ore happened at the festivities; they all went home, and there
was a good deal of ill-will between them all that winter, though no one
took any action. Nothing more happened that winter.

CHAPTER XXXVII. GRETTIR SAILS FOR NORWAY AND KILLS THORBJORN SLOWCOACH

Early in the spring, before the meeting of the Thing, there arrived a
ship from Norway. There was much news to tell, above all of the change
of government. Olaf the son of Harald was now king, having driven away
jarl Sveinn from the country in the spring which followed the battle of
Nesjar. Many noteworthy things were told of King Olaf. Men said that he
took into favour all men who were skilled in any way and made them his
followers. This pleased many of the younger men in Iceland and made them
all want to leave home. When Grettir heard of it he longed to go too,
deeming that he merited the king's favour quite as much as any of the
others. A ship came up to Gasar in Eyjafjord; Grettir engaged a passage
in her and prepared to go abroad. He had not much outfit as yet.

Asmund was now becoming very infirm and scarcely left his bed. He and
Asdis had a young son named Illugi, a youth of much promise. Atli had
taken over all the management of the farm and the goods, and things went
much better, for he was both obliging and provident.

Grettir embarked on his ship. Thorbjorn Slowcoach had arranged to travel
in the same vessel without knowing that Grettir would be in her. Some of
his friends tried to dissuade him from travelling in Grettir's
company, but he insisted upon going. He was rather a long time over his
preparations and did not get to Gasar before the ship was ready to sail.
Before he left home Asmund Longhair was taken ill and was quite confined
to his bed. Thorbjorn Slowcoach arrived on the beach late in the day,
when the men were going on board and were washing their hands outside
near their booths. When he rode up to the rows of booths they greeted
him and asked what news there was.

"I have nothing to tell," he said, "except that the valorous Asmund at
Bjarg is now dead."

Some of them said that a worthy bondi had left the world and asked how
it happened.

"A poor lot befell his Valour," he replied. "He was suffocated by the
smoke from the hearth, like a dog. There is no great loss in him, for he
was in his dotage."

"You talk strangely about such a man as he was," they said. "Grettir
would not be much pleased if he heard you."

"I can endur