Part 42 (1/2)

As he spoke the great swords flashed aloft and clanged upon the iron shi+elds So heavy were the blows that fire leapt out from them Ospakar reeled back beneath the shock, and Eric was beaten to his knee Noas up, but as he rushed, Ospakar struck again and swept away half of Brighteyen's pointed shi+eld so that it fell upon the floor Eric smote also, but Ospakar dropped his knee to earth and the sword hissed over hi froround and took no harm

Now some cried, ”_Eric! Eric!_” and soht would go

Gudruda sat watching in the high seat, and as blows fell her colour ca also, and she desired in her fierce heart to see Eric brought to shame and death, for, should he win, then Gudruda would be rid of Ospakar Now by her side stood Gizur, Ospakar's son, and near to her was Bjorn These two held their breath, for, if Eric conquered, all their plans were brought to nothing

Even as he sprang into the air, Eric sth

The blow fell on Ospakar's shi+eld It shore through the shi+eld and struck on the shoulder beneath But Blacktooth's byrnie was good, nor did the sword bite into it Still the stroke was so heavy that Ospakar staggered back four paces beneath it, then fell upon the ground

Now folk raised a shout of ”_Eric! Eric!_” for it seehteyes, too, cried aloud, then rushed forward Now, as he caer word into the ear of Bjorn By Bjorn's foot lay that half of Eric's shi+eld which had been shorn away by the sword of Ospakar Gudruda, watching, saw Bjorn push it with his shoe so that it slid before the feet of Brighteyes His right foot caught on it, he stuain, then fell prone on his face, and, as he fell, stretched out his sword hand to save hirasp The blade struck its hilt against the ground, then circled in the air and fixed itself, point doards, in the clay of the flooring The hand of Ospakar rising froainst the hilt of Whitefire He saw it, with a shout he cast his oord away and clasped Whitefire

Away circled the sword of Ospakar; and of that cast this strange thing is told, false or true Far in the corner of the hall lurked Thorunna, she who had betrayed Skallagrim when he was named Ounound She had come with a heavy heart to Middalhof in the corim, her husband--whom she had betrayed, and who had turned Baresark because of her wickedness--shame sings of the hall The sword sped along point first, it rushed like a spear through the air It fell on the hangings, piercing the the heart of Thorunna, who cowered behind them, so that with one cry she sank dead to earth, slain by her lover's hand

Nohen men saw that Ospakar once hteyes had won from him--they called aloud that it was an omen The sword of Blacktooth had come back to Blacktooth and now Eric would surely be slain of it!

Eric sprang fro in Ospakar's hand

”Now thou art weaponless, fly! Brighteyes; fly!” cried sorehite with fear, and for a morim ”Bjorn tripped thee Yet hast thou half a shi+eld!”

Ospakar rushed on, and Whitefire flickered over Eric's helain it shone and fell, but Brighteyes caught the blow on his broken shi+eld

Then, while reat war-shout and sprang forward

”Thou art mad!” shouted the folk

”Ye shall see! Ye shall see!” screaht the blow; and behold! he struck back, thrusting with the point of the shorn shi+eld straight at the face of Ospakar

”_Peck! Eagle; peck!_” cried Skallagrim

Once more Whitefire shone above hihty strength thrust the buckler-point at Blacktooth's face It struck fair and full, and lo! the heliant are He fell back, and he lay still

But Eric, stooping over him, took Whitefire from his hand

XXV

HOW THE FEAST ENDED

For a moment there was silence in the hall, for ape?” laughed Skallagri with the spear