e day having
nearly broken.

Grettir was very stiff and lay down to rest. Thorhall sent for some men
from the next farms and let them know how things had fared. They all
realised the importance of Grettir's deed when they heard of it; all
agreed that in the whole country side for strength and courage and
enterprise there was not the equal of Grettir the son of Asmund.

Thorhall bade a kindly farewell to Grettir and dismissed him with a
present of a fine horse and proper clothes, for all that he had been
wearing were torn to pieces. They parted in friendship. Grettir rode to
Ass in Vatnsdal and was welcomed by Thorvald, who asked him all about
his encounter with Glam. Grettir told him everything and said that
never had his strength been put to trial as it had been in their long
struggle. Thorvald told him to conduct himself discreetly; if he did
so he might prosper, but otherwise he would surely come to disaster.
Grettir said that his temper had not improved, that he had even less
discretion than before, and was more impatient of being crossed. In one
thing a great change had come over him; he had become so frightened of
the dark that he dared not go anywhere alone at night. Apparitions of
every kind came before him. It has since passed into an expression,
and men speak of "Glam's eyes" or "Glam visions" when things appear
otherwise than as they are.

Having accomplished his undertaking Grettir rode back to Bjarg and spent
the winter at home.

CHAPTER XXXVI. THORBJORN SLOWCOACH AT HOME

Thorbjorn Oxmain gave a great feast in the autumn at which many were
assembled, whilst Grettir was in the North in Vatnsdal. Thorbjorn
Slowcoach was there and many things were talked about. The Hrutafjord
people inquired about Grettir's adventure on the ridge in the summer.
Thorbjorn Oxmain praised Grettir's conduct, and said that Kormak would
have had the worst of it if no one had come to part them. Then Thorbjorn
Slowcoach said: "What I saw of Grettir's fighting was not famous; and
he seemed inclined to shirk when we came up. He was very ready to leave
off, nor did I see him make any attempt to avenge the death of Atli's
man. I do not believe there is much heart in him, except when he has a
sufficient force behind him."

Thorbjorn went on jeering at him in this way. Many of the others had
something to say about it, and they thought that Grettir would not leave
it to rest if he heard what Thorbjorn was saying.

Nothing m