360 OCCUPATIONS AND SPORTS OF MEN. 



blow, and would not receive the sheep" (Vemund's Saga, 

 ch. 23). 1 



These horse-fights ocasionally led to a struggle. 



" In the summer a large horse-fight (liestatliing) was appointed 

 at Langafit above Reykjar, and thither came many men. 

 Atli of Bjarg (Gretti's brother) had a good horse, with a dark 

 stripe along the back, and of Keingala's breed (a famous rnare 

 which had been owned by Gretti's father). Father and son 

 thought a great deal of the horse. The brothers Kormak and 

 Thorgils of Mel had a brown horse, fearless in fight. The 

 horse of the brothers and that of Atli from Bjarg were to fight 

 against each other. There were also many other good horses. 

 Odd Umagaskald, a kinsman of Kormak, was to attend the 

 horse of the brothers during that day ; he had become a strong 

 man, was very proud, overbearing, and reckless. Gretti asked 

 his brother Atli who should attend to his horse. ' I have not 

 quite decided that,' Atli said. ' Do you wish me to stand 

 near it ? ' Gretti asked. ' Be very quiet, then, kinsman,' Atli 

 added, ' for we have to deal with proud men.' ' They will have 

 to pay for their overbearing,' continued Gretti, ' if they do not 

 keep it within bounds.' These horses were now led forward, 

 while the others were standing tied together near the bank of 

 the river, which was there deep. 



" The horses bit each other savagely, and afforded the 



greatest amusement. Odd followed his horse eagerly, while 

 retti retreated and seized the horse's tail with one hand, 

 holding m the other a staff, with which he whipped him. . . . 

 The horses while fighting moved towards the river ; Odd 

 thrust at Gretti with the staff, and hit his shoulder-blade, 

 which was turned towards him. The blow was so violent that 

 the flesh was bruised, but Gretti was only slightly wounded. 

 At that moment the horses rose high on their hind legs. Gretti 

 jumped under the haunch of his horse and thrust his staff into 

 the side of Odd, with such force that three of his ribs were 

 broken, and he fell into the river with his horse as well as 

 all the others. Men swam out to him, and he was pulled up 

 from the river. At this there was much shouting. Kormak 

 and his men and those from Bjarg seized their weapons ; when 

 the men from Hrutafjord and those from Vatnsnes saw this 

 they interceded, and they were parted, and went home 

 threatening each other ; but they nevertheless kept quiet for 

 awhile. Atli spoke little of it, but Gretti was rather loud- 

 spoken, and said they would meet again, if he had his way ' : 

 (Gretti's Saga, ch. 29). 



1 Cf. also Njala, c. 59. 



