om was full of his big
voice:

"There is no friend like mead. It always cheers a man's heart."

[Illustration: "_He looked straight ahead of him and scowled_"]

Then laughter and talking began in the hall because Eric's good temper
had come back. After a while Eric said:

"Well, I must off somewhere. I have been driven about from place to
place, like a seabird in a storm. And there is always a storm about me.
It is my sword's fault. She is ever itching to break her peace-bands[14]
and be out and at the play. She has shut Norway to me and now Iceland.
Where will you go next, old comrade?" and he pulled out his sword and
looked at it and smiled as the fire flashed on it.

"There are some of us who will follow you wherever you go, Eric," called
a man from across the fire.

"Is it so?" Eric cried, leaping up. "Oh! then we shall have some merry
times yet. Who will go with me?"

More than half the men in the hall jumped to their feet and waved their
drinking-horns and shouted:

"I! I!"

[Illustration: "_More than half the men in the hall jumped to their
feet_"]

Eric sat down in his chair and laughed.

"O you bloody birds of battle!" he cried. "Ever hungry for new frolic!
Our swords are sisters in blood, and we are brothers in adventure. Do
you know what is in my heart to do?"

He jumped to his feet, and his face glowed. Then he laughed as he looked
at his men.

"I see the answer flashing from your eyes," he said, "that you will do
it even if it is to go down to Niflheim and drag up Hela, the pale queen
of the stiff dead."

His men pounded on the tables and shouted:

"Yes! Yes! Anywhere behind Eric!"

"But it is not to Niflheim," Eric laughed. "Did you ever hear that story
that Gunnbiorn told? He was sailing for Iceland, but the fog came down,
and then the wind caught him and blew him far off. While he drifted
about he saw a strange land that rose up white and shining out of a blue
sea. Huge ships of ice sailed out from it and met him. I mean to sail to
that land."

A great shout went up that shook the rafters. Then the men sat and
talked over plans. While they sat, a stranger came into the hall.

"I have no time to drink," he said. "I have a message from your friend
Eyjolf. He says that Thorgest with all his men means to come here and
catch you to-night. Eyjolf bids you come to him, and he will hide you
until you are ready to start; for he loves you."

"Hunted like a wolf from corner to corner of th