Part 24 (2/2)
”This is an ill razor to shave with,” he said, rising, for the keen blade had cut his chin
”So soht and perchance rie and rub”
This they did, and presently the thick cord that bound them was in two
Then Eric knelt upon the deck and pressed the bonds that bound his legs upon the blade, and after hirim They were free now, except for their hands, and it was no easy thing to cut away the bonds upon their wrists It was done thus: Skallagrim sat upon the deck, and Eric pushed the sword between his fingers with his feet Then the Baresark rose, holding the sword, and Eric, turning back to back with hiainst the blade Twice he cut himself, but the third time the cord parted and he was free He stretched his arms, for they were stiff; then took Whitefire and cut away the bonds of Skallagrioes it with that hurt of thine?” he asked
”Better than I had thought,” answered Skallagrim; ”the soreness has coood news,” said Eric, ”for , thou wilt soon need thine arrim and took his axe and shi+eld ”What counsel now?”
”This, Skallagrim: that we lie down as ere, and put the cloaks about us as though ere yet in bonds Then, if these knaves come, we can take theain to where they had been bound, and lay down upon their shi+elds and weapons, drawing cloaks over them Scarcely had they done this and rested a while, when they saw theboth boards towards them They bore no weapons in their hands
”None too soon did Swanhild walk,” said Eric; ”noe shall learn their purpose Be thou ready to leap forth when I give the word”
”Ay, lord,” answered Skallagrim as he worked his stiff arht me backward”
”What news, friends?” cried Eric as the hteyes,” answered the mate, ”and that Baresark thrall of thine, for we ood news, then,” said Eric, ”for our li of the cords Is land in sight?”
”Nay, nor will be for thee, Eric”
”Ho, friend? ho? Sure, having handselled peace to us, ye mean no harm towards two unarmed men?”
”We swore to do you no harm, nor e, Eric; this only e do: deliver you, bound, to Ran, and leave her to deal with you as she may”
”Bethink you, sirs,” said Eric: ”this is a cruel deed and most unmanly
We yielded to you in faith--will ye break your troth?”
”War has no troth,” he answered, ”ye are too great to let slip between our fingers Shall it be said of us that two rim beneath his breath
”Oh, sirs, I beseech you,” said Eric; ”I a, and there is a maid aits me out in Iceland, and it is hard to die,” and he hed within his sleeve, for it was strange to see Eric feigning fear
But the men mocked aloud