Part 12 (1/2)
Now Skallagrirew so diht it time to make an end this way or that Therefore, he took the head of the slain h he feared to touch it, and rolled it swiftly into the cave, saying, ”Now, being so glib of speech, go tell thy hteyes knocks at his door”
Then carim rushed forth with axe aloft and his fellow's head in his left hand He was clothed in nothing but a shi+rt and the skin of Eric's lamb was bound to his chest
”Where now ison Whitefire, his golden hel sun
”It seerio seek it in yonder rift”
”Who art thou?” roared Skallagrim
”Thou mayest know me by this token,” said Eric, and he threards hiririm knew him and the Baresark fit carinned, and he esoreat axe aloft, rushed at Eric
But Brighteyes is too swift for hio hard with aught it struck He springs forward, he louts low and sweeps upwards with Whitefire Skallagri his head with the axe; but Whitefire strikes on the iron half of the axe and shears it in two, so that the axe-head falls to earth Now the Baresark is weaponless but unharmed, and it would be an easy task to slay him as he rushes by But it came into Eric's mind that it is an unworthy deed to slay a swordless man, and this caht against a Baresark in his rage So, in the hardihood of his youth and strength, he cast Whitefire aside, and crying ”Corim
”Thou art rip and rend and tear Ospakar was strong, but the Baresark strength of Skallagrihteyes thinks longingly on Whitefire that he has cast aside Eric is ht of ainst this mad man, and very soon he knows that only one chance is left to hirim till the Baresark fit be passed and he is once more like other men But this is easier to tell of than to do, and presently, strive as he will, Eric is on his back, and Skallagrim on him But still he holds the Baresark as with bands of iron, and Skallagrih he strive furiously Now they roll over and over on the rock, and the glooathers fast about them till presently Eric sees that they draw near to the brink of that hty rift dohich the severed head of the cave-dweller has foretold his fall
”Then we go together,” says Eric, but the Baresark does not heed Now they are on the very brink, and here as it chances, or as the Norns decree, a little rock juts up and this keeps the Eric is upperrihteyes' strength s slip slowly over the side of the rift till now he clings, as it were, by his ribs and shoulder-blades alone, that rub against the little rock The light dies away, and Eric thinks on sweet Gudruda and makes ready to die also, when suddenly a last ray frohteyes sees it change, for the oes out of it, and in a rip
”Hold!” said Skallagrim, ”I crave peace,” and he loosed his clasp
”Not too soon, then,” gasped Eric as, drawing his legs froering to his sword, grasped it very thankfully
”I a me from this place, for I fall; or, if thou wilt, hew off my head”
”I will not serve thee thus,” said Eric ”Thou art a gallant foe,” and he put out his hand and drew hi, then he gained his hands and knees and crawled to where Eric leaned against the rock
”Lord,” he said, ”give me thy hand”
Eric stretched forth his left hand, wondering, and Skallagriuile, he gripped Whitefire in it
”Lord,” Skallagrihtiest Five otherthy weapon, thou didst overcoth alone Now hearken Thou hast given me my life, and it is thine from this hour to the end Here I swear fealty to thee
Slay me if thou wilt, or use me if thou wilt, but I think it will be better for thee to do this rather than that, for there is but one who has mastered me, and thou art he, and it is borne in upon th, and that shortly”
”That rim,” said Eric, ”yet I put little trust in outlaws and cave-dwellers How do I know, if I take thee to me, that thou wilt not murder me in my sleep, as it would have been easy for me to do by thee but now?”
”What is it that runs frorim
”Blood,” said Eric
”Stretch out thine arm, lord”
Eric did so, and the Baresark put his lips to the scratch and sucked the blood, then said:
”In this blood of thine I pledge thee, Eric Brighteyes! May Valhalla refuse me and Hela take me; may I be hunted like a fox from earth to earth; ht; may my limbs shrivel and my heart turn to water; may my foes overtake me, and my bones be crushed across the doom-stone--if I fail in one jot frouard thy back, I will smite thy enemies, thy hearthstone shall be my temple, thy honour my honour