United States or Togo ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Now men rode round them, but at first they did not know Eric, because of the golden helm that hid his face in shadow. "Who are ye?" called Ospakar. "I think that thou shouldst know me, Blacktooth," Eric answered, "for I set thee heels up in the snow but lately or, at the least, thou wilt know this," and he drew great Whitefire. "Thou mayest know me also, Ospakar," cried the Baresark.
Lay on, Lambstail; lay on with that axe of thine." "Child's talk!" said Skallagrim. "Child's talk, but man's work! Thou hast not heard the tale out. Swanhild hath seized my lands and sits here at Coldback! And what thinkest thou, Skallagrim? but now she has ridden a-guesting to the marriage-feast of Ospakar Blacktooth with Gudruda the Fair!
"Yes, and bad company," answered Eric, "for yonder I spy Ospakar Blacktooth, and Gizur and Mord his sons, ay and others. Down, and back to back, for they will show us little gentleness." Then they sprang to earth and took their stand upon a mound of rising ground and the men rode towards them. "I shall soon know what thy fellowship is worth," said Eric. "Fear not, lord," answered Skallagrim.
But Ospakar Blacktooth grew not glad, though he drank much, for he saw that the eyes of Gudruda ever watched Eric's face and that they smiled on each other.
He caught the foot in the crook of his left leg, and threw his weight forward on the chest of Blacktooth. Backward he went, falling with the thud of a tree on snow, and there he lay on the ground, and Eric over him. Then men shouted "A fall! a fair fall!" and were very glad, for the fight seemed most uneven to them, and the wrestlers rolled asunder, breathing heavily.
"As thou wilt, Baresark. Among so many there is room to pick and choose. Tell on, nurse!" Then she told how Swanhild came out to Iceland, and, having won Ospakar Blacktooth and Gizur to her side, had laid a suit against Eric at the Thing, and there bore false witness against him, so that Brighteyes was declared outlaw, being absent.
On the day of the opening of the Thing Ospakar Blacktooth came from the north, and with him his son Gizur and a great company of men. Ospakar was blithe, for from the Thing he should ride to Middalhof, there to wed Gudruda the Fair. Then Swanhild clad herself in beautiful attire, and, taking men with her, went to the booth of Ospakar.
Eric ran forward to the prow, and with him Skallagrim, and called aloud to a great man who stood upon the ship to starboard, wearing a black helm with raven's wings: "Who art thou that bars the sea against me?" "I am named Ospakar Blacktooth," answered the great man. "And what must we lose at thy hands, Ospakar?" "But one thing your lives!" answered Blacktooth.
He was no friend to Eric Brighteyes, and always pressed it on Gudruda that she should wed Ospakar Blacktooth. But to this counsel Gudruda would not listen, for day and night she thought upon her love. Next summer there came tidings that Eric was safe in Ireland, and men spoke of his deeds, and of how he and Skallagrim had swept the ship of Ospakar single-handed.
It would be bad that either of us should lose sword or eye; therefore, what sayest thou, shall we let it pass?" "Ay, Blacktooth, if thou fearest; but first pay thou forfeit of the sword." Now Ospakar grew very mad and shouted, "Thou wilt indeed stand against me in the ring! I will break thy back anon, youngster, and afterwards tear out thine eye before thou diest."
Word Of The Day