d tell you the truth?"
said Brighteyes.

The most part of the company shouted "Yea!" but the men of Ospakar stood
silent.

"Speak on, Eric," quoth Gudruda.

"This is the truth, then: Swanhild the Fatherless, Atli's wife, has
always sought my love, and she has ever hated Gudruda whom I loved. From
a child she has striven to work mischief between us. Ay, and she did
this, though till now it has been hidden: she strove to murder Gudruda;
it was on the day that Skallagrim and I overcame Ospakar and his band
on Horse-Head Heights. She thrust Gudruda from the brink of Golden Falls
while she sat looking on the waters, and as she hung there I dragged her
back. Is it not so, Gudruda?"

"It is so," said Gudruda.

Now men murmured and looked at Swanhild. But she shrank back, plucking
at her purple cloak.

"It was for this cause," said Eric, "that Asmund, Swanhild's father,
gave her choice to wed Atli the Earl and pass over sea or to take her
trial in the Doom-Ring. She wedded Atli and went away. Afterwards, by
witchcraft, she brought my ship to wreck on Straumey's Isle--ay, she
walked the waters like a shape of light and lured us on to ruin, so
that all were drowned except Skallagrim and myself. Is it not so,
Skallagrim?"

"It is so, lord. I saw her with my eyes."

Again folk murmured.

"Then we must sit in Atli's hall," said Eric, "and there we dwelt last
winter. For a while Swanhild did no harm, till I feared her no more.
But some three months ago, I was left with her: and a man called Koll,
Groa's thrall, of whom ye know, came out from Iceland, bringing news
of the death of Asmund the priest, of Unna my cousin, and of Groa the
witch. To these ill-tidings Swanhild bribed him to add something. She
bribed him to add this: that thou, Gudruda, wast betrothed to Ospakar,
and wouldst wed him on last Yule Day. Moreover, he gave me a certain
message from thee, Gudruda, and, in token of its truth, the half of that
coin which I broke with thee long years ago. Say now, lady, didst thou
send the coin?"

"Nay, never!" cried Gudruda; "many years ago I lost the half thou gavest
me, though I feared to tell thee."

"Perchance one stands there who found it," said Eric, pointing with his
spear at Swanhild. "At the least I was deceived by it. Now the tale is
short. Swanhild mourned with me, and in my sorrow I mourned bitterly.
Then it was she asked a boon, that lock of mine, Gudruda, and, thinking
thee faithless, I gave it, holding