r. In his
left hand was a horn cup, but in his right he still grasped his axe.

"Now we must enter," said Swanhild. Gizur hung back, but she sprang upon
the sill lightly as a fox, and slid thence into the store-room. Then
Gizur must follow, and presently he stood beside her in the room, and at
their feet lay drunken Skallagrim. Gizur looked first at his sword, then
on the Baresark, and lastly at Swanhild.

"Nay," she whispered, "touch him not. Perchance he would cry out--and we
seek higher game. He has that within him which will hold him fast for a
while. Follow where I shall lead."

She took his hand and, gliding through the doorway, passed along the
passage till she came to the great hall. Swanhild could see well in the
dark, and moreover she knew the road. Presently they stood in the
empty hall. The fire had burnt down, but two embers yet glowed upon the
hearth, like red and angry eyes.

For a while Swanhild stood still listening, but there was nothing to
hear. Then she drew near to the shut bed where Gudruda slept, and, with
her ear to the curtain, listened once more. Gizur came with her, and
as he came his foot struck against a bench and stirred it. Now Swanhild
heard murmured words and the sound of kisses. She started back, and fury
filled her heart. Gizur also heard the voice of Eric, saying: "I will
rise." Then he would have fled, but Swanhild caught him by the arm.

"Fear not," she whispered, "they shall soon sleep sound."

He felt her stretch out her arms and presently he saw this wonderful
thing: the eyes of Swanhild glowing in the darkness as the embers glowed
upon the hearth. Now they glowed brightly, so brightly that he could see
the outstretched arms and the hard white face beneath them, and now
they grew dim, of a sudden to shine bright again. And all the while she
hissed words through her clenched teeth.

Thus she hissed, fierce and low:

"Gudruda, Sister mine, hearken and sleep!
By the bond of blood I bid thee sleep!--
By the strength that is in me I bid thee sleep!--
Sleep! sleep sound!

"Eric Brighteyes, hearken and sleep!
By the bond of sin I charge thee sleep!--
By the blood of Atli I charge thee, sleep!--
Sleep! sleep sound!"

Then thrice she tossed her hands aloft, saying:

"From love to sleep!
From sleep to death!
From death to Hela!
Say, lovers, where shall ye kiss again?"

Then the light went out of her eyes and she