Grettir - Freezing swim

One evening there was freezing, driving snow, and they were forced to take shelter along the coast. Exhausted and drenched, they succeeded in landing on a grassy bank and managed to save their money and the cargo. The merchants complained bitterly. They were unable to make a fire, and it seemed to them that their health and even their lives were at stake.

(...)

With this, Grettir prepared for the swim. He threw off his clothes, exchanging them for a tunic and some woolen pants. He tucked in the tunic and tied a bast rope around his middle. Then he took hold of a wooden tub and jumped overboard. He swam straight across the channel and climbed up on to the land. He saw a house and heard the sounds of people enjoying themselves inside. Grettir turned and went there.

(...)

His tunic had frozen solid when he climbed up on to the land, and he looked horribly huge, as though he were a troll.

***

38. Swimming for Fire