All these men had share in Drangey, and it is said that no less than twenty in all had some part in the island, nor would any sell his share to another; but the sons of Thord, Hialti and Thorbiorn Angle, had the largest share, because they were the richest men.
CHAP. LXXI.
How those of Skagafirth found Grettir on Drangey.
Now time wears on towards the winter solstice; then the bonders get ready to go fetch the fat beasts for slaughter from the island; so they manned a great barge, and every owner had one to go in his stead, and some two.
But when these came anigh the island they saw men going about there; they deemed that strange, but guessed that men had been shipwrecked, and got aland there: so they row up to where the ladders were, when lo, the first-comers drew up the ladders.
Then the bonders deemed that things were taking a strange turn, and hailed those men and asked them who they were: Grettir named himself and his fellows withal: but the bonders asked who had brought him there.
Grettir answered, "He who owned the keel and had the hands, and who was more my friend than yours."
The bonders answered and said, "Let us now get our[209] sheep, but come thou aland with us, keeping freely whatso of our sheep thou hast slaughtered."