Part 28 (1/2)

”She rolls heavily, lord,” he shouted, ”and the water gains fast”

”Can the men bail no more?” asked Eric

”Nay, they are outworn and wait for death”

”They need not wait long,” said Eric ”What do they say of roaned aloud ”It was ht us to this pass,” he said; ”I care little for myself, but it is ill that all should die for one ris than to drown Listen! methinks I hear the roar of breakers yonder,” and he pointed to the left

”Breakers they surely are,” said Eric ”Now the end is near But see, is not that land looht, or is it cloud?”

”It is land,” said Skallagrim, ”and I am sure of this, that we run into a firth Look, the seas boil like a hot spring Hold on thy course, lord, perchance we may yet steer between rocks and land Already the wind falls and the current lessens the seas”

”Ay,” said Eric, ”already the fog and rain coathered in the shape of a giant, whose head reached to the skies and rim looked, then spoke: ”Now here, it seems, is ork Say, lord, hast thou ever seen ainst wind as it travels now?”

”Never before,” said Eric, and as he spoke the light of the moon went out

Swanhild, Atli's wife, sat in beauty in her bower on Straumey Isle and looked ide eyes towards the sea It was ht None stirred in Atli's hall, but still Swanhild looked out towards the sea

Now she turned and spoke into the darkness, for there was no light in the bower save the light of her great eyes

”Art thou there?” she said ”I have summoned thee thrice in the words thou knowest Say, Toad, art there?”

”Ay, Swanhild the Fatherless! Swanhild, Groa's daughter! Witch-mother's witch-child! I am here What is thy ithbabe

Swanhild shuddered a little and her eyes grew brighter--as bright as the eyes of a cat

”This first,” she said: ”that thou show thyself Hideous as thou art, I had rather see thee, than speak with thee seeing thee not”

”Mock not my form, lady,” answered the thin voice, ”for it is as thou dost fashi+on it in thy thought To the good I am fair as day; to the evil, foul as their heart _Toad_ thou didst call me: look, now I co of the darkness grehite with light, and in it crouched a thing hideous to see It was shaped as a great spotted toad, and on it was set a hag's face, hite locks hanging down on either side Its eyes were blood-red and sunken, black were its fangs, and its skin was dead yellow It grinned horribly as Swanhild shrank froain:

”_Grey Wolf_ thou didst call me once, Swanhild, when thou wouldst have thrust Gudruda down Goldfoss gulf, and as a grey wolf I caave thee counsel that thou tookest but ill _Rat_ didst thou call hteyes from the carles of Ospakar, and as a rat I came and in thy shape I walked the seas _Toad_ thou callest me now, and as a toad I creep about thy feet Name thy will, Swanhild, and I will name my price But be swift, for there are other fair ladies whose wish I must do ere dawn”

”Thou art hideous to look on!” said Swanhild, placing her hand before her eyes

”Say not so, lady; say not so Look at this face of mine Knowest thou it not? It is thy mother's--dead Groa lent it me I took it from where she lies; and my toad's skin I drew from thy spotted heart, Swanhild, and more hideous than I am shalt thou be in a day to come, as once I was more fair than thou art to-day”

Swanhild opened her lips to shriek, but no sound came

”Troll,” she whispered, ”: where sails Eric now?”

”Look out into the night, lady, and thou shalt see”

Swanhild looked, and the ways of the darkness opened before her witch-sight There at the reat seas, and by the tiller stood Eric, and with hirim