登陆注册
4616200000076

第76章

GHOSTS IN BARDARDAL

There was dwelling at Eyjardalsa in Bardardal a priest named Steinn, a good farmer and wealthy. His son Kjartan was grown up and was now a fine young man. Thorsteinn the White was a man who dwelt at Sandhaugar to the south of Eyjardalsa; his wife Steinvor was young and of a merry disposition. They had children who at this time were yet young. Their place was generally thought to be much haunted by trolls. Two winters before Grettir came North into those parts, Steinvor the mistress of Sandhaugar went as usual to spend Yule at Eyjardalsa, while her husband stayed at home. Men lay down to sleep in the evening, and in the night they heard a great noise in the room near the bondi's bed. No one dared to get up to see what was the matter because there were so few of them. The mistress of the house returned home the next morning, but her husband had disappeared and no one knew what had become of him. So the next season passed. The following winter the mistress wanted to go to mass, and told her servant to stay at home; he was very unwilling but said she should be obeyed. It happened just as before; this time the servant disappeared.

People thought it very strange and found some drops of blood upon the outer door, so they supposed that some evil spirit must have carried off both the men. The story spread all through the district and came to the ears of Grettir, who being well accustomed to deal with ghosts and spectres turned his steps to Bardardal and arrived at Yule-eve at Sandhaugar. He retained his disguise and called himself Gest. The lady of the house saw that he was enormously tall, and the servants were terribly afraid of him. He asked for hospitality; the mistress told him that food was ready for him but that he must see after himself. He said he would, and added: "I will stay in the house while you go to mass if you would like it."She said: "You must be a brave man to venture to stay in the house.""I do not care for a monotonous life," he said.

Then she said: "I do not want to remain at home, but I cannot get across the river.""I will come with you," said Gest. Then she made ready to go to mass with her little daughter. It was thawing outside; the river was flooded and was covered with ice. She said: "It is impossible for either man or horse to cross the river.""There must be fords," said Gest; "do not be afraid.""First carry the maiden over," she said; "she is lighter.""I don't want to make two journeys of it," said he; "I will carry you in my arms."She crossed herself and said: "That is impossible; what will you do with the girl?""I will find a way," he said, taking them both up and setting the girl on her mother's knee as he bore them both on his left arm, keeping his right arm free. So he carried them across.

They were too frightened to cry out. The river came up to his breast, and a great piece of ice drove against him, which he pushed off with the hand that was free. Then the stream became so deep that it broke over his shoulder, but he waded on vigorously till he reached the other bank and put them on shore.

It was nearly dark by the time he got home to Sandhaugar and called for some food. When he had eaten something he told the servants to go to the other end of the hall. Then he got some boards and loose logs and laid them across the hall to make a great barricade so that none of the servants could get across.

No one dared to oppose him or to object to anything. The entrance was in the side wall of the hall under the back gable, and near it was a cross bench upon which Grettir laid himself, keeping on his clothes, with a light burning in the room. So he lay till into the night.

The mistress reached Eyjardalsa for mass and every one wondered how she had crossed the river. She said she did not know whether it was a man or a troll who had carried her over. The priest said it was certainly a man though unlike other men. "Let us keep silence over it; may be that he means to help you in your difficulties."She stayed there the night.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 三青门外

    三青门外

    【半主角带入,半开上帝视角,带你进入玄幻悬疑局中局,古老的三青世界等你来探索】【前面慢热,后面爆发】千年修炼得赤旋,置身玄鸳数十年,义结金兰宫廷下,情生长安夜雨间;百灵道尽陈年事,天泉镜边叙黄泉,同忆同知同忧乐,灵生迫现七生前;重返祭茗空似梦,魂伤情碎梨玥尖,赤体空魄圣坛下,王者归来忆前缘。
  • 初恋星光馆XG第一部

    初恋星光馆XG第一部

    〔全场甜文甜到爆,傲娇男神vs冷血女王,独宠到宇宙银河系,1∨1〕“我爱各种各样的她,刁蛮任性那是我宠的;脾气大那是我惯的;连激动的时候爆粗口,那也是我教的!”某傻缺傲娇大少把话告诉了女孩和全世界。“呵,脑子进水了?谁稀罕!现在立刻马上,给我有多远滚多远!”“最远的地方是你的心,不知道什么时候才能滚到你心里,教我吧!”“……”“不回答就当你默认了。”女孩刚想爆粗口否认,却被吻到腿软。“乖~你是我的。”将女孩拥入怀里,柔情似水的说“谁特么是你的!!!”“女孩子不要随随便便爆粗口,以后没人要,是因为我已经要了!谁敢动你,让他死无全尸。”“有一句mmp不知当讲不当讲!”男人宠溺的将怀里的她搂紧 “乖~我们不讲。”
  • 都市狂少行

    都市狂少行

    阎君问,这小子应当下几重地狱?判官答,套用《大阴律法》,十八重地狱,似乎都适用又都不适用,不好给予惩罚。阎君想,你小子在阳间混不下去,难道我地狱就那么好混的么?下旨道:那就让他滚回人间,去下第十九重地狱去吧!每个人都在走自己的路但是有些人直到生命的尽头也不知道他们选择的道路的方向。
  • 傲娇巨星茫茫追夫路

    傲娇巨星茫茫追夫路

    她,身为他的超级迷妹,在阴差阳错之下,成了他的生活助理,她什么都不会总是出错,他本就对这种爱慕的眼光十分抗拒,因此处处为难她,让她知难而退,可谁知每次她都桃花运爆棚有帅哥相护,因为那一次,他终于爆发:“你这个虚伪的女人!你给我滚!我不想再看见你!”多年以后,王子睿抱着那个粉雕玉琢的小娃娃站在林茫的面前“乖宝宝,快叫妈妈和我们一起回家!”林茫无奈扶额地看着面前这个男人,“王子睿先生!请你不要再来打扰我的生活了!”“老婆!老公知道错了,快和老公回家吧!” 〔虐妻一时爽追妻火葬场〕
  • 电影的世界

    电影的世界

    “当人们看到你成功的光芒,便会忘记你手段的黑暗。”新书《开错外挂怎么办》连载中。
  • 情感风铃(校园美文)

    情感风铃(校园美文)

    "生命不是一张永远旋转的唱片,青春也不是一张永远不老的容颜,在岁月的年轮上,没有什么比青春的花朵更艳,在时空的隧道里,没有什么比青春的价格更高,青春是一个永恒的故事,从冬说到夏,又从绿说到黄。……"本书的语言就是如此,清新而舒畅,令人读来,爱不释手,更能深刻的体会到青春的意义、青春的别致!
  • 道是道理

    道是道理

    人这一辈子,其实就做三件事:一是用嘴说话,二是用手做事,三是用心思考。显然,说话、办事都离不开“用心”。“心”之所在,必须通古今、明大道,而道家学问字字玑珠,为我们提供了了解自然、洞悉万物、把握人心的规律,谙熟这些玄妙的人生道理,就可以在无为中成就有为,从现实起步,从小处着手,在点滴中改变自己。本书通透解读道家的生存智慧,明辨万物变化的玄妙之机,提出为人处世的进退方略,实现“执古之道,以御今之有”。
  • 科学探谜

    科学探谜

    本套全书全面而系统地介绍了中小学生各科知识的难解之谜,集知识性、趣味性、新奇性、疑问性与科普性于一体,深入浅出,生动可读,通俗易懂,目的是使广大中小学生在兴味盎然地领略百科知识难解之谜和科学技术的同时,能够加深思考,启迪智慧,开阔视野,探索创新,并以此激发中小学生的求知欲望和探索精神,激发中小学生学习的兴趣和热爱科学、追求科学的热情,使我们全国的中小学生都能自觉学习、主动探索,真正达到创新素质……
  • 皇室第一管家

    皇室第一管家

    【完结】“殿下,请用餐。”“殿下,该上课了。”“殿下,请换衣。”“殿下,我走了。”“殿下,再见。”尹灵是一个欧洲小国的公主,因一次祸事沦落亚洲小城市。在这里相处了两个月,尹灵认识一个阳光少年金恩俊。为了气总是对她恭谨的具有“皇室第一管家”之称的尹泽轩,为了气总是以主仆相称的尹泽轩,尹灵毅然转身选择金恩俊。却不知这样的行为只惹来他的奔走……
  • 王小波全集(第十卷)

    王小波全集(第十卷)

    王小波是目前中国最富创造性的作家,被誉为中国的乔依斯兼卡夫卡英,也是唯一一位两次获得世界华语文学界的重要奖项“台湾联合报系文学奖中篇小说大奖”的中国大陆作家。其文学创作独特,富于想像力、幻想力之余,却不乏理性精神。他的文字,是透明的也是朦胧的,是本份的也是狡猾的。迷宫一般的文字,可以让你想到博尔赫斯,他兜起圈子来,比出租车司机还要出租车司机……总之,你可以读到无限的可能或者不可能、无限的确定或者不确定。