ths."

Grettir said he was fain thereof; and now they fare both together
south under Balljokul, and there had Hallmund a huge cave, and a
daughter great of growth and of high mind; there they did well to
Grettir, and the woman healed the wounds of both of them, and Grettir
dwelt long there that summer, and a lay he made on Hallmund, wherein
is this--

"Wide and high doth Hallmund stride
In the hollow mountain side."

And this stave also is therein--

"At Ernewater, one by one,
Stole the swords forth in the sun,
Eager for the road of death
Swept athwart by sharp spears' breath;
Many a dead Wellwharfer's lands
That day gave to other hands.
Hallmund, dweller in the cave,
Grettir's life that day did save."

Men say that Grettir slew six men in that meeting, but Hallmund
twelve.

Now as the summer wore Grettir yearned for the peopled country, to see
his friends and kin; Hallmund bade him visit him when he came to the
south country again, and Grettir promised him so to do; then he went
west to Burgfirth, and thence to the Broadfirth Dales, and sought
counsel of Thorstein Kuggson as to where he should now seek for
protection, but Thorstein said that his foes were now so many that few
would harbour him; "But thou mightest fare south to the Marshes and
see what fate abides thee there."

So in the autumn Grettir went south to the Marshes.

CHAP. LVIII.

<i>Grettir in Fairwoodfell</i>.

In those days dwelt at Holm Biorn the Hitdale-Champion, who was the
son of Arngeir, the son of Berse the Godless, the son of Balk, who
settled Ramfirth as is aforesaid; Biorn was a great chief and a hardy
man, and would ever harbour outlawed men.

Now Grettir came to Holm, and Biorn gave him good cheer, for there had
been friendship between the earlier kin of both of them; so Grettir
asked if he would give him harbourage; but Biorn said that he had
got to himself so many feuds through all the land that men would shun
harbouring him so long as to be made outlaws therefor: "But some gain
will I be to thee, if thou lettest those men dwell in peace who are
under my ward, whatsoever thou dost by other men in the country-side."

Grettir said yea thereto. Then said Biorn, "Well, I have thought over
it, and in that mountain, which stretches forth outside of Hitriver,
is a stead good for defence, and a good hiding-place withal, if it be
cunningly dealt with; for there is a hollow through the mountain, that
is