nhild, the witchgirl, was
gone.

Then he took Gudruda in his arms, and, leading the horse, stumbled
through the darkness, calling on Skallagrim. The Baresark answered, and
presently his large form was seen looming in the gloom.

Eric told his tale in few words.

"The ways of womankind are evil," said Skallagrim; "but of all the deeds
that I have known done at their hands, this is the worst. It had been
well to hurl the wolf-witch from the cliff."

"Ay, well," said Eric; "but that song must yet be sung."

Now dimly lighted of the rising moon by turns they bore Gudruda down the
mountain side, till at length, utterly fordone, they saw the fires of
Middalhof.

X

HOW ASMUND SPOKE WITH SWANHILD

Now as the days went, though Atli's ship was bound for sea, she did not
sail, and it came about that the Earl sank ever deeper in the toils
of Swanhild. He called to mind many wise saws, but these availed him
little: for when Love rises like the sun, wisdom melts like the mists.
So at length it came to this, that on the day of Eric's coming back,
Atli went to Asmund the Priest, and asked him for the hand of Swanhild
the Fatherless in marriage. Asmund heard and was glad, for he knew well
that things went badly between Swanhild and Gudruda, and it seemed good
to him that seas should be set between them. Nevertheless, he thought it
honest to warn the Earl that Swanhild was apart from other women.

"Thou dost great honour, earl, to my foster-daughter and my house," he
said. "Still, it behoves me to move gently in this matter. Swanhild is
fair, and she shall not go hence a wife undowered. But I must tell thee
this: that her ways are dark and secret, and strange and fiery are her
moods, and I think that she will bring evil on the man who weds her.
Now, I love thee, Atli, were it only for our youth's sake, and thou art
not altogether fit to mate with such a maid, for age has met thee on thy
way. For, as thou wouldst say, youth draws to youth as the tide to the
shore, and falls away from eld as the wave from the rock. Think, then:
is it well that thou shouldst take her, Atli?"

"I have thought much and overmuch," answered the Earl, stroking his grey
beard; "but ships old and new drive before a gale."

"Ay, Atli, and the new ship rides, where the old one founders."

"A true rede, a heavy rede, Asmund; yet I am minded to sail this sea,
and, if it sink me--well, I have known fair weather! Great longing has
got hold of me, a