Grettir went up to the Arnarvatn Heath and built himself a hut there of
which the remains are still to be seen. He went there because he wanted
to do anything rather than rob, so he got himself a net and a boat and
went out fishing to support himself.
It was a weary time for him in the mountains because of his fear of the
dark. Other outlaws heard of his having come there and wanted to go and
see him, thinking that he would be a great protection to them.
There was an outlaw from the North named Grim. This man was bribed by
those of Hrutafjord to kill Grettir. They promised him pardon and money
if he succeeded. He went to visit Grettir and asked for his hospitality.
Grettir said: "I do not see how you will be holpen by coming to me, and
you men of the forest are untrustworthy. But it is ill to live alone;
I have no choice. Only he shall be with me who is willing to work at
whatever comes to hand."
Grim said that was just what he wished and pressed Grettir much, until
Grettir let himself be persuaded and took him in. He stayed there right
into the winter, and watched Grettir closely, but it seemed no easy
matter to attack him, for Grettir was suspicious and kept his weapons
at hand night and day; when he was awake the man would not venture to
approach him.
One morning Grim came home from fishing and went into the hut stamping
with his feet and wanting to know whether Grettir was asleep. Grettir
lay still and did not move. There was a short sword hanging above his
head. Grim thought he would never have a better opportunity. He made a
loud noise to see whether Grettir took any notice, but he did not,
so Grim felt sure that he was asleep. He crept stealthily to the bed,
reached up to the sword, took it down and raised it to strike. Just at
the moment when he raised it Grettir sprang up on to the floor, and,
seizing the sword with one hand, Grim with the other, hurled him over
so that he fell nearly senseless. "This is how you have proved yourself
with all your friendly seeming," he said. Then he got the whole truth
out of him and killed him. He learned from this what it was to take in
a forest-man. So the winter passed. The hardest thing of all to bear was
his fear of the dark.