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Another rushes in. Down flashes Whitefire before he can smite, and the carle's shield is cloven through. Then he chooses to draw back and fights no more that day. Skallagrim slays a man, and wounds another sore. A tall chief with a red scar on his face comes at Brighteyes.
"Thou mayest know me by this token," said Eric, and he threw towards him the skin of that lamb's tail which Skallagrim had lifted from Coldback. Now Skallagrim knew him and the Baresark fit came on. His eyes rolled, foam flew to his lips, his mouth grinned, and he was awesome to see. He let fall the head, and, swinging the great axe aloft, rushed at Eric. But Brighteyes is too swift for him.
But Eric and Skallagrim clambered to the mast and got their backs against it, and swiftly made themselves fast with a rope, so that they might not fall with the rolling of the ship. Then the people of Ospakar came on to cut them down. But this was no easy task, for they might scarcely stand, and they could not shoot with the bow.
"I have still strength for one or two," said Skallagrim, "and then good-night! But these are no foes. They are of the Coldback folk. The carline has kept her word." Then Eric was glad, and presently six men, headed by Jon his thrall, the same man who had watched on Mosfell when Eric went up to slay the Baresark, rode to them and greeted them.
For the rest, I charge you watch your lord; for, if I come back and find anything amiss, that shall be the death of some, and if I do not come back but perish on the road, yet I will haunt you." Now Jon liked not this task; still, for love of Eric and fear of Skallagrim, he set out with the Baresark.
If there are breakers, perhaps we shall see their foam through the blackness," said Skallagrim. Eric did so, and they crept forward on the starboard board right to the prow of the ship, and there Skallagrim peered into the fog and sleet. "Lord," he whispered presently, and his voice shook strangely, "what is that yonder on the waters? Seest thou aught?" Eric stared and said, "By Odin!
Terrible was the flare of Whitefire; but more terrible was the light of Eric's eyes, for they seemed to flame in his head, and wherever that fire fell it lighted men the way to death. Whitefire sung and flickered, and crashed the axe of Skallagrim, and still through the press of war they won their way. Now Gizur stands before them, spear aloft, and Whitefire leaps up to meet him.
Let us hence! ah! let us hence swiftly! Give me thy hand, Gizur, for I am faint!" So Gizur gives her his hand and they pass thence. Presently they stand in the store-room, and there lies Skallagrim, still plunged in his drunken sleep. "Must I do more murder?" asks Gizur hoarsely. "Nay," Swanhild says. "I am sick with blood. Leave the knave."
But when they had gone a little way, Skallagrim turned his horse, and mocked those who had lain in ambush, saying: "Ye fight well, ye carles of Gizur, Ospakar's son! Ye are heroes, surely! Say now, mighty men, will ye stand there if I come down alone against you?" At these words the men grew mad with wrath, and flung their spears.
Then Eric spoke to Skallagrim. "What thinkest thou of yonder ship, Lambstail?" "I think this, lord: that she is fashioned wondrous like to the Gudruda." "That is in my mind also," said Eric, "and our fortune is good if it is she."
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