shambles? Wouldst now steal upon me
thus!"

"Methought that thou didst weep and call upon my name, Gudruda," he said
humbly.

"By what right art thou here to hearken to my words?" she answered.
"Is it, then, strange that I should speak the name of him who slew my
brother? Is it strange that I should weep over that brother whom thou
didst slay? Get thee gone, Brighteyes, before I call my folk to kill
thee!"

"Call on, Gudruda. I set little price upon my life. I laid it in the
hands of chance when I came from Mosfell to speak with thee, and now I
will pay it down if so it pleases thee. Fear not, thy thralls shall have
an easy task: for I shall scarcely care to hold my own. Say, shall I
call for thee?"

"Hush! Speak not so loud! Folk may hear thee, Eric, and then thou wilt
be in danger--I would say that, then shall ill things be told of me,
because I am found with him who slew my brother?"

"I slew Ospakar too, Gudruda. Surely the death of him by whose side thou
didst sit as wife is more to thee than the death of Bjoern?"

"The bride-cup was not yet drunk, Eric; therefore I have no blood-feud
for Ospakar."

"Is it, then, thy will that I should go, lady?"

"Yes, go!--go! Never let me see thy face again!"

Brighteyes turned without a word. He took three paces and Gudruda
watched him as he went.

"Eric!" she called. "Eric! thou mayest not go yet: for at this hour the
thralls bring down the kine to milk, and they will see thee. Liest thou
hid here. I--I will go. For though, indeed, thou dost deserve to die, I
am not willing to bring thee to thy end--because of old friendship I am
not willing!"

"If thou goest, I will go also," said Eric. "Thralls or no thralls, I
will go, Gudruda."

"Thou art cruel to drive me to such a choice, and I have a mind to give
thee to thy fate."

"As thou wilt," said Eric; but she made as though she did not hear his
words.

"Now," she said, "if we must stay here, it is better that we hide where
thou didst hide, lest some come upon thee." And she passed through the
screen of rushes and sat down in a grassy place beyond, and spoke again.

"Nay, sit not near me; sit yonder. I would not touch thee, nor look upon
thee, who wast Swanhild's love, and didst slay Bjoern my brother."

"Say, Gudruda," said Eric, "did I not tell thee of the magic arts of
Swanhild? Did I not tell thee before all men yonder in the hall, and
didst thou not say that thou didst believe my words? Speak."

"That