Part 39 (2/2)

Eric covered his face with his hand Presently he lifted it

”Thou art rich in evil tidings, nurse, though, it would see-feast?”

”An hour after noon, Eric; but noanhild has ridden thither with her company”

”Then roouest,” said Eric, and laughed aloud ”Go on!--pour out thy evil news and sparehas any ririm came and looked on the face of dead Saevuna

”I am outlawed at Swanhild's suit, Lambstail My life lies in thy hand, if so be thou wouldst take it! Hew off my head, if thou wilt, and bear it to Gudruda the Fair--she will thank thee for the gift Lay on, Lambstail; lay on with that axe of thine”

”Child's talk!” said Skallagrim

”Child's talk, but man's work! Thou hast not heard the tale out

Swanhild hath seized my lands and sits here at Coldback! And--what thinkest thou, Skallagrie-feast of Ospakar Blacktooth with Gudruda the Fair! Swanhild at Gudruda's wedding!--the eagle in the wild swan's nest! But there will be another guest,” and again he laughed aloud

”_Two_ other guests,” said Skallagrim

”More of thy tale, old nurse!--more of thy tale!” quoth Eric ”No better didst thou ever tell le o'

winter nights--and the co to the tale!” and he pointed to dead Saevuna

Then the carline told on She told how Hall of Lithdale had come out to Iceland, and of the story that he bore to Gudruda, and of the giving of the lock of hair

”What did I say, lord?” broke in Skallagrio ould live to nip thee?”

”Him I will surely live to shorten by a head,” quoth Eric

”Nay, lord, this one for me--Ospakar for thee, Hall forso many there is room to pick and choose

Tell on, nurse!”

Then she told hoanhild ca won Ospakar Blacktooth and Gizur to her side, had laid a suit against Eric at the Thing, and there bore false witness against hi absent She told, too, how Gudruda had betrothed herself to Ospakar, and hoanhild had moved down to Coldback and seized the lands Lastly she told of the rising of Saevuna fro to Middalhof, of the words she spoke to Bjorn and Ospakar, and of her death in the hall at Middalhof

When all was told, Eric stooped and kissed the cold brow of his mother

”There is little time to bury thee now, my mother,” he said, ”and perchance before six hours are sped there will be one to bury at thy side Nevertheless, thou shalt sit in a better place than this”

Then he cut loose the cords that bound the body of Saevuna to the chair, and, lifting it in his arh seat of the hall

”We need not start yet a while, Skallagri with me to Middalhof Therefore let us eat and drink, for there are deeds to do this day”

So they found meat and mead and ate and drank Then Eric washed hiolden locks, and looked well to his harness and to Whitefire's edge Skallagrireat axe upon the whetstone in the yard, singing as he ground When all was ready, the horses were caught, and Eric spoke to the carline:

”Hearken, nurse If it may be that thou canst find any of our folk--and perchance now that they see that Swanhild has ridden to Middalhof some one of them will come down to spy--thou shalt say this to thehteyes yet lives, he will be at the foot of Mosfell to-morrow before midday, and if, for the sake of old days and fellowshi+p, they are minded to befriend a friendless man, let them come thither with food, for by then food will be needed, and I will speak with the her weeping