is is true--that here, in England, good fortune waits
thy hand, and there in Iceland such fortune as men mete to their foes.
Knowest thou this?"

Eric looked at her and answered: "Lady," he said, "men are not born of
their own will, they live and do little that they will, they do and go,
perchance, whither they would not. Yet it may happen to a man that one
meets him whose hand he fain would hold, if it be but for an hour's
travel over icy ways; and it is better to hold that hand for this short
hour than to wend his life through at a stranger's side."

"Perhaps there is wisdom in thy folly," said the Lady Elfrida. "Still, I
tell thee this: that no good luck waits thee there in Iceland."

"It well may be," said Eric: "my days have been stormy, and the gale is
still brewing. But it is a poor heart that fears the storm. Better to
sink; for, coward or hero, all must sink at last."

"Say, Eric," said the lady, "if that hand thou dost desire to hold is
lost to thee, what then?"

"If that hand is cold in death, then henceforth I wend my ways alone."

"And if it be held of another hand than thine?"

"Then I will journey back to England, lady, and here in this fair garden
I may crave speech of thee again."

They looked one on another. "Fare thee well, Eric!" said the Lady
Elfrida. "Here in this garden we may talk again; and, if we talk no
more--why, fare thee well! Days come and go; the swallow takes flight
at winter, and lo! at spring it twitters round the eaves. And if it come
not again, then farewell to that swallow. The world is a great house,
Eric, and there is room for many swallows. But alas! for her who is left
desolate--alas, alas!" And she turned and went.

It is told of this lady Elfrida that she became very wealthy and was
much honoured for her gentleness and wisdom, and that, when she was old,
she built a great church and named it Ericskirk. It is also told that,
though many sought her in marriage, she wedded none.

XVI

HOW SWANHILD WALKED THE SEAS

Within two days afterwards, the Gudruda being bound for sea, Eric went
up to bid farewell to the King. But Edmund was so angry with him because
of his going that he would not see him. Thereon Eric took horse and rode
down sadly from the Palace to the river-bank where the Gudruda lay. But
when he was about to give the word to get out the oars, the King himself
rode up, and with him men bearing costly gifts. Eric went ashore to
speak with him.

"I am