Part 31 (1/2)

”Now I learn that sin is a stone to smite him who hurled it Gudruda the Gentle spoke sooth when she warned ainst this woman _Need, new dead!_ Unna, fare thee well!”

And straightway Ash seat in his own hall

Unna gazed at hi fro Men made way for her, and at the door she also fell dead

This then was the end of Ashter, Eric's cousin, his new-made wife

For a moment there was silence in the hall But before the echoes of Unna's screams had died away, Bjorn cried aloud:

”The witch! where is the witch?”

Then with a yell of rage,their weapons, and rushed from the stead Out they ran There, on the hill-side far above theue like dogs set upon a wolf and sped up the hill

They gained the crest of the hill, and now they were at Goldfoss brink

Lo! the witch-wife had crossed the bed of the torrent, for little rain had fallen and the river was low She stood on Sheep-saddle, the water running from her robes On Sheep-saddle she stood and cursed the He drew it and the arrow sung through the air and sh her heart

With a cry Groa threw up her ar, where Eric once had stood and, bouncing thence, rushed to the boiling deeps below and was no more seen for ever

Thus, then, did Ashter, and this was the end of the feasting

Thereafter Bjorn, Asmund's son, ruled at Middalhof, and was Priest in his place He sought for Koll the Half-witted to kill him, but Koll took the fells, and after e in a shi+p that was bound for Scotland

Now Bjorn was a hard hteyes, and always pressed it on Gudruda that she should wed Ospakar Blacktooth But to this counsel Gudruda would not listen, for day and night she thought upon her love Next sus that Eric was safe in Ireland, and rile-handed Now after these tidings, for a while Gudruda walked singing through the rew in them was half so fair as she

That summer also Ospakar Blacktooth , and they talked ether in secret

XVIII

HOW EARL ATLI FOUND ERIC AND SKALLAGRIM ON THE SOUTHERN ROCKS OF STRAUMEY ISLE

Swanhild, robed in white, as though new risen from sleep, stood, candle in hand, by the bed of Atli the Earl, her lord, crying ”Awake!”

”What passes now?” said Atli, lifting himself upon his arm ”What passes, Swanhild, and why dost thou ever wander alone at nights, looking so strangely? I love not thy dark witch-ways, Swanhild, and I ed to thee in an ill hour, ho art no wife”