<i>Grettir in Fairwoodfell</i>.
In those days dwelt at Holm Biorn the Hitdale-Champion, who was the
son of Arngeir, the son of Berse the Godless, the son of Balk, who
settled Ramfirth as is aforesaid; Biorn was a great chief and a hardy
man, and would ever harbour outlawed men.
Now Grettir came to Holm, and Biorn gave him good cheer, for there had
been friendship between the earlier kin of both of them; so Grettir
asked if he would give him harbourage; but Biorn said that he had
got to himself so many feuds through all the land that men would shun
harbouring him so long as to be made outlaws therefor: "But some gain
will I be to thee, if thou lettest those men dwell in peace who are
under my ward, whatsoever thou dost by other men in the country-side."
Grettir said yea thereto. Then said Biorn, "Well, I have thought over
it, and in that mountain, which stretches forth outside of Hitriver,
is a stead good for defence, and a good hiding-place withal, if it be
cunningly dealt with; for there is a hollow through the mountain, that
is seen from the way below; for the highway lies beneath it, but above
is a slip of sand and stones so exceeding steep, that few men may come
up there if one hardy man stand on his defence above in the lair.
Now this seems to me the best rede for thee, and the one thing worth
talking of for thine abode, because, withal, it is easy to go thence
and get goods from the Marshes, and right away to the sea."
Grettir said that he would trust in his foresight if he would give him
any help. Then he went up to Fairwoodfell and made his abode there;
he hung grey wadmal before the hole in the mountain, and from the way
below it was like to behold as if one saw through. Now he was wont
to ride for things needful through the country-side, and men deemed a
woful guest had come among them whereas he went.
Thord Kolbeinson dwelt at Hitness in those days, and a good skald he
was; at that time was there great enmity betwixt him and Biorn; and
Biorn was but half loth, though Grettir wrought some ill on Thord's
men or his goods.
Grettir was ever with Biorn, and they tried their skill in many
sports, and it is shown in the story of Biorn that they were deemed
equal in prowess, but it is the mind of most that Grettir was the
strongest man ever known in the land, since Orm the son of Storolf,
and Thoralf the son of Skolm, left off their trials of strength.
Grettir and Biorn swam in one spell all down Hitriver, from the lake
right away to the sea: they brought those stepping-stones into the
river that have never since been washed away either by floods, or the
drift of ice, or glacier slips.
So Grettir abode in Fairwoodfell for one winter, in such wise, that
none set on him, though many lost their goods at his hands and could
do nought therefor, for a good place for defence he had, and was ever
good friend to those nighest to him.