Part 56 (1/2)

”Look, here are rim

Then Eric looked, and lo! the empty space to the left of the fire was filled with shadowy shapes like shapes of st them was Gizur, Ospakar's son, and many a hter, and a toad nestled in her breast She looked ide eyes upon the eyes of dead Gudruda's ghost, that seemed not to see her, and a stare of fear was set on her lovely face Nor was this all; for there, before that shadowy throng, stood two great shapes clad in their harness, and one was the shape of Eric and one the shape of Skallagri yet alive, did these two look upon their oraiths!

Then Eric and Skallagrim cried out aloud and their brains swam and their senses left them, so that they swooned

When they opened their eyes and life came back to then of that coathered on the rock before therie dreae dream of Norns and trolls!”

”Tell rim

So Eric told all the vision, and the Baresark listened in silence

”It was no drearis Now this is in my mind, that yonder sun is the last that we shall see, for we have beheld the death-shadows All those ere gathered here last night wait to welcoe And the st whom our wraiths were nuht to-day For days are fled and we are sped!”

”I would not have it otherwise,” said Eric ”We have been greatly honoured of the Gods, and of the ghost-kind that are around us and above us Now let us make ready to die as becomes men who have never turned back to blow, for the end of the story should fit the beginning, and of us there is a tale to tell”

”A good word, lord,” answered Skallagrim: ”I have struck few strokes to be shae in thy company

Noash ourselves and eat, so that our strength may be whole in us”

So they washed themselves ater, and ate merrily, and for the first time for many months Eric was ht within him And when they had put the desire of food from them, and buckled on their harness, they looked out froht, and saw a cloud of dust rise in the desert plain of black sand beneath, and through it the sheen of spears

”Here come those of whoo back again,” said Eric ”Nohat counsel hast thou, Skallagrim? Where shall we meet them? Here on the space of rock, or yonder in the deep way of the cliff?”

”My counsel is that we rim, ”and cut them down one by one as they try to turn the rock They can scarcely coth to sh I know not how,” answered Eric, ”for I am sure of this, that our death lies before us Here, then, ill meet them”

Now the cloud of dust drew nearer, and they saw that this was a great coainst them At the foot of the fell the men stayed and rested a while, and it was not till afternoon that they began to cliarith, and yonder aht will be at hand, Skallagriht! A hundred to two--the odds are heavy; yet some shall wish them heavier Now let us bind on our helms”

Meanwhile Gizur and his folk crept up the paths froone on with six chosen men, and already they climbed the watercourse and drew near to the flat crest of the fell But Eric and Skallagri place that is over the gulf and waited, singing of the taking of the Raven and of the slaying in the stead at Middalhof, and telling tales of deeds that they had done And the thrall and his six ained the crest of the fell, and, looking over, saw Eric and Skallagrim beneath the,” said the thrall; ”now bring rocks and be silent”

But Gizur and his people, having learned that Eric and Skallagrim were alone upon the mountain, pushed on

”We have not much to fear from two men,” said Gizur

”That we shall learn presently,” answered Swanhild ”I tell thee this, that I saw strange sights last night, though I did not sleep I may sleep little now that Gudruda is dead, for that which I saw in her eyes haunts rehite with fear