Grettir said that this they should not do, "For true is the old saw, Ale is another man, nor shall ye settle this in haste any further than as I have said, for on both sides are we men little meet to rule our tempers."
They said that they would not undo what they had said.
Withal the evening wore on till it grew quite dark; then sees Grettir that they were getting very heavy with drink, so he said—
"Do ye not find it time to go to sleep?"
Thorir said, "Time enough forsooth, and sure shall I be to keep to what I have promised the mistress."
Then Grettir went forth from the hall, and cried out loudly—
"Go ye to your beds, women all, for so is goodman Thorir pleased to bid."
They cursed him for this, and to hear them was like[56] hearkening to the noise of many wolves. Now the bearserks came forth from the hall, and Grettir said—
"Let us go out, and I will show you Thorfinn's cloth bower."
They were willing to be led there; so they came to an out-bower exceeding great; a door there was to it, and a strong lock thereon, and the storehouse was very strong withal; there too was a closet good and great, and a shield panelling between the chambers; both chambers stood high, and men went up by steps to them. Now the bearserks got riotous and pushed Grettir about, and he kept tumbling away from them, and when they least thought thereof, he slipped quickly out of the bower, seized the latch, slammed the door to, and put the bolt on. Thorir and his fellows thought at first that the door must have got locked of itself, and paid no heed thereto; they had light with them, for Grettir had showed them many choice things which Thorfinn owned, and these they now noted awhile. Meantime Grettir made all speed home to the farm, and when he came in at the door he called out loudly, and asked where the goodwife was; she held her peace, for she did not dare to answer.