Part 58 (2/2)

Then she caused the sails to be hoisted, and went alone aboard the long shi+p, the rails of which were hung with the shi+elds of the dead ale that blew from the land, she cut the cable with her own hand, and the shi+p leapt forward like a thing alive, and rushed out in the red light of the sunset towards the open sea

Now ever the gale freshened and folk, standing on West her prow beneath the waves and sending the water in a rain of spray over the living Swanhild, over the dead Eric and those he lay upon

And by the head of Eric Brighteyes, her hair strea on the wind, stood Swanhild the Witch, clad in her purple cloak, and with rings of gold about her throat and ar with the rush of the shi+p, and singing so sweet and wild a song that reho heard it

Now, as the people watched, thite swans cas side by side over the vessel's low of sunset into the gathering night

On sped the shi+p, but still Swanhild sung, and still the swans flew over her

The gale grew fierce, and fiercer yet The darkness gathered deep upon the raging sea

Now that shi+p was seen noof Swanhild as she passed to dooain

For swans and shi+p, and Swanhild, and dead Eric and his dead foes, were lost in the wind and the night

But far out on the sea a great flame of fire leapt up towards the sky

Now this is the tale of Eric Brighteyes, Thorgrihter; of Swanhild the Fatherless, Atli's wife, and of Ounound, narim Lambstail, the Baresark, Eric's thrall, all of whobrand, Wilibald's son, preached the White Christ in Iceland