CHAP. XXII.
Of the Slaying of Biorn.
In the spring Grettir went north to Vogar with chapmen. He and Thorkel parted in friendship; but Biorn went west to England, and was the master of Thorkel's ship that went thither. Biorn dwelt thereabout that summer and bought such things for Thorkel as he had given him word to get; but as the autumn wore on he sailed from the west. Grettir was at Vogar till the fleet broke up; then he sailed from the north with some chapmen until they came to a harbour at an island before the mouth of Drontheimfirth, called Gartar, where they pitched their tents. Now when they were housed, a ship came sailing havenward from the south along the land; they soon saw that it was an England farer; she took the strand further out, and her crew went[68] ashore; Grettir and his fellows went to meet them. But when they met, Grettir saw that Biorn was among those men, and spake—
"It is well that we have met here; now we may well take up our ancient quarrel, and now I will try which of us twain may do the most."
Biorn said that was an old tale to him, "but if there has been aught of such things between us, I will boot for it, so that thou mayst think thyself well holden thereof."
Then Grettir sang—
"In hard strife I slew the bear,
Thereof many a man doth hear;
Then the cloak I oft had worn,