said Eric.

"There is yet a space," said Skallagrim, pointing to the other side of
the fire, "and Hell holds many dead."

Even as the words left his lips there came a noise of the galloping of
horse's hoofs, and one clad in white rode up. It was a woman, for her
golden hair flowed down about her white arms. Then she slid from the
horse and stood in the light of the fire, and behold! her white robe
was red with blood, a great sword was set in her heart, and the face and
eyes were the face and eyes of Gudruda the Fair, and the horse she rode
was Blackmane, that Eric had slain.

Now when Brighteyes saw her he gave a great cry.

"Greeting, sweet!" he said. "I am no longer afraid, since thou comest to
bear me company. Thou art dear to my sight--ay even in yon death-sheet.
Greeting, sweet, my May! I laid thee stiff and cold in the earth at
Middalhof, but, like a loving wife, thou hast burst thy bonds, and art
come to save me from the grip of trolls. Thou art welcome, Gudruda,
Asmund's daughter! Come, wife, sit thou at my side."

The ghost of Gudruda spake no word. She walked through the fire towards
him, and the flames went out beneath her feet, to burn up again when she
had passed. Then she sat down over against Eric and looked on him with
wide and tender eyes. Thrice he stretched out his arms to clasp her, but
thrice their strength left them and they fell back to his side. It was
as though they struck a wall of ice and were numbed by the bitter cold.

"Look, here are more," groaned Skallagrim.

Then Eric looked, and lo! the empty space to the left of the fire was
filled with shadowy shapes like shapes of mist. Amongst them was Gizur,
Ospakar's son, and many a man of his company. There, too, was Swanhild,
Groa's daughter, and a toad nestled in her breast. She looked with wide
eyes upon the eyes of dead Gudruda's ghost, that seemed not to see her,
and a stare of fear was set on her lovely face. Nor was this all; for
there, before that shadowy throng, stood two great shapes clad in their
harness, and one was the shape of Eric and one the shape of Skallagrim.

Thus, being yet alive, did these two look upon their own wraiths!

Then Eric and Skallagrim cried out aloud and their brains swam and their
senses left them, so that they swooned.

When they opened their eyes and life came back to them the fire was
dead, and it was day. Nor was there any sign of that company which had
been gathered on the rock before them.