,
wondering at the greatness of that stroke.

But Eric leaned on Whitefire and looked at the old Earl upon the rock.

"Now, Atli, thou hast had thy way," he said, "and methinks things are
worse than they were before. But I will say this: would that I lay there
and thou stoodest to watch me die, for as lief would I have slain my
father as thee, Earl Atli. There lies Swanhild's work!"

Atli gazed upwards into Eric's sad eyes and, while he gazed so, his rage
left him, and of a sudden a light brake upon his mind, as even then the
light of the setting sun brake through the driving mist.

"Eric," he said, "draw near and speak with me ere I am sped. Methinks
that I have been beguiled and that thou didst not do this thing that
Swanhild said and Koll bore witness to."

"What did Swanhild say, then, Earl Atli?"

The Earl told him.

"It was to be looked for from her," said Eric, "though I never thought
of it. Now hearken!" and he told him all.

Atli groaned aloud. "I know this now, Eric," he said: "that thou
speakest truth, and once more I have been deceived. Eric, I forgive thee
all, for no man may fight against woman's witchcraft, and witch's wine.
Swanhild is evil to the heart. Yet, Eric, I lay this doom upon thee--I
do not lay it of my own will, for I would not harm thee, whom I love,
but because of the words that the Norns put in my mouth, for now I am
fey in this the hour of my death. Thou hast sinned, and that thou didst
sin against thy will shall avail thee nothing, for of thy sin fate shall
fashion a handle to the spear which pierces thee. Henceforth thou art
accursed. For I tell thee that this wicked woman Swanhild shall drag
thee down to death, and worse than death, and with thee those thou
lovest. By witchcraft she brought thee to Straumey, by lies she laid me
here before thee. Now by hate and might and cruel deeds shall she bring
thee to lie more low than I do. For, Eric, thou art bound to her, and
thou shalt never loose the bond!"

Atli ceased a while, then spoke again more faintly:

"Hearken, comrades," he cried; "my strength is well-nigh spent. Ye
shall swear four things to me--that ye will give Eric Brighteyes and
Skallagrim Lambstail safe passage from Straumey. That ye will tell
Swanhild the Fatherless, Groa's daughter and Atli's wife, that, at last,
I know her for what she is--a murderess, a harlot, a witch and a liar;
and that I forgive Eric whom she tricked, but that her I hate and spit
upon. That