<i>The gathering to avenge Thorbiorn Oxmain</i>.
Thorod Drapa-Stump sought tidings of this who might have slain
Thorbiorn and his son, and when he came to Reeks, it was told him that
Grettir had been there and given out the slayings as from his hand.
Now, Thorod deemed he saw how things had come to pass; so he went to
Biarg, and there found many folk, but he asked if Grettir were there.
The goodwife said he had ridden away, and that she would not slip him
into hiding-places if he were there.
"Now ye will be well pleased that matters have so been wrought; nor
was the slaying of Atli over-avenged, though this was paid for it.
Ye asked not then what grief of heart I had; and now, too, it is well
that things are even so."
Therewith they rode home, and found it not easy to do aught therein.
Now that spear-head which Grettir lost was not found till within the
memory of men living now; it was found in the latter days of Sturla
Thordson the lawman, and in that marsh where Thorbiorn fell, which is
now called Spear-mead; and that sign men have to show that Thorbiorn
was slain there, though in some places it is said that he was slain on
Midfit.
Thorod and his kin heard that Grettir abode at Liarskogar; then they
gathered men, and were minded to go thither; but when Gamli of Meals
was ware thereof, he made Thorstein and Grettir sure of the farings
of the Ramfirthers; and when Thorstein knew it, he sent Grettir in to
Tongue to Snorri Godi, for then there was no strife between them, and
Thorstein gave that counsel to Grettir that he should pray Snorri the
Godi for his watch and ward; but if he would not grant it, he made
Grettir go west to Reek-knolls to Thorgils Arisen, "and he will take
thee to him through this winter, and keep within the Westfirths till
these matters are settled."
Grettir said he would take good heed to his counsels; then he rode
into Tongue, and found Snorri the Godi, and talked with him, and
prayed him to take him in.
Snorri answered, "I grow an old man now, and loth am I to harbour
outlawed men if no need drive me thereto. What has come to pass that
the elder put thee off from him?"
Grettir said that Thorstein had often done well to him; "But more
shall I need than him alone, if things are to go well."
Said Snorri, "My good word I shall put in for thee if that may avail
thee aught, but in some other place than with me must thou seek a
dwelling."
With these words they parted, and Grettir turned west to Reekness;
the Ramfirthers with their band got as far as Samstead, and there they
heard that Grettir had departed from Liarskogar, and thereat they went
back home.