Now at the farm they took much comfort in their ewe, which never wandered far, and came home at night, sleeping always in the pen. But one morning she was gone and the pen broken down, and no trace of her was to be seen. Then Einar lamented greatly, since her milk was needed: he declared that she was stolen. But in the forenoon came those two, Hallvard and Hallmund, leading the ewe.
"This beast," said Hallvard, "was found eating from our masters ricks."
"Wherefore," asked Grani, "ate she not from our ricks, which were nearer?"
"I know not," said Hallvard, "but she hath been at our ricks; and Rolf has said: Twenty in silver must you pay."
Grani took his purse; and though his father scolded he gave silver, all that he had, and Hallvard and Hallmund went away.
Now this happened again, and to redeem the ewe Grani gave a gold ring. Then he built up the pen again of double strength, so that a bullock could not have broken out; but on another morning the ewe was gone, and unless she were a goat she might not have jumped out. Einar was terribly enraged with an old mans anger, and swore those two ruffians had killed the ewe; yet after a while they were seen coming, leading the beast.
Einar said to Grani, "Take now thy sword and slay them when they come."
But Grani held his tongue and heard those two quietly when they claimed trespass money; he gave them all the jewels that he had, and the twain went away. Then Einar cried, "I have no son at all, but two daughters; and no one will defend me from this shameful persecution."
Grani grew red as blood; but he said naught in answer, and tied the ewe in the pen. When he was alone Helga came to him.
Asks she: "Thinkest thou that the ewe broke out those two times, and leaped out the third?"