The sun., 1891-04-12


was heard in the hail Of Middslhof.
Now. whom Gudruda knew that Ospakar wa
dead. she looked at Eric as hs rested. leanins
| on his sword. and her heart was nlled with awe
ana love- She spranG from her seat, and. COM
Ing to where Eric Stood she kissed him.
"wslcome to iceland. Erior she said. wei
come. thou glory Of the southi"
Now swanhild grew mad for she saw that
Eric was about to take Gudruda In his arms
and kiss her before all men.
Say. Bj0rn." she crieds wilt suffer that
this outlaw. having slain Ospakar. should lead
Gudruda hence as wife?"
He shall never do 40 while live" cried
Bjorn. we'll nigh mad with rage. This ID
my command. sister. that thou see yon Eric no
more"
Say, Biorn." answered 0udHuda "did I
dream or did indeed. see thee thrust the
broken buckler before Erio's feet % that he
stumbled on 1t and fell ?"
THAT thou sawest. LADY," said skallasrim
"for myself saw it also."
Now Bj6rn grew white with rage. He made
no answer to Gudruds, but called aloud to his
men to slay Eric and skallsgrin. aizur
called also to the folk Of Ospakar, and Swan
hild TO those who came With her.
Thereat Gudruda fed back to hef seat
Then Eric cried aloud also: "Ys men who lsvs
down Of northerners. Rear mo. Atli's folk !;
hear me. carries Of Coldback and Of Middslhofl"
And so greatly did many love Eric that half
OF the folk OF Bj6rn. and almost all Of the men
Of Swanhild who had been Atli's men and
Eric's comrades. drew swords. shouting Eriol
Ericl" But the carles Of Ospakar came on to
make An end Of him.
Bjorn saw. and, drawing sword. smote at
Briehteyss, taking him unawarsA But Skalls.
grim caught the blow upon his axa and ere
ever Bjorn might smits again Whitsnrs was
aloit and down fell Bjorn. dsadi
This was the end Of Bjorn. Asmundb son.
Thou hast saussksd thy last. rat What
did toll theep" laughed Bkallagrim. "Back
to back, lord. for here come foes"
There goes one" said Eric, pointing 10 the
door.
Now Hall Of Lithdale slunk through the door
way-Hall. the liar. who cut the Grapnel chain
for he desired much to see the last Of Skalla-
grim. Now tho Barosark held tho spear Of
Eric In his hand. He whirled It slofr, and
through the air It hissed. Tho aim was good.
for, - he crept away. the spear struck Hall
twixt neck and shoulder. pinnine him to the
door post and there the liar died.
Now is the weasel nailed to the BEAM"
cried skallagrim. Hall Of Lthdals. what did
I promise thee"
Guard thy head and my back" auoth Eric,
"blows falll'
Now mon smots at Eric and skallaeriun. nor
did the twain spare to snits in turn. And ever
rs foes fell before him. Eric stepped one pace
forward toward the door. and Bksllagrim. who.
back to back with him. held OF those who
pressed behind. took ono step rearwsrd.
Thus, two foes for every step they won their
way down tho long hall. Fierce ragged the fray
around them. for. mad with hate and drink
and the lust Of fsbt, Swanhild's folk-Eric's
friends-remembsring the words OF Atli, fell
on OspAkar's: and the people OF Bjorn fol- each
on each. brother on brother. and father ON son
nor might the fray b stayed. The boards
were overthrown. dead men lay among tho
meats and mead. and the blood Of lord and
thral ran sdown the floor. Everywhere
flashing swords and rose the clang Of war.
Darts Glove the air like tongues Of flame. and
tho elamor Of battle beat against tho roof.
Men sought no mercy. blinded Of the Norns
who brought those things to pass. and they
gave none. but slew and slew till few were loft
to slay.
And ever Gudruda sat In her bride seat. and.
with eyes widehxed in horror, watched tho
waxing Of the war. Nigh to her stood Swan
hild. marking all things with fierce cot faos and
calling down curses ON her folk. who one and
all cried Eric Eric II and swept tho thralls
OF Ospaksr as corn Is swept Of the sickle.
And there. nigh to the door. pale Of face and
beautiful to soc. golden Eric Glove his way. and
with him wont black skallasrim. Terrible was
the dare of Whitedre as he ficksred aloft: so
dickers tho levin In the cloud. 80 fickers
snakes tongue before snakes fang fall. Ter
rible was the fare OF Whitefre: but more tor
rible was the light OF Eric's eyes. for In his
load they seemed to hame. and wherever that
sna ana ersshsS ss she
shs7 sad ss the ssnds
before them; spear alott and Whiteire leaps
to %ss h m and % tn:
Ths door is Won; They stang Without but
"s: F2Rsn sRssx;n xs a'es hor..
s msn ssT and snsDss sn6ns tbs% Eb
,s h ;6s brother OF her whom would make my
.aid sEsissrim. S shaEins r his red % Axe. Gssat
glory have We won this day. Brightsyss. and
Now they ran to their horses. none hindsrine
Al that evening and al the nisht they rode.
s 4s9 @ arc 81
ana as blood 1Sa tasS
wounds. Whom they had made an end Of
washing. and done on their harness again,
SkallaRrim. peerinR across the plain with his
hawks eyes. saw men rid Ing fast toward them.
Foes are soon atoot lord" he said. ME-
thopRht we had stayed their hunger for .
-.Would that might stay mine" quoth
Erie. Il am weary. and little meet for dxht"
have still strength for ono. or two" said
H. ss!s: Sss r.. =;
Then Eric was clad. anG presently ak mon,
wstshsd on Mosieii whom he vent up TO SAY Isy
the Baresark. rode to them and crested them.
"GanRrsl women said Jon. whom they met
at Ran River. had told them II the death OF
Ospakar. and OF the mighty. .slayinR at Middal-
hof. and they would know II the udings were
True it 10. Jon," said Eric. but first give
us food. II ye have 1t, for we are hungered and
spent. When we have eaten we Will speak"
30 they leh. up q pack horse and from it took
stockdsh and smoked meat. Of which Eric and
skallagrip ate heartily. till their strength
Then Eric spoke. Comrades" he said, II
am an outlawed man. and. though have not
sought It, much blood is on my head. Atli is
dead at my hand Ospskar is dead at my hand:
Born the Priest, Asmunds son. 10 dead ct my
hand .Sa and With them msny a9ohsf man NSr
tooths sop; yet lives and Bjorn has kin % the
No need for tb IA" said. Skallaerim. Our
VENGEANCE Ia wrought and now AZ afOretimo