[198]

"The dreadful dweller of the cave

Great strokes and many 'gainst me drave;

Full hard he had to strive for it,

But toiling long he wan no whit;

For from its mighty shaft of tree

The heft-sax smote I speedily;

And dulled the flashing war-flame fair

In the black breast that met me there."

Herein was it said how that Grettir had brought those bones from the cave; but when the priest came to the church in the morning he found the staff and that which went with it, but Grettir was gone home to Sand-heaps.