Part 56 (2/2)

xxxIII

HOW ERIC AND SKALLAGRIM FOUGHT THEIR LAST GREAT FIGHT

Now the thrall and those with him on the crest of the fell heard the murmur of the company of Gizur and Swanhild as they won the h they could not see thein and knock these birds from their perch,” said the thrall, ”for that is an aard corner for our folk to turn with Whitefire and the axe of Skallagrireat stone, as heavy as three men could lift, on the brow of the rock, and aio It smote the platform beneath with a crash, two fathorihteyes turned at the sound, it struck the wings of his helolden helulf beneath

Skallagriained the crest of the fell,” he cried ”Noe must fly into the cave or down the narroay and hold it”

”Down the narroay, then,” said Eric, and while rocks, spears and arrows rushed between and around them, they stepped on to the stone and won the path beyond It was clear, for Gizur's folk had not yet come, and they ran nearly to the mouth of it, where there was a bend in the way, and stood there side by side

”Thou wast at death's door then, lord!” said Skallagrim

”Head-piece is not head,” answered Eric; ”but I wonder how they won the crest of the fell I have never heard tell of any path by which it ained”

”There they are at the least,” said Skallagrim ”Now this is my will, that thou shouldst take my helm I am Baresark and put little trust in harness, but rather in th alone”

”I will not do that,” said Eric ”Listen: I hear them come”

Presently the turew clearer, and after a while Gizur, Swanhild, and theturned the corner of the narroay, and lo! there before theriht poured down upon theht shone brightly on Eric's golden hair and Whitefire's flashi+ng blade, and the shadows lay dark on the black helried Gizur and those with hiht hi: ”A truce to thy Baresark ways Rush not and move not! Let us stand here till they overwhelm us”

Now those behind Gizur cried out to knohat ailed them that they pushed back

”Only this,” said Gizur, ”that Eric Brighteyes and Skallagrirey wolves and hold the narroay”

”Noe shall have fighting worth the telling of,” quoth Ketel the viking ”On, Gizur, Ospakar's son, and cut them down!”

”Hold!” said Swanhild; ”I will speak with Eric first,” and, together with Gizur and Ketel, she passed round the corner of the path and came face to face with those who stood at bay there

”Now yield, Eric,” she cried ”Foes are behind and before thee Thou art trapped, and hast little chance of life Yield thee, I say, with thy black wolf-hound, so perchance thou mayest findand slay”

”It is not my way to yield, lady,” answered Eric, ”and still less perchance is it the way of Skallagri many ills, didst throwatdeath, nor e take mercy froht as we sat on Mosfellthe Norns weave our web of fate upon their loom of darkness They sat on Helca's do flame, then rent the web and fleard and southward and ard, crying our dooht as we sat by the fire on Mosfell all the coathered round us--ay! and all the company of those who shall die to-day Thou wast there, Gizur the murderer, Ospakar's son! thou wast there, Swanhild the witch, Groa's daughter!

thou wast there, Ketel Viking! with many another man; and there o also Valkyries have kissed us and death draws near Therefore, talk no , Gizur, thou woman-murderer!