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Now one after the other rushed at him, and he struggled hard and long, yet had they might to overcome him at the last, and so bound him. Thereafter they talked over what they should do with him, and they bade Helgi of Bathstead take him and keep him in ward till Vermund came home from the Thing. He answered
"Mighty will thy life be and troublous," said Vermund; "but now thou hast learned to beware of thy foes; but I have no will to harbour thee, and gain therefor the ill-will of many rich men; but best is it for thee to seek thy kinsmen, though few men will be willing to take thee in if they may do aught else; nor to most men art thou an easy fellow withal."
"A wise wife thou art withal," said Vermund, "and have thou thanks therefor." Then he said to Grettir, "Stout as thou art, but little was to be paid for thee, when thou must needs be taken of mannikins; but so ever it fares with men riotous." Then Grettir sang this stave
In those days dwelt in Waterfirth Vermund the Slender, the brother of Slaying-Styr; he had to wife Thorbiorg, the daughter of Olaf Peacock, son of Hoskuld. She was called Thorbiorg the Big; but at the time that Grettir was in Longdale had Vermund ridden to the Thing. Now Grettir went over the neck to Bathstead.
As such a request was difficult to comply with, Vermund, who was noted for being a man of gentle disposition, determined to turn his troublesome retainers over to his brother, Arngrim Styr, i.e., the Stirring or Tumultuous One, as being a likelier man than himself to know how to keep them in order.
Afterwards, Vermund, the son of Thorgrim, had Thorbjorg for wife. Their daughter was Thorfinna, whom Thorstein Kuggason had for wife. Olaf Peacock had many costly cattle. He had one very good ox named Harri; it was dapple-grey of coat, and bigger than any other of his cattle.
King Olaf was ordering a change of faith in Norway, and the people took to it most unequally. Kjartan and his companions took their craft up to Nidaross. At that time many Icelanders had come to Norway who were men of high degree. There lay beside the landing-stage three ships, all owned by Icelanders. One of the ships belonged to Brand the Bounteous, son of Vermund Thorgrimson.
Then Thorbiorg told him how all had gone betwixt Grettir and the Icefirthers. "What reward was due to him," said Vermund, "that thou gavest him his life?"
Vermund asked, "Would they have hanged thee then, if they alone had had to meddle with matters?" Said Grettir "Yea, to the snare That dangled there My head must I Soon bring anigh; But Thorbiorg came The brightest dame, And from that need The singer freed." Then said Vermund, "Did she bid thee to her?" Grettir answered
A steed she gave me, life and peace." "Great will your life be and troublous," said Vermund; "but now you have learnt to beware of your foes. I cannot keep you here, for it would rouse the enmity of many powerful men against me.
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