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By the time they reached Hafraklett the wind was very high. Thorgeir said: "The stern is slackening." Grettir said: "The stern will not be left behind if the rowing amidships is all right." Thorgeir then bent his back to the oars and pulled so violently that both the rowlocks carried away. He said: "Pull on, Grettir, whilst I mend the rowlocks."
Then Thorsteinn and his party pressed their suit resolutely and said they would not be satisfied with any sentence short of banishment upon Thorgeir.
Thorgeir went first, and had on his back a leather bottle and drink therein.
They began to use threats and at last took to their arms and fought. Thorgeir and Thorgils fought each of them desperately together without either prevailing. After a long and furious battle Thorgils fell slain by Thorgeir. In another place Thormod was fighting with the followers of Thorgils, and he overcame them, killing three.
Now Thorgeir got very envious of Grettir's strength, and one day somewhat after Yule, Grettir went alone to bathe; Thorgeir knew thereof, and said to Thormod, "Let us go on now, and try how Grettir will start if I set on him as he comes from his bathing." "That is not my mind," said Thormod, "and no good wilt thou get from him."
Now when Thorgils heard this, he called Thorgeir to him for a talk, and asked him what kind of aid he now deemed meetest for him; Thorgeir said that it was most to his mind to go abroad if he should be outlawed. Thorgils said that should be tried. A ship lay up Northriver in Burgfirth; in that keel Thorgils secretly paid faring for the foster-brothers, and thus the winter passed.
Thorgeir was outlawed, but for Thormod was taken weregild, and he to be quit. By this blood-suit Thorstein and Asmund were deemed to have waxed much. And now men ride home from the Thing. Some men would hold talk that Thorgils had lightly backed the case, but he heeded their talk little, and let any one say thereon what he would. But when Thorgeir heard of this outlawry, he said
There had Thorgeir good kinship to trust in, for Thorgils was the greatest chief in the Westfirthers' quarter. He was a man of such bountifulness, that he gave food to any free-born man as long as he would have it, and therefore there was at all times a throng of people at Reek-knolls; thus had Thorgils much renown of his house-keeping. He was a man withal of good will and foreknowledge.
Now I shall send a man to Thorstein and bid weregild for the slaying of Thorgils; but if he will not take atonement I shall not defend the case stiffly." Thorgeir said he would trust to his foresight.
Thorgils settled the peace for the slaying of Skuf and Biarni then and there in the Dale, and delayed no longer than his will was before; Thorgeir went to ship, but Thorgils to the Althing, and came not thither until men were going to the courts. Then Asmund the Greyhaired challenged the defence for the blood-suit on the slaying of Thorgils Makson.
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