We now return to Grettir, who came from the eastern fjords, travelling
in disguise and hiding his head because he did not wish to meet Thorir.
That summer he spent in Modrudal Heath and other places. For a time
too he was on Reykja Heath. Thorir heard of his being on Reykja Heath,
gathered his men and rode thither, determined not to let him escape.
Grettir scarcely knew of their plans before they came upon him. He was
in a hill-dairy a little off the road with another man, and when they
saw the troop they had to lay their plans quickly. Grettir said they
should make their horses lie down inside the house, and they did so.
Thorir rode forward across the heath in a northerly direction, missed
the place, did not find Grettir and turned back home. When the troop had
ridden round to the West, Grettir said: "They will not be pleased with
their expedition if they do not meet me. You stay and mind the horses
while I go after them. It would be a good jest if they did not recognise
me."
His companion tried to dissuade him, but he would go. He changed his
dress, put on a wide hat which came down over his face and took a stick
in his hand. Then he went along the road towards them. They addressed
him and asked whether he had seen any men riding over the heath.
"I have seen the men whom you are seeking," he said, "you very nearly
came upon them; they were on your left hand just south of the marshes."
On hearing this they galloped off towards the marshes, which were so
swampy that they could not get through and had to spend a great part
of the day dragging their horses out. They swore much at the supposed
traveller for playing a practical joke upon them.
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. When they were
near the place they met a man on the road who did not know them. There
was a young woman standing outside, very much dressed up, and Grettir
asked who she was. The man who had come up said she was Thorir's
daughter. Then Grettir spoke a verse:
"Maiden, when thy father comes
tell him, little though it please him,
how I rode his dwelling past;
only two who with me rode."
From this the man learnt who it was, and rode to the house to tell them
that Grettir had come round. When Thorir returned many men thought that
he had been bamboozled by Grettir. He then set spies to watch Grettir's
movements. Grettir took the precaution of sending his companion to the
western districts with his horse, while he himself went North into the
mountains at the beginning of the winter, muffling up his face so that
no one should recognise him. Every one thought that Thorir had fared no
better but even worse than at their former encounter.