the town. But when Thorfinn and Thorstein Dromond knew this,
they brought together their kin and friends and came thronging to the
Thing. Very cross-grained was the Earl, and it was no easy matter to
come to speech with him. Thorfinn went up first before the Earl and
said, "For this cause am I come hither, to offer thee peace and honour
for these man-slayings that Grettir has wrought; thou alone shall
shape and settle all, if the man hath respite of his life."

The Earl answered sore wroth: "Late wilt thou be loth to ask respite
for Grettir; but in my mind it is that thou hast no good cause in
court; he has now slain three brothers, one at the heels of the other,
who were men so brave that they would none bear the other to purse.
Now it will not avail thee, Thorfinn, to pray for Grettir, for I
will not thus bring wrongs into the land so as to take boot for such
unmeasured misdeeds."

Then came forward Bessi, Skald-Torfa's son, and prayed the Earl to
take the offered settlement. "Thereto," he said, "I will give up my
goods, for Grettir is a man of great kin and a good friend of mine;
thou mayst well see, Lord, that it is better to respite one man's life
and to have therefor the thanks of many, thyself alone dooming the
fines, than to break down thine own honour, and risk whether thou
canst seize the man or not."

The Earl answered, "Thou farest well herein, Bessi, and showest at all
times that thou art a high-minded man; still I am loth thus to break
the laws of the land, giving respite to men of foredoomed lives."

Then stepped forth Thorstein Dromond and greeted the Earl, and made
offers on Grettir's behalf, and laid thereto many fair words. The Earl
asked for what cause he made offers for this man. Thorstein said that
they were brothers. The Earl said that he had not known it before:
"Now it is but the part of a man for thee to help him, but because
we have made up our mind not to take money for these man-slayings,
we shall make all men of equal worth here, and Grettir's life will we
have, whatsoever it shall cost and whensoever chance shall serve."

Thereat the Earl sprang up, and would listen in nowise to the offered
atonements.

Now Thorfinn and his folk went home to Thorstein's court and made
ready. But when the Earl saw this he bade all his men take weapons,
and then he went thither with his folk in array. But before he came up
Thorfinn and his men ordered themselves for defence before the gate of
the cour