wered
very slowly, and together they sank into a sleep that was heavy as
death.

Now Gizur, Ospakar's son, and Swanhild, Atli's widow, rode fast and hard
from Mosfell, giving no rest to their horses, and with them rode that
thrall who had showed the secret path to Gizur. They stayed a while on
Horse-Head Heights till the moon rose. Now one path led hence to the
shore that is against the Westmans, where Gudruda's ship lay bound. Then
Swanhild turned to the thrall. Her beautiful face was fierce and she had
said few words all this while, but in her heart raged a fire of hate and
jealousy which shone through her blue eyes.

"Listen," she said to the thrall. "Thou shalt ride hence to the bay
where the ship of Gudruda the Fair lies at anchor. Thou knowest where
our folk are in hiding. Thou shalt speak thus to them. Before it is dawn
they must take boats and board Gudruda's ship and search her. And, if
they find Eric, the outlaw, aboard, they shall slay him, if they may."

"That will be no easy task," said the thrall.

"And if they find Gudruda they shall keep her prisoner. But if they find
neither the one nor the other, they shall do this: they shall drive the
crew ashore, killing as few as may be, and burn the ship."

"It is an ill deed thus to burn another's ship," said Gizur.

"Good or ill, it shall be done," answered Swanhild fiercely. "Thou art
a lawman, and well canst thou meet the suit; moreover Gudruda has wedded
an outlaw and shall suffer for her sin. Now go, and see thou tarry not,
or thy back shall pay the price."

The man rode away swiftly. Then Gizur turned to Swanhild, asking:
"Whither, then, go we?"

"I have said to Middalhof."

"That is into the wolf's den, if Eric and Skallagrim are there," he
answered: "I have little chance against the two of them."

"Nay, nor against the one, Gizur. Why, if Eric's right hand were hewn
from him, and he stood unarmed, he would still slay thee with his left,
as, swordless, he slew Ospakar thy father. Yet I shall find a way to
come at him, if he is there."

Then they rode on, and Gizur's heart was heavy for fear of Eric and
Skallagrim the Baresark. So fiercely did they ride that, within one hour
after midnight, they were at the stead of Middalhof.

"We will leave the horses here in the field," said Swanhild.

So they leaped to earth and, tying the reins of the horses together,
left them to feed on the growing grass. Then they crept into the yard
and listened