"'This is the way of it,' said Thorhall, 'I have had very bad luck
with my shepherds of late. Some of them get injured, and others will
not serve out their time; and now no one that knows how the case
stands will take the place at all.'
"'Then there must be some evil spirit there,' said Skafti, 'when men
are less willing to herd your sheep, than those of others. Now since
you have asked my advice, I will get a shepherd for you. Glam is his
name, he belongs to Sweden, and came out here last summer. He is big
and strong, but not very well liked by most people.'
"Thorhall said that he did not mind that, if he looked well after the
sheep. Skafti answered that there was no hope of other men doing it,
if Glam could not, seeing he was so strong and stout-hearted. Their
talk ended there, and Thorhall left the booth.
"This took place just at the breaking up of the assembly. Thorhall
missed two of his horses, and went to look for them in person, from
which it may be seen that he was no proud man. He went up to the
mountain ridge, and south along the fell that is called Armann's fell.
There he saw a man coming down from the wood, leading a horse laden
with bundles of brushwood. They soon met each other and Thorhall
asked his name. He said he was called Glam. He was tall of body, and
of strange appearance; his eyes were blue and staring, and his hair
wolf-grey in colour. Thorhall was a little startled when he saw him,
and was certain that this was the man he had been told about.
"'What work are you best fitted for?' he asked. Glam said that he was
good at keeping sheep in winter.
"'Will you look after _my_ sheep?' said Thorhall. 'Skafti has put you
into my hands.'
"'On this condition only will I take service with you,' said Glam,
'that I have my own free will, for I am ill-tempered if anything does
not please me.'
"'That will not harm me,' said Thorhall, 'and I should like you to
come to me.'
"'I will do so,' said Glam; 'but is there any trouble at your place?'
"'It is believed to be haunted,' said Thorhall.
"'I am not afraid of such bug-bears,' said Glam, 'and think that it
will be all the livelier for that.'
"'You will need all your boldness,' said Thorhall, 'It is best not to
be too frightened for one's self there.'
"After this they made a bargain between them, and Glam was to come
when the winter nights began. Then they parted, and Thorhall found
his horses where he had just newly looked for them, and rode home,
after thanking Skafti for his kindness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account