had a hand-axe beside him.

Now Thorbiorn saw a man coming, and said to the lad, "Yonder is a man
riding toward us, let us leave binding the hay, and know what he will
with us."

So did they, and Grettir leapt off his horse; he had a helm on his
head, and was girt with the short-sword, and bore a great spear in his
hand, a spear without barbs, and the socket inlaid with silver. Now
he sat down and knocked out the socket-nail, because he would not that
Thorbiorn should cast the spear back.

Then said Thorbiorn, "He is a big man, and no man in field know I, if
that is not Grettir Asmundson, and he must needs think he has enough
against us; so let us meet him sharply, and let him see no signs of
failing in us. We shall deal cunningly; for I will go against him in
front, and take thou heed how matters go betwixt us, for I will trust
myself against any man if I have one alone to meet; but do thou
go behind him, and drive the axe at him with both hands atwixt his
shoulders; thou needest not fear that he will do thee hurt, as his
back will be turned to thee."

Neither Thorbiorn nor his son had a helm.

Now Grettir got into the mead, and when he came within spear-throw of
them, he cast his spear at Thorbiorn, but the head was looser on the
shaft than he deemed it would be, and it swerved in its flight, and
fell down from the shaft to the earth: then Thorbiorn took his shield,
and put it before him, but drew his sword and went against Grettir
when he knew him; then Grettir drew his short-sword, and turned about