"First carry the maiden over; she is lighter."
"I don't want to make two journeys of it," said he; "I will carry you in my arms."
She crossed herself and said: "That is impossible; what will you do with the girl?"
"I will find a way," said Gest.
Taking them both up, he set the girl on her mother's knee, while he bore them both on his left arm, keeping his right arm free.
So he carried them across. They were too frightened to cry out. The river came up to his breast, and a great piece of ice came against him, which he pushed off with the hand that was free. Then the stream became so deep that it broke over his shoulder, but he waded on vigorously till he reached the other bank and put them on shore.
The mistress reached Eyjardalsa for mass and everyone wondered how she had crossed the river. She said she did not know whether it was a man or a troll who had carried her over. The priest said it
was certainly a man, though unlike other men. "Let us keep silent over it; may be that he means to help you in your difficulties."
She stayed there that night.
Meanwhile Grettir had waded back. It was nearly dark by the time he got home to Sandhaugar and called for some food. When he had eaten something he told the servants to go to the other end of the hall. Then he got some boards and loose logs and laid them across the hall to make a great barricade so that none of the servants could get across. No one dared to oppose him or to object to anything. The entrance was in the side wall of the hall under the back gable, and near it was a cross bench upon which Grettir laid himself, keeping on his clothes, with a light burning in the room. So he lay till into the night.