would the evil man do but save his life while he might? So here now
is a misdoer, proven clearly a man of misdeeds, and has burnt sackless
men withal, and yet shall he, too, have a trial to free him; ah, a
mighty ill custom!"

Therewith he went up to Grettir and pointed finger, and wagged head at
him, and called him mermaid's son, and many other ill names.

Grettir grew wroth beyond measure hereat, and could not keep himself
in; he lifted up his fist, and smote the lad under the ear, so that
forthwith he fell down stunned, but some say that he was slain there
and then. None seemed to know whence that lad came or what became
of him, but men are mostly minded to think, that it was some unclean
spirit, sent thither for Grettir's hurt.

Now a great clamour rose in the church, and it was told the king, "He
who should bear the iron is smiting all about him;" then King Olaf
went down the church, and saw what was going on, and spake--

"A most unlucky man art thou," said he, "that now the trial should not
be, as ready as all things were thereto, nor will it be easy to deal
with thine ill-luck."

Grettir answered, "I was minded that I should have gained more honour
from thee, Lord, for the sake of my kin, than now seems like to be;"
and he told withal how men were faring to King Olaf, as was said
afore, "and now I am fain," said he, "that thou wouldest take me to
thee; thou hast here many men with thee, who will not be deemed more
like men-at-arms than I?"