Part 23 (1/2)
”Board theh work; still, ill try it,” said Eric, ”for we , and I am loath to leave them”
Then Eric called foras best they ht to where he stood
”Thou art mad, Eric,” said Hall the mate; ”cut loose and let us drive, else we shall both founder, and that is a poor tale to tell”
Eric took no heed, but, watching his chance, leapt on to the bows of the Raven, and after hireat sea came and swept past and over them, so that half the shi+p was hid for foarapnel cable, and, fearing lest they should sink, out of the cowardice of his heart, he let his axe fall upon the chain, and severed it so swiftly that nothe Gudruda, freed fro Eric and Skallagrim alone upon the Raven's prow
”Noe are in an evil plight,” said Eric, ”the cable has parted!”
”Ay,” answered Skallagrim, ”and that losel Hall hath parted it! I saw his axe fall”
XIV
HOW ERIC DREAMED A DREAM
Nohen the athered on the poop of the Raven, sahat had come about, they shouted aloud and riainst it, and swiftly ht not fall with the rolling of the shi+p Then the people of Ospakar came on to cut theht scarcely stand, and they could not shoot with the bow Moreover, Eric and Skallagri bound to the mast, had the use of both hands and were ot but one thing by their onslaught, and that was death, for three of their nu sweep of Whitefire, and one bowed before the axe of Skallagrim Then they drew back and strove to throw spears at these two, but they fleide because of the rolling of the vessel One spear struck thetill the shi+p steadied herself in the trough of the sea, hurled it at a knot of Ospakar's thralls, and a ot his death from it After that they threw no more spears
Thence once more the crew came on with swords and axes, but faint-heartedly, and the end of it was that they lost soain
Skallagrim mocked at the, cast a heavy ballast-stone at him It fell upon his shoulder and nuht, lord,” said Skallagriht arm is dead and I can scarcely hold my axe”
”That is ill, then,” said Eric, ”for we have little help, except froh spent Well, we have done a great deed and now it is time to rest”
”My left arm is yet whole, lord, and I can make shi+ft for a while with it Cut loose the cord before they bait us to death, and let us rush upon these wolves and fall fighting”
”A good counsel,” said Eric, ”and a quick end; but stay a while: what plan have they now?”
Now thelittle heart left in theether
”We have got great hurt, and little honour,” said the mate ”There are but nineteen of us left alive, and that is scarcely enough to work the shi+p, and it seerihty men, indeed, and it would be better, methinks, to deal with them by craft, rather than by force”
The sailors said that this was a good word, for they eary of the sight of Whitefire as he flarih helm and byrnie; and as fear crept in valour fled out
”This is ive the that ill put them ashore e are come back to Iceland But e have theht, ill creep on them and hurl them into the sea, and afterwards ill say that we slew the”
”A shaainst them,” answered the ainst us throughout Iceland: that a shi+p's company orsted by two men, and we may not live beneath that dishonour”
Thedown his arms, crept forward alone, towards the rim were about to cut themselves loose and rush on theone so ith you with ar none?”
”It has gone ill, Eric,” said the hty for us We have lost many men, and we shall lose more ere ye are laid low