality; he was a man who kept open house, enjoyed life and liked to see other men happy. Grettir liked going abou

reat fire shoot up on the headland below Audun's place, and asked what new

untry," said Grettir, "they would s

ed the man, "is one whom it will

to know,"

nd son had a farm-property on the island; but ever since Kar died his ghost has been walking and has scared away all the othe

Grettir. "Expect me here to-morrow morn

ith it," said Audun, "because I know that i

id he woul

much treasure of gold and silver collected together, and a casket under his feet, full of silver. Grettir took all the treasure and went back towards the rope, but on his way he felt himself seized by a strong hand. He left the treasure to close with his aggressor and the two engaged in a merciless struggle. Everything about them was smashed. The howedweller made a ferocious onslaught. Grettir for some time gave way, but found that no holding back was possible. They did not spare each other. Soon they came to the place where the horse's bones were lying, and here they struggled for long, each in turn being brought to his knees. At last it ended in the howedweller falling backwards with a horr

happens at ev

anything else Grettir cast his eyes, a short sword, which he declared to be finer than any weapon which he had ever seen. It was the last

this treasu

hen spake

gold! 'twas th

hand to ravi

ut none here

to ransack Fa

open the howe. But since I know that all treasure which is hidden in the earth or buried in a how

ir an

is slain! in

a sword, dire

mine I a tre

suffer my ha

can give you the sword you must display your prowess in

to whom the greatest profi

n custody near his bed. The winter came on bringing Yul