rothed, mourning my death, and spoke with her. Afterwards
I left her, and presently returned again, to see her hanging over the
gulf, and Swanhild hurling rocks upon her to crush her."

"These are tidings in truth," said Asmund--"such tidings as my heart
feared! Is this true, Gudruda?"

"It is true, my father," answered Gudruda, trembling. "As I sat on the
brink of Goldfoss, Swanhild crept behind me and thrust me into the gulf.
There I clung above the waters, and she brought a rock to hurl upon me,
when suddenly I saw Eric's face, and after that my mind left me and I
can tell no more."

Now Asmund grew as one mad. He plucked at his beard and stamped on the
ground. "Maid though she be," he cried, "yet shall Swanhild's back be
broken on the Stone of Doom for a witch and a murderess, and her body
hurled into the pool of faithless women, and the earth will be well rid
of her!"

Now Gudruda looked up and smiled: "It would be ill to wreak such a
vengeance on her, father," she said; "and this would also bring the
greatest shame on thee, and all our house. I am saved, by the mercy
of the Gods and the might of Eric's arm, and this is my counsel: that
nothing be told of this tale, but that Swanhild be sent away where she
can harm us no more."

"She must be sent to the grave, then," said Asmund, and fell to
thinking. Presently he spoke again: "Bid yon man fall back, I would
speak with you twain," and Skallagrim went grumbling.

"Hearken now, Eric and Gudruda: only an hour ago hath Atli the Good
asked Swanhild of me in marriage. But now I met Swanhild here, and her
mien was wild. Still, I spoke of the matter to her, and she would have
none of it. Now, this is my counsel: that choice be given to Swanhild,
either that she go hence Atli's wife, or take her trial in the
Doom-ring."

"That will be bad for the Earl then," said Eric. "Methinks he is too
good a man to be played on thus."

"_Bairn first, then friend_," answered Asmund.

"Now I will tell thee something that, till this hour, I have hidden from
all, for it is my shame. This Swanhild is my daughter, and therefore I
have loved her and put away her evil deeds, and she is half-sister
to thee, Gudruda. See, then, how sore is my straight, who must avenge
daughter upon daughter."

"Knows thy son Bjoern of this?" asked Eric.

"None knew it till this hour, except Groa and I."

"Yet I have feared it long, father," said Gudruda, "and therefore I have
also borne with Swanh