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Now Onund laid his ship alongside one board of the ship of Thorir Longchin, about the midst of the fleet, but King Harald laid his on the other board, because Thorir was the greatest bearserk, and the stoutest of men; so the fight was of the fiercest on either side.
Then he said, "Here have come the vikings, whom I know to be the worst of all Norway, Thorir Paunch and Ogmund the Evil; in good sooth they will hardly have kept house happily for us, and in an Icelander I have but little trust." Withal he spoke many things hereabout to his fellows.
Sturla said "NO." Then the king's servant went to the king and spoke with him, out of hearing, and then went forward to Sturla and said: "You shall go to mess with Thorir Mouth and Erlend Maw." They took him into their mess, but rather stiffly. When men were turning in to sleep, a sailor of the king's asked who should tell them stories. There was little answer.
"I told you before," Thorir said, "that I cannot swim. I do not know now where all your boldness and daring are gone to." "I could get the nets," he said; "but betray me not if I trust you." "Do not think such shameful and monstrous things of me," said Thorir. "You will prove yourself what you are," Grettir said. Then he threw off his clothes and his weapons and swam out to the nets.
"Well, the nets I may get in," said Grettir, "but betray thou me not, since I trust in thee." Said Thorir, "Deem me not to be so shamed and worthless." "Thou wilt thyself prove thyself, what thou art," said Grettir, and therewith he put off his clothes and weapons, and swam off for the nets.
Now they set forth their judgment, that half-fines should be paid for the sons of Thorir, but half fell away because of the onslaught and attack, and attempt on Atli's life, the slaying of Atli's house-carle, who was slain on Ramfirth-neck, and the slaying of those twain who fell with the sons of Thorir were set off one against the other.
Thereafter he harried south in the land, and wheresoever he came, laid all under him; but when he came to Hordaland, swarms of folk came thronging against him; and their captains were Kiotvi the Wealthy, and Thorir Longchin, and those of South Rogaland, and King Sulki. Geirmund Helskin was then in the west over the Sea; nor was he in that battle, though he had a kingdom in Hordaland.
Grettir returned speedily home to his companion, and when they met spoke a verse: "I will not ride to the warriors' arms; too great the danger is. I dare not meet the storm of Vidri; but homeward turn my steps." They rode off as fast as they could westwards towards the homestead in Gard before Thorir could come there with his company.
Thord said he would not work for nought if he prevailed against Grettir; "For there is more put upon his head than on the head of any other of wood-folk; six marks of silver it was; but last summer Thorir of Garth laid thereto yet three marks; and men deem he will have enough to do therefor whose lot it is to win it."
So Grettir says, that a half-troll ruled over the valley, a giant hight Thorir, and in trust of his keeping did Grettir abide there; by him did Grettir name the valley, calling it Thorir's-dale.
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