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Brighteyes has dropped his point, and it stands a full span through the back of Mord, and instantly that was his bane. Now men rush to their horses, mount in hot haste and ride away, crying that these are trolls whom they have to do with here, not men. Skallagrim sees, and the Baresark fit takes him sore. With axe aloft he charges after them, screaming as he comes.
Now Eric and his henchman Skallagrim the Baresark rode four hours and saw nobody, till at length they came to the brow of a hill that is named Horse-Head Heights, and, crossing it, found themselves almost in the midst of a score of armed men who were about to mount their horses. "Now we have company," said Skallagrim.
It passed over the head of Skallagrim, and sped like light across the wide hall, till it crashed through the panelling on the further side, and buried itself to the haft in the wall beyond. "It is not for me to kill thee, drunkard! Go, die in thy drink!" "Then I will kill myself!" cried the Baresark, and, rushing across the hall he tore the great axe from its bed.
The Baresark laughed: "My hands will hold my head against ten such mannikins as thou art, Priest. There was never but one man who might overcome me in fair fight and there he stands, and his bidding is my law. So waste no words and make not niddering threats against greater folk," and he slouched back to his horse.
Now the Baresark is weaponless but unharmed, and it would be an easy task to slay him as he rushes by. But it came into Eric's mind that it is an unworthy deed to slay a swordless man, and this came into his mind also, that he desired to match his naked might against a Baresark in his rage.
Then he found the byrnie which his father Thorgrimur had stripped, together with the helm, from that Baresark who cut off his leg and this was a good piece, forged of the Welshmen and he put it on his breast, and taking a stout shield of bull's hide studded with nails, rode away with one thrall, the strong carle named Jon.
Skallagrim, Baresark and outlaw as thou art, I take thee at thy word. Henceforth, we are master and man and we will do many a deed side by side, and in token of it I lengthen thy name and call thee Skallagrim Lambstail. Now, if thou hast it, give me food and drink, for I am faint from that hug of thine, old bear."
"There they are at the least," said Skallagrim. "Now this is my will, that thou shouldst take my helm. I am Baresark and put little trust in harness, but rather in my axe and strength alone." "I will not do that," said Eric. "Listen: I hear them come."
Then all held their peace, for they feared the axe of Skallagrim. "Lady," he said, "I do not come for slaying or such child's play, I come to speak a word in thine ear but first I ask a cup of mead and a morsel of food, for we have spent three days in the snows." So they ate and drank. Then Gudruda bade the Baresark draw near and tell her his tale.
She had come with a heavy heart to Middalhof in the company of Ospakar; but when she saw Skallagrim, her husband whom she had betrayed, and who had turned Baresark because of her wickedness shame smote her, and she crept away and hid herself behind the hangings of the hall. The sword sped along point first, it rushed like a spear through the air.
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