Part 22 (2/2)

Then Eric bade men clear the decks of the dead, and tend the wounded He had lost seven ht, and three ounded, one to death

But on board the shi+p there lay of Ospakar's force twenty and three dead men

When all were cast into the sea, men ate and rested

”We have not done so badly,” said Eric to Skallagriri in the scuppers than those of all his carles; for he et more men, but never another head!”

Now the wind freshened till by ly The mate Hall came to Eric and said:

”The Gudruda dips her nose deep in Ran's cup Say, Eric, shall we shorten sail?”

”Nay,” answered Eric, ”keep her full and bail Where yonder Raven flies,must follow,” and he pointed to the warshi+p that rode the waves before theht clouds caht-sun and the shi+p they sought The wind blew ever harder, till at length, when the rain had passed and the clouds lifted, there was much water in the hold and the bailers could hardly stand at their work

Men murmured, and Hall the mate murmured most of all; but still Eric held on, for there, not two furlongs ahead of the afraid of the wind and sea, she had lowered her sail soh she would put about and run for Iceland

”That she rim, ”if once she rolls side on to those seas Ran has her, for she must fill and sink”

”So they hold, lord,” answered Skallagrim; ”see, once more she runs!”

”Ay, but we run faster--she is outsailed Up, ins”

”It is bad to join battle in such a sea,” quoth Hall

”Good or bad,” growled Skallagri,” and he half lifted up his axe

The rim Lambstail and his axe

Then ht, and stood, sword in hand and drenched with foa to the bulwarks of the Gudruda as she ed through the seas

Eric went aft to the helth ahead Ospakar's shi+p laboured on beneath her small sail, but the Gudruda rushed towards her with all canvas set and at every leap plunged her golden dragon beneath the surf and shook the water frorapnel!” shouted Eric through the storriside the Raven, and Eric steered so skilfully that there was a fathorim cast the iron well and truly, so that it hooked and held On sped the Gudruda and the cable tautened--now her stern kissed the bow of Ospakar's shi+p, as though she was towing her, and thus for a space they travelled through the seas

Eric's folk shouted and strove to cast spears; but they did this but ill, because of the rocking of the vessel As for Ospakar's , for all the heart was out of them between fear of Eric and terror of the sea Eric called to a rim crept aft to where he stood

”What counsel shall we take now?” said Eric, and as he spoke a sea broke over the