Part 41 (2/2)
Again ht shone in Gudruda's eyes
”Now, Gudruda, thou hast heard all my story,” said Eric ”Say, dost thou believe me?”
”I believe thee, Eric”
”Say then, wilt thou still wed yon Ospakar?”
Gudruda looked on Blacktooth, then she looked at golden Eric and opened her lips to speak But before a word could pass the his hand upon his sword
”Thinkest thou thus to lure away my dove, outlaw? First I will see thee food for crows”
”Well spoken, Blacktooth,” laughed Eric ”I waited for such words froether--once out yonder in the snow, once on Horse-Head Heights, and once by Westman Isles--and still we live to tell the tale Come down, Ospakar: come down from that soft seat of thine and here and now let us put it to the proof who is the better ainst my eye Now the stake is our lives and fair Gudruda's hand Talk no more, Ospakar, but fall to it”
”Gudruda shall never wed thee, while I live!” said Bjorn; ”thou art a landless loon, a brawler, and an outlaw Get thee gone, Eric, with thy wolf-hound!”
”Squeak not so loud, rat--squeak not so loud, lest hound's fang worry thee!” said Skallagrim
”Whether I wed Gudruda or whether I wed her not is a matter that shall be known in its season,” said Eric ”For thy words, I say this: that it is risky to hurl names at such as I am, Bjorn, lest perchance I answer them with spear-thrusts Thy answer, Ospakar! What need to wait? Thy answer!”
Now Ospakar looked at Brighteyes and grew afraid He was a ht of Eric's arht with thee, carle,” he said, ”who hast naught to lose”
”Then thou art coward and niddering!” said Eric ”Ospakar _Niddering_ I naainst me--thou couldst waylay me, ten to one and two shi+ps to one, but face to face with me alone thou dost not dare to stand? Co!_”
Now the swarthy brow of Blacktooth grew red with rage, and his breath caasps ”Ho, men!” he cried, ”drive this knave away Strip his harness off him and whip him hence with rods”
”Let but a h thy heart, Niddering,” cried Eric ”Gudruda, what thinkest thou of thy lord?”
”I know this,” said Gudruda, ”that I will not wed a ' in the face of all and lifts no sword”
Gudruda spoke thus, because she was mad with love and fear and shame, and she desired that Eric should stand face to face with Ospakar Blacktooth, for thus, alone, she ht perhaps be rid of Ospakar
”Such words do not coentle lips,” said Bjorn
”Is it to be borne, brother,” answered Gudruda, ”that the man ould call ? When that shae I will never be Niddering's bride!”
”Thou hearest, Ospakar Niddering?” said Eric Then he gave the spear in his hand to Skallagris, and tore it froh like lightning leaping from a cloud, and as it shone !_ Come, win back Whitefire from Eric's hand, or be for ever shamed!”
Blacktooth could endure this no more He snatched sword and shi+eld, and, like a bear fro froround shook beneath his bulk
”At last, Niddering!” cried Eric, and sprang to rim, ”noe shall see blows”