Part 17 (2/2)
Then, followed by Skallagrim, axe in hand, he came into the hall as hty deeds that he had done, except that of the saving of Gudruda, had gone abroad, and as Brighteyes came all reat hall rocked:
”_Welcolory of the south!_”
Only Bjorn, Asmund's son, bit his hand, and did not shout, for he hated Eric because of the fahteyes stood still till the clamour died, then said:
”Much noise for little deeds, brethren It is true that I overthrew the Mosfell Baresarks See, here is one,” and he turned to Skallagriled hi of a deed Then he swore fealty to me, and we are blood-brethren now, and therefore I ask peace for hied or whose kin he has slain I know this, that when thereafter we stood back to back and met the company of Ospakar Blacktooth, who came to slay us--ay, and Asht gallantly, till seven of their band lay stiff on Horse-Head Heights, overthrown of us, and a them Mord, Blacktooth's son; and Ospakar hirim
Therefore, for my sake, do no harm to this man as Baresark, but now isthe aid and friendshi+p of all ainst ive out as done by rim Lambstail, the Baresark”
At these words all h seat where As to Eric, kissed hi it about the neck of Eric, crying:
”Thou art a glorious ht the world had no : come thou to the earldoood gifts, and, when I die, thou shalt sit in ht of Swanhild, who o from Iceland as wife to Atli, and answered:
”Thou doest reat honour, Earl, but this row and fall Iceland I love, and I will stay here a my own people till I am driven away”
”That may well happen, then,” said Atli, ”for be sure Ospakar and his kin will not let the s rest, and I think that it will not avail thee much that thou smotest for thine own hand Then, come thou and be my man”
”Where the Norns lead there I rim sat down also at the side-bench; but lowered on them in answer
Presently Gudruda entered, and she see, Eric drew Gudruda on to his knee, and she sat there, resting her golden head upon his breast But Swanhild did not coht her dark face and lovely eyes of blue, and he wondered greatly how his wooing had sped
Still, at this tirilared about him fiercely; for he had this fault, that at times he was drunken In front of hie-made men, and they watched Asrew drunk and jeered at Skallagri him what atonement he would make for those ewes of Asmund's that he had stolen last Yule, and how it came to pass that he, a Baresark, had been overthrown of an unaribes for a space as he drank on, but suddenly he rose and rushed at the a round beneath him and nearly choked the out his strength, tore the Baresark from them
”This then is thy peacefulness, thou wolf!” Eric cried ”Thou art drunk!”
”Ay,” growled Skallagrim, ”ale is many a man's doom”
”Have a care that it is not thine and mine, then!” said Eric ”Go, sleep; and know that, if I see thee thus once ain”
But after this rim Lambstail, Eric's thrall
XI
HOW SWANHILD BID FAREWELL TO ERIC