The sun., 1891-05-17
ERIC BRIGHTEYES.
Bv H. RIDER HAGGARD.
CHAPTER xxxII.
now ERIC AND sKALLAGRIM GREW fEr.

CHAPTER xxx1L
NOW ERIC Axp sKALrAaRIM GREW FEr.
Nov the night came down upon Mosfell. and
q, Ali nights this was the stranRest. The air
vss quiet and heavy. yet no rain fell 1t was
so silent, moreover. that, did stone slip upon
the mountain side or horse neigh far on on
ths Mains tho sound OF 1t crept UP the fell
and was echoed from the crags.
Erio and Skallagrim sat together on tho open
.n.cs OF rock that Is before the cave, and great
hsayiness and fear came into their hearts, SO
that they had no desire to slesR
"Methinks the night Is ghost-ridden.' said
I,c. "and am fov. for grow cold, and 1t
ssems TO mo that one strokes my hair"
at IA ghost ridden. lord" answered skalla-
sr,m. "Trolls arc abroad. and the God-kind
sather to see Eric die."
Por 4 while they sat In silence. then suddenly
sha mountain heaved up gently beneath them.
Thrice II seemed to heave like woman's
breast and left them sffriRhted.
NOW. the Dwnrf-Folk como from their
eayesn auoth skallaRrim. "and great deeds
may be looked for. since they are not drawn to
the upper earth BY Il little thing"
Than once more they sat silent: and thick
darkness came down upon tho mountain. hid
ing tho stars.
.Look," said Eric OF sudden. and he pointed
10 Hsol&
skallssrim looked. and lol the snowy dome
n Hecls was aRlow with rosy flame like the
hght OF dawn.
"Winter lights" said Lam bstail. shuddering.
"Death lights!" answered Eric. Look
again"
Thsy looked. and beho'd! in the rosy glow
there sat three giant forms OF Hre. aud their
shapes wore the shapes OF women Before
them was q loom OF blackness that stretched
from earth to sky. and they wove at 1t with
threads Of fame They were splendid and ter
fible to sse Their hair streamed behind them
like meteor flames their eyes shone lightning.
and their breasts cleaned like the polished
bucklsrs of the gods. Fercely thoy wove ut
the loom Of blackness. and "a they wove they
sanR. The voice OF the one was as the wind
whistlinR through the pines. The voice Of the
ether was as the sound OF rain Kissing on deep
waters. and the voice OF the third was as tho
moan OF the sea- Fearfully they wove and
loudly they sang. but what they sang might
not be known. Now grew the web and grew
the wool. and lol q picture came upon the
ioom-s ereat picture writ in fire.
Behold It was the semblance OF a storm.
awakened seA and giant ship fed before tho
piled the corses OF men. and on these lay
another corse. as one lies upon a bed. They
looked. and the face Of the corse grew bright.
It was the facs OF Eric. and his head rested
upon the dead heart OF SkallaRrim.
OinRing to each Other. Eric and Skallagrm
saw the sight OF fear that was written on the
loom Of the Norna For breath they saw it
Thea. with laugh like the wall of wolves. the
ohapoS OF fre sprap0 up They roso mn and
.ent ths veb .asunder. Then rho nrs. nas..d
upward to the sky. the second southward
toward Middalhoi. but the third swept over
1osfell. 30 thAt the brightness Of her flaming
form shone on the rock where they sat by the
eavs. and tho lightning Of her eyes was mir
rorsd In the byrnie OF 6kallagtim and on Erlc's
eoldsn helm. Past she swept. pointing down
ward as she went. and lol she was gone. and
once more darkness lay upon tho earth.
Now this sight was seen OF Jon the thrall
also, and he told It In his story Of the deeds OF
Eric. ForJon lay hid In secret place on
Mosfell, waiting tidines OF what passed
For while Eric and Skallagrim clung to
saoh other. Then sksllagrim spoke.
We have seen the Vakyries." he said.
Nay" answered Eric. I'VE have soen the
Norns-the Norns come TO warn US OF our
doom. We shall die Tomorrow"
~NssuS i0eos' ooio ohoHaRElus VIC 600ll
not die alone; We had goodly bed on yon
great goblin ship. aud all OF our own slayine
msthinka. 1t is not so Ill to die thus, lord"
Not so ILL.," said Eric. and yet am weary
Of blood and war. Of glory and of my strength.
NowI desire rest alone. Light flre-I may
bear this darkness no longer; the marrow
freezes In my bones"
Fire can be seen OF foes" said skallagrtm.
IT matters little now" said Eric. wa are
tsytolk."
soskallaerim lighted the flre, pilinc much
brushwood and dry turf over 1t, till presently
It burnt up brIshtly, throwing light on ali the
spscs Of rock. and heavy shadows against tbe
eud behind. They sat thus awhile in the light
OF the flames, looking toward the deep gulf till
suddenly there came a sound as Of one who
climbed the gulf.
Who comes now. climbing WHARF m man
may pass1" cried Eric, seizinr White0rs and
sprinsing to his feet pres.ntIv ba sank down
AGAIN with white face and starin o .ves and
pointed at tho edge of the clir. And lol IA ba
pointed the neck of a m an rose IN the abadow
above the brink. and the bands n, man
srssped the rock But thsre was M head IN
shs neck. The shane of the headlass man
6roW ifaalS oIo,r,, -. A,