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She whom I loved has been slain by the witchcraft of Swanhild and the coward hand of Gizur the murderer, and I go to seek her where she waits. I am very glad to go, for now I have no more joy in life, being but a luckless man; it is an ill world, friends, and all the ways are red with blood.
'Who can tell who will fear most at the sound of that singing? But this you know well, that when the fight has begun Gunnar does not give his bill much time to sing! Now when Skamkell reached Mossfell, he told truly to Gizur the white the offers Gunnar had made. 'Why did not Otkell accept them? asked Gizur, 'they were generous and noble, as Gunnar's offers are.
The minds of men were mad, and they smote one another, and slew each other, till at length of all that marriage company few were left unharmed, except Gizur, Swanhild, and Gudruda. For the serving thralls and womenfolk had fled the hall, and with them some peaceful men. Then Gudruda spoke as one in a dream.
When Gunnar heard what errand they were on, he was very wroth, and after Otkell had read the summons, and departed with his men, he went away to seek Njal. But Njal told him not to trouble, as before the Thing was over he should be held in greater honour than before. Gizur the white rode to the Thing also, and he spoke to Otkell, and asked why he had summoned Gunnar to the Thing.
"And if they find Gudruda they shall keep her prisoner. But if they find neither the one nor the other, they shall do this: they shall drive the crew ashore, killing as few as may be, and burn the ship." "It is an ill deed thus to burn another's ship," said Gizur. "Good or ill, it shall be done," answered Swanhild fiercely.
Eric thanked them through Jon his thrall, but answered that he wished to die here in Iceland. Now, when Eric had sat two months and more in Mosfell cave and autumn was coming, he learned that Gizur and Swanhild had moved down to Coldback, and with them a great company of men who were sworn to slay him. He asked if Gudruda the Fair had also gathered men for his slaying.
For many a day men sang of the fight which Gunnar made for his life and the numbers that he slew before he himself was struck down and slain. 'We have laid low a great chief, said Gizur, 'and many hearts will be sore because of his slaying. But, though his body is dead, his name shall live for ever. Now, Valgard the Cunning was dying.
"Hold!" said Swanhild; "I will speak with Eric first," and, together with Gizur and Ketel, she passed round the corner of the path and came face to face with those who stood at bay there. "Now yield, Eric," she cried. "Foes are behind and before thee. Thou art trapped, and hast little chance of life.
"It is the ghost of Eric!" cried one, for Gizur had given out that Eric was dead at his hand in fair fight. "Open!" said Gizur, and they opened, and there, a little way from the door, sat Brighteyes on a horse, great and shadowy to see, and behind him was Skallagrim the Baresark. "It is the ghost of Eric!" they cried again. "I am no ghost," said Brighteyes. "I am no ghost, ye men of Swanhild.
"I am weary of sitting here, indeed; but I am yet more weary of bringing men to their death. I will shed no more blood, unless it is to save my own head. When the people of Gizur came to seek me on Mosfell, they shall find me here; but I will not go to them." "Thy heart is out of thee, lord," said Skallagrim; "thou wast not wont to speak thus."
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