her man, clad in
black-hued mail--a man well-nigh as broad and big, with hawk's eyes,
eagle beak, and black hair streaked with grey.

For a moment there was silence. Then a voice spoke:

"Lo! here be the Gods Baldur and Thor!--come from Valhalla to grace the
marriage-feast!"

Then the man with golden hair cried aloud in a voice that made the
rafters ring:

"Here are Eric Brighteyes and Skallagrim Lambstail, his thrall, come
from over sea to grace the feast, indeed!"

"I could have looked for no worse guests," said Bjoern, beneath his
breath, and rose to bid men thrust them out. But before he could speak,
lo! gold-helmed Eric and black-helmed Skallagrim were stalking up the
length of that great hall. Side by side they stalked, with faces fierce
and cold; nor stayed they till they stood before the high seat. Eric
looked up and round, and the light of his eyes was as the light of a
sword. Men marvelled at his greatness and his wonderful beauty, and to
Gudruda he seemed like a God.

"Here I see faces that are known to me," said Eric. "Greetings,
comrades!"

"Greetings, Brighteyes!" shouted the Middalhof folk and the company of
Swanhild; but the carles of Ospakar laid hand on sword--they too knew
Eric. For still all men loved Eric, and the people of his quarter were
proud of the deeds he had done oversea.

"Greeting, Bjoern, Asmund's son!" quoth Eric. "Greeting, Ospakar
Blacktooth! Greeting, Swanhild the Fatherless, Atli's witch-wife--Groa's
witch-bairn! Greeting, Hall of Lithdale, Hall the liar--Hall who cut
the grapnel-chain! And to thee, sweet Bride, to thee Gudruda the Fair,
greeting!"

Now Bjoern spoke: "I will take no greeting from a shamed and outlawed
man. Get thee gone, Eric Brighteyes, and take thy wolf-hound with thee,
lest thou bidest here stiff and cold."

"Speak not so loud, rat, lest hound's fang worry thee!" growled
Skallagrim.

But Eric laughed aloud and cried--

"Words must be said, and perchance men shall die, ere ever I leave this
hall, Bjoern!"

XXIV

HOW THE FEAST WENT

"Hearken all men!" said Eric.

"Thrust him out!" quoth Bjoern.

"Nay, cut him down!" said Ospakar, "he is an outlawed man."

"Words first, then deeds," answered Skallagrim. "Thou shalt have thy
fill of both, Blacktooth, before day is done."

"Let Eric say his say," said Gudruda, lifting her head. "He has been
doomed unheard, and it is my will that he shall say his say."

"What hast thou to do with Eric?