"You had best be advised," urged Thorhall; "if misfortune should overtake you, I know that all your kinsmen would visit it on my head." "I have made up my mind to stay," said Grettir, and he looked so dogged that Thorhall opposed him no more. All was quiet next night; not a sound roused Grettir from his slumber. Next morning he went with the farmer to the stable. The strong wooden door was shivered and driven in. They stepped across it; Grettir called to his horse, but there was no responsive whinny. "I am afraid----" began Thorhall. Grettir leaped in, and found the poor brute dead, and with its neck broken. "Now," said Thorhall quickly, "I've got a capital horse--a skewbald--down by Tunga, I shall not be many hours in fetching it; your saddle is here, I think, and then you will just have time to reach----" "I stay here another night," interrupted Grettir. "I implore you to depart," said Thorhall. "My horse is slain!" "But I will provide you with another." "Friend," answered Grettir, turning so sharply round that the farmer jumped back, half frightened, "no man ever did me an injury without rueing it. Now, your demon herdsman has been the death of my horse. He must be taught a lesson." "Would that he were!" groaned Thorhall; "but mortal must not face him. Go in peace and receive compensation from me for what has happened." "I must revenge my horse." "An obstinate man will have his own way! But if you run your head against a stone wall, don't be angry because you get a broken pate." Night came on; Grettir ate a hearty supper and was right jovial; not so Thorhall, who had his misgivings. At bedtime the latter crept into his crib, which, in the manner of old Icelandic beds, opened out of the hall, as berths do out of a cabin. Grettir, however, determined on remaining up; so he flung himself on a bench with his feet against the posts of the high seat, and his back against Thorhall's crib; then he wrapped one lappet of his fur coat round his feet, the other about his head, keeping the neck-opening in front of his face, so that he could look through into the hall.