"That see I well," said the king, "that few men are like unto thee for
strength and stoutness of heart, but thou art far too luckless a man
to abide with us: now shall thou go in peace for me, wheresoever thou
wilt, the winter long, but next summer go thou out to Iceland, for
there will it be thy fate to leave thy bones."

Grettir answered, "First would I put from me this affair of the
burning, if I might, for I did not the deed willingly."

"It is most like," said the king; "but yet, because the trial is now
come to nought for thy heedlessness' sake, thou will not get this
charge cast from thee more than now it is, For ill-heed still to
ill doth lead, and if ever man has been cursed, of all men must
thou have been."

So Grettir dwelt a while in the town thereafter, but dealt no more
with the king than has been told.

Then he fared into the south country, and was minded east for
Tunsberg, to find Thorstein Dromond, his brother, and there is nought
told of his travels till he came east to Jadar.




CHAP. XL.

Of Grettir and Snoekoll.