lly in cattle, so that no one round about had so
much live-stock as he had. He was not a chief, however, but an honest
and worthy yeoman.

"Now this man's place was greatly haunted, so that he could scarcely
get a shepherd to stay with him, and although he asked the opinion of
many as to what he ought to do, he could find none to give him advice
of any worth.

"One summer at the Althing, or yearly assembly of the people, Thorhall
went to the booth of Skafti, the law man, who was the wisest of men
and gave good counsel when his opinion was asked. He received
Thorhall in a friendly way, because he knew he was a man of means, and
asked him what news he had.

"'I would have some good advice from you,' said Thorhall.

'"I am little able to give that,' said Skafti; 'but what is the
matter?'

"'This is the way of it,' said Thorhall, 'I have had very bad luck
with my shepherds of late. Some of them get injured, and others will
not serve out their time; and now no one that knows how the case
stands will take the place at all.'

"'Then there must be some evil spirit there,' said Skafti, 'when men
are less willing to herd your sheep, than those of others. Now since
you have asked my advice, I will get a shepherd for you. Glam is his
name, he belongs to Sweden, and came out here last summer. He is big
and strong, but not very well liked by most people.'

"Thorhall said that he did not mind that, if he looked well after the
sheep. Skafti answered that there was no hope of other men doing it,
if Glam could not, seeing he was so strong and stout-hearted. Their
talk ended there, and Thorhall left the booth.

"This took place just at the breaking up of the assembly. Thorhall
missed two of his horses, and went to look for them in person, from
which it may be seen that he was no proud man. He went up to the
mountain ridge, and south along the fell that is called Armann's fell.
There he saw a man coming down from the wood, leading a horse laden
with bundles of brushwood. They soon met each other and Thorhall
asked his name. He said he was called Glam. He was tall of body, and
of strange appearance; his eyes were blue and staring, and his hair
wolf-grey in colour. Thorhall was a little startled when he saw him,
and was certain that this was the man he had been told about.

"'What work are you best fitted for?' he asked. Glam said that he was
good at keeping sheep in winter.

"'Will you look after _my_ sheep?' sai