ll be safe. If it
is filled with water I shall be drowned; if with blood, I shall have
fallen in battle. But if it is filled with earth an illness will have
killed me, and I shall lie under the ground.' Thus he did, and Eigil
did likewise. Then they cut stout sticks to aid their journeys, and
went their ways.

Wayland stood gazing after them as long as they were in sight, then he
went sadly home.

Slagfid and Eigil walked steadily on through the day, and when evening
came they reached a stream bordered with trees, where they took off
their golden helmets and sat down to rest and eat. They had gone far
that day and were tired, and drank somewhat heavily, so that they knew
not what they did. 'If I lose my Swanvite,' said Slagfid, 'I am
undone. She is the fairest woman that sun ever looked on, or that man
ever loved.'

'It is a lie,' answered Eigil. 'I know one lovelier still, and her
name is Alruna. Odin does not love Freya so fondly as Eigil adores
her.'

'It is no lie,' cried Slagfid, 'and may shame fall on him who slanders
me.'

'And I,' answered Eigil, 'stand to what I have said, and declare that
you are the liar.' At this they both drew their swords and fell
fighting, till Slagfid struck Eigil's helmet so hard that the jewel
flew into a thousand pieces, while Eigil himself fell backwards into
the river.

Slagfid stood still, leaning on his sword and looking at the river
into which his brother had fallen. Suddenly the trees behind him
rustled, and a voice came out of them, saying, 'A time of weal, a time
of woe, a time of tears, a time of death'; and though he could see
nothing he remembered the mountain elves, and thought how true their
prophecy had been. 'I have slain my brother,' he said to himself, 'my
wife has forsaken me; I am miserable and alone. What shall I do? Go
back to Wayland, or follow Eigil into the river? No. After all I
may find my wife. The Norns do not always bring misfortune.'

[Illustration: Slagfid pursues the Wraith over the Mountains]

As he spoke a light gleamed in the darkness of the night, and, looking
up, Slagfid saw it was shed by a bright star which seemed to be
drawing nearer to the earth, and the nearer it drew the more its shape
seemed to change into a human figure. Then Slagfid knew that it was
his wife Swanvite floating just over his head and encircled by a rim
of clear green light. He could not speak for joy, but held out his
arms to her. She beckoned to him to follow he