Grettir - Bucket endurance

At that time there were no run-off sluices in ocean-going ships. Instead, men used buckets or tubs, and it was wet and difficult work. The practice was to have two buckets; one was lowered and filled with water while the other was hoisted up and emptied overboard. The men said that Grettir should fill the bailing buckets, so they could test what he was capable of. He answered that would show best. He climbed down, while two men set themselves to emptying the buckets. This went on for only a short time, before the two men were overcome with fatigue. They were replaced by four men, and the same thing happened. Some men said that as many as eight men were emptying the buckets before it was all over. And so the ship was bailed. After this the merchants began to speak differently to Grettir, because they saw the kind of strength that he had.

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17. Grettir Sails for Norway