Grettir - Swims a sea league

From the island to the mainland it was a league's distance, at the shortest point across the open water.

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74. The Fire Goes Out

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A sea league was approximately 4 miles (c. 7.5 km).

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Explanatory Notes

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Grettir now prepared for the swim. He put on a woollen cloak, which he tucked into his pants, and, in order to swim better, he let his companions web his fingers together. The weather was good, and he was ready to set off from the island towards the end of the day. Illugi thought the prospects bad.

Grettir now swam out into the fjord towards the mainland. The current was with him and the sea calm. He swam had and made land at Reykjaness after sunset. From there he walked to the farm at Reykir. Chilled, he got into the outdoor hot pool and baked himself in the hot water for a long time.

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75. Grettir Swims to Get Fire