There was dwelling at Eyjardalsa in Bardardal a priest named Steinn, a
good farmer and wealthy. His son Kjartan was grown up and was now a fine
young man. Thorsteinn the White was a man who dwelt at Sandhaugar to
the south of Eyjardalsa; his wife Steinvor was young and of a merry
disposition. They had children who at this time were yet young. Their
place was generally thought to be much haunted by trolls. Two winters
before Grettir came North into those parts, Steinvor the mistress of
Sandhaugar went as usual to spend Yule at Eyjardalsa, while her husband
stayed at home. Men lay down to sleep in the evening, and in the night
they heard a great noise in the room near the bondi's bed. No one dared
to get up to see what was the matter because there were so few of
them. The mistress of the house returned home the next morning, but her
husband had disappeared and no one knew what had become of him. So the
next season passed. The following winter the mistress wanted to go to
mass, and told her servant to stay at home; he was very unwilling but
said she should be obeyed. It happened just as before; this time the
servant disappeared. People thought it very strange and found some drops
of blood upon the outer door, so they supposed that some evil spirit
must have carried off both the men. The story spread all through the
district and came to the ears of Grettir, who being well accustomed to
deal with ghosts and spectres turned his steps to Bardardal and arrived
at Yule-eve at Sandhaugar. He retained his disguise and called himself
Gest. The lady of the house saw that he was enormously tall, and the
servants were terribly afraid of him. He asked for hospitality; the
mistress told him that food was ready for him but that he must see after
himself. He said he would, and added: "I will stay in the house while
you go to mass if you would like it."
She said: "You must be a brave man to venture to stay in the house."
"I do not care for a monotonous life," he said.
Then she said: "I do not want to remain at home, but I cannot get across
the river."
"I will come with you," said Gest. Then she made ready to go to mass
with her little daughter. It was thawing outside; the river was flooded
and was covered with ice. She said: "It is impossible for either man or
horse to cross the river."
"There must be fords," said Gest; "do not be afraid."
"First carry the maiden over," she said; "she is lighter."
"I don't want to make two journeys of it," said he; "I will carry you in
my arms."
She crossed herself and said: "That is impossible; what will you do with
the girl?"
"I will find a way," he said, taking them both up and setting the girl
on her mother's knee as he bore them both on his left arm, keeping his
right arm free. So he carried them across. They were too frightened to
cry out. The river came up to his breast, and a great piece of ice drove
against him, which he pushed off with the hand that was free. Then the
stream became so deep that it broke over his shoulder, but he waded on
vigorously till he reached the other bank and put them on shore. It was
nearly dark by the time he got home to Sandhaugar and called for some
food. When he had eaten something he told the servants to go to the
other end of the hall. Then he got some boards and loose logs and laid
them across the hall to make a great barricade so that none of the
servants could get across. No one dared to oppose him or to object to
anything. The entrance was in the side wall of the hall under the back
gable, and near it was a cross bench upon which Grettir laid himself,
keeping on his clothes, with a light burning in the room. So he lay till
into the night.
The mistress reached Eyjardalsa for mass and every one wondered how she
had crossed the river. She said she did not know whether it was a man or
a troll who had carried her over. The priest said it was certainly a man
though unlike other men. "Let us keep silence over it; may be that he
means to help you in your difficulties."
She stayed there the night.