Part 23 (2/2)
Therefore we make you this offer: that you lay down your weapons and suffer yourselves to be bound till such tiive you your arain Meanwhile, ill deal with you in friendly fashi+on, giving you of the best we have; nor e set foot any suit against you for those of our number whom ye two have slain”
”Wherefore then should we be bound?” said Eric
”For this reason only: that we dare not leave you free within our shi+p
Now choose, and, if ye will, take peace, which ear by all the Gods ill keep towards you, and, if ye will not, then ill bear you doith beams and sails and stones, and slay you”
”What thinkest thou, Skallagrim?” said Eric beneath his breath
”I think that I find little faith in yon carle's face,” answered Skallagrith is spent, so it seeain They can scarcely be so base as to dohandselled peace to us”
”I aarsto your honour; and I say this: that ye shall get shame and death if ye depart from them to harm us”
”Have no fear, lord,” said the mate, ”we are true men”
”That we shall look to your deeds to learn,” said Eric, laying down his sword and shi+eld
Skallagrirace Thencords and bound the them fearsomely as men handle a live bear in a net Then they led them forward to the prow
As they went Eric looked up Yonder, twenty furlongs and ood fellowshi+p,” said Skallagrim, ”thus to leave us in the trap”
”Nay,” answered Eric ”They cannot put about in such a sea, and doubtless also they think us dead Nevertheless, if ever it coain, there will be need for entleness”
”I shall think little thereon,” growled Skallagrim
Now they were come to the prow, and there was a half deck under which they were set, out of reach of the wind and water In the deck was a stout iron ring, and the ht move but little, and they set their helms and weapons behind them in such fashi+on that they could not coht them food and drink, of which they stood much in need, and treated therim trusted them no ive us line Presently they will haul us in”
”Evil coreet it,” and he fell to thinking of Gudruda, and of the day's deeds, till presently he dropped asleep, for he was very weary
Now it chanced that as Eric slept he dreae that it seemed to live within him He dreamed that he slept there beneath the Raven's deck, and that a rat came and whispered spells into his ear Then he drea on the stormy seas He saw her afar, and she carew smooth before her feet, nor did the wind so much as stir her hair Presently she stood by hi over hi:
”Awake, Eric Brighteyes! Awake! awake!”
It sees, Swanhild?” and that she answered:
”Ill tidings, Eric--so ill that I am co on the seas Had Gudruda done so much, thinkest thou?”
[] Stroma, the southernmost of the Orkneys