ey said they were ready enough for that, but knew not where to find
out the cellar; Grettir asked if they would that he should see for
things and go about for them. The bearserks said they would be right
fain of that; so Grettir fetched beer and gave them to drink; they
were mightily weary, and drank in huge draughts, and still he let them
have the strongest beer that there was, and this went on for a long
time, and meanwhile he told them many merry tales. From all this there
was din enough to be heard among them, and the home-folk were nowise
fain to come to them.

Now Thorir said, "Never yet did I meet a man unknown to me, who would
do us such good deeds as this man; now, what reward wilt thou take of
us for thy work?"

Grettir answered, "As yet I look to no reward for this; but if we be
even such friends when ye go away, as it looks like we shall be, I am
minded to join fellowship with you; and though I be of less might than
some of you, yet shall I not let any man of big redes."

Hereat they were well pleased, and would settle the fellowship with
vows.

Grettir said that this they should not do, "For true is the old saw,
<i>Ale is another man</i>, nor shall ye settle this in haste any
further than as I have said, for on both sides are we men little meet
to rule our tempers."

They said that they would not undo what they had said.

Withal the evening wore on till it grew quite dark; then sees Grettir
that they were getting very heavy with drink, so he said--

"Do ye not find it time to go to sleep?"

Thorir said, "Time enough forsooth, and sure shall I be to keep to
what I have promised the mistress."

Then Grettir went forth from the hall, and cried out loudly--

"Go ye to your beds, women all, for so is goodman Thorir pleased to
bid."

They cursed him for this, and to hear them was like hearkening to the
noise of many wolves. Now the bearserks came forth from the hall, and
Grettir said--

"Let us go out, and I will show you Thorfinn's cloth bower."

They were willing to be led there; so they came to an out-bower
exceeding great; a door there was to it, and a strong lock thereon,
and the storehouse was very strong withal; there too was a closet good
and great, and a shield panelling between the chambers; both chambers
stood high, and men went up by steps to them. Now the bearserks got
riotous and pushed Grettir about, and he kept tumbling away from them,
and when they least thought thereof, he slipp