"What counsel shall we take now?" said Eric, and as he spoke a sea brokeover them--for the gale was strong.
"Board them and make an end," answered Skallagrim.
"Rough work; still, we will try it," said Eric, "for we may not lie thusfor long, and I am loath to leave them."
Then Eric called for men to follow him, and many answered, creeping asbest they might to where he stood.
"Thou art mad, Eric," said Hall the mate; "cut loose and let us drive,else we shall both founder, and that is a poor tale to tell."
Eric took no heed, but, watching his chance, leapt on to the bows of theRaven, and after him leapt Skallagrim. Even as he did so, a great seacame and swept past and over them, so that half the ship was hid forfoam. Now, Hall the mate stood near to the grapnel cable, and, fearinglest they should sink, out of the cowardice of his heart, he let hisaxe fall upon the chain, and severed it so swiftly that no man sawhim, except Skallagrim only. Forward sprang the Gudruda, freed from herburden, and rushed away before the wind, leaving Eric and Skallagrimalone upon the Raven's prow.
"Now we are in an evil plight," said Eric, "the cable has parted!"
"Ay," answered Skallagrim, "and that losel Hall hath parted it! I sawhis axe fall."
XIV
HOW ERIC DREAMED A DREAM
Now, when the men of Ospakar, who were gathered on the poop of theRaven, saw what had come about, they shouted aloud and made ready toslay the pair. But Eric and Skallagrim clambered to the mast and gottheir backs against it, and swiftly made themselves fast with a rope, sothat they might not fall with the rolling of the ship. Then the peopleof Ospakar came on to cut them down.
But this was no easy task, for they might scarcely stand, and they couldnot shoot with the bow. Moreover, Eric and Skallagrim, being boundto the mast, had the use of both hands and were minded to die hard.Therefore Ospakar's folks got but one thing by their onslaught, andthat was death, for three of their number fell beneath the long sweepof Whitefire, and one bowed before the axe of Skallagrim. Then they drewback and strove to throw spears at these two, but they flew wide becauseof the rolling of the vessel. One spear struck the mast near the head ofSkallagrim. He drew it out, and, waiting till the ship steadied herselfin the trough of the sea, hurled it at a knot of Ospakar's thralls, anda man got his death from it. After that they threw no more spears.
Thence once more the crew came on with swords and axes, butfaint-heartedly, and the end of it was that they lost some more men deadand wounded and fell back again.
Skallagrim mocked at them with bitter words, and one of them, made madby his scoffing, cast a heavy ballast-stone at him. It fell upon hisshoulder and numbed him.
"Now I am unmeet for fight, lord," said Skallagrim, "for my right arm isdead and I can scarcely hold my axe."
"That is ill, then," said Eric, "for we have little help, except fromeach other, and I, too, am well-nigh spent. Well, we have done a greatdeed and now it is time to rest."
"My left arm is yet whole, lord, and I can make shift for a while withit. Cut loose the cord before they bait us to death, and let us rushupon these wolves and fall fighting."
"A good counsel," said Eric, "and a quick end; but stay a while: whatplan have they now?"
Now the men of Ospakar, having little heart left in them for such workas this, had taken thought together.
"We have got great hurt, and little honour," said the mate. "There arebut nineteen of us left alive, and that is scarcely enough to work theship, and it seems that we shall be fewer before Eric Brighteyes andSkallagrim Lambstail lie quiet by yonder mast. They are mighty men,indeed, and it would be better, methinks, to deal with them by craft,rather than by force."
The sailors said that this was a good word, for they were weary of thesight of Whitefire as he flamed on high and the sound of the axe ofSkallagrim as it crashed through helm and byrnie; and as fear crept invalour fled out.
"This is my rede, then," said the mate: "that we go to them and givethem peace, and lay them in bonds, swearing that we will put them ashorewhen we are come back to Iceland. But when we have them fast, as theysleep at night, we will creep on them and hurl them into the sea, andafterwards we will say that we slew them fighting."
"A shameful deed!" said a man.
"Then go thou up against them," answered the mate. "If we slay themnot, then shall this tale be told against us throughout Iceland: that aship's company were worsted by two men, and we may not live beneath thatdishonour."
The man held his peace, and the mate, laying down his arms, creptforward alone, towards the mast, just as Eric and Skallagrim were aboutto cut themselves loose and rush on them.
"What wouldest thou?" shouted Eric. "Has it gone so well with you witharms that ye are minded to come up against us bearing none?"
"It has gone ill, Eric," said the mate, "for ye twain are too mighty forus. We have lost many men, and we shall lose more ere ye are laid low.Therefore we make you this offer: that you lay down your weapons andsuffer yourselves to be bound till such time as we touch land, where wewill set you ashore, and give you your arms again. Meanwhile, we willdeal with you in friendly fashion, giving you of the best we have; norwill we set foot any suit against you for those of our number whom yetwo have slain."
"Wherefore then should we be bound?" said Eric.
"For this reason only: that we dare not leave you free within our ship.Now choose, and, if ye will, take peace, which we swear by all the Godswe will keep towards you, and, if ye will not, then we will bear youdown with beams and sails and stones, and slay you."
"What thinkest thou, Skallagrim?" said Eric beneath his breath.
"I think that I find little faith in yon carle's face," answeredSkallagrim. "Still, I am unfit to fight, and thy strength is spent, soit seems that we must lie low if we would rise again. They can scarcelybe so base as to do murder having handselled peace to us."
"I am not so sure of that," said Eric; "still, starving beggars must eatbones. Hearken thou: we take the terms, trusting to your honour; and Isay this: that ye shall get shame and death if ye depart from them toharm us."
"Have no fear, lord," said the mate, "we are true men."
"That we shall look to your deeds to learn," said Eric, laying down hissword and shield.
Skallagrim did likewise, though with no good grace. Then men came withstrong cords and bound them fast hand and foot, handling them fearsomelyas men handle a live bear in a net. Then they led them forward to theprow.
As they went Eric looked up. Yonder, twenty furlongs and more away,sailed the Gudruda.
"This is good fellowship," said Skallagrim, "thus to leave us in thetrap."
"Nay," answered Eric. "They cannot put about in such a sea, anddoubtless also they think us dead. Nevertheless, if ever it comes aboutthat Hall and I stand face to face again, there will be need for me tothink of gentleness."
"I shall think little thereon," growled Skallagrim.
Now they were come to the prow, and there was a half deck under whichthey were set, out of reach of the wind and water. In the deck was astout iron ring, and the men made them fast with ropes to it, so thatthey might move but little, and they set their helms and weapons behindthem in such fashion that they could not come at them. Then they flungcloaks about them, and brought them food and drink, of which they stoodmuch in need, and treated them well in every way. But for all thisSkallagrim trusted them no more.
"We are new-hooked, lord," he said, "and they give us line. Presentlythey will haul us in."
"Evil comes soon enough," answered Eric, "no need to run to greetit," and he fell to thinking of Gudruda, and of the day's deeds, tillpresently he dropped asleep, for he was very weary.
Now it chanced that as Eric slept he dreamed a dream so strong andstrange that it seemed to live within him. He dreamed that he sleptthere beneath the Raven's deck, and that a rat came and whispered spellsinto his ear. Then he dreamed that Swanhild glided towards him, walkingon the stormy seas. He saw her afar, and she came swiftly, a
nd ever thesea grew smooth before her feet, nor did the wind so much as stir herhair. Presently she stood by him in the ship, and, bending over him,touched him on the shoulder, saying:
"Awake, Eric Brighteyes! Awake! awake!"
It seemed to him that he awoke and said "What tidings, Swanhild?" andthat she answered:
"Ill tidings, Eric--so ill that I am come hither from Straumey[*] totell of them--ay, come walking on the seas. Had Gudruda done so much,thinkest thou?"
[*] Stroma, the southernmost of the Orkneys.
"Gudruda is no witch," he said in his dream.
"Nay, but I am a witch, and it is well for thee, Eric. Ay, I am a witch.Now do I seem to sleep at Atli's side, and lo! here I stand by thine,and I must journey back again many a league before another day beborn--ay, many a league, and all for love of thee, Eric! Hearken, fornot long may the spell endure. I have seen this by my magic: that thesemen who bound thee come even now to take thee, sleeping, and cast theeand thy thrall into the deep, there to drown."
"If it is fated it will befall," he said in his dream.
"Nay, it shall not befall. Put forth all thy might and burst thy bonds.Then fetch Whitefire; cut away the bonds of Skallagrim, and give him hisaxe and shield. This done, cover yourselves with your cloaks, and waittill ye hear the murderers come. Then rise and rush upon them, the twoof you, and they shall melt before your might. I have journeyed over thegreat deep to tell thee this, Eric! Had Gudruda done as much, thinkestthou?"
And it seemed to him that the wraith of Swanhild kissed him on the brow,sighed and vanished, bearing the rat in her bosom.
Eric awoke suddenly, just as though he had never slept, and lookedaround. He knew by the lowness of the sun that it was far into thenight, and that he had slept for many hours. They were alone beneaththe deck, and far aft, beyond the mast, as the vessel rose upon thewaves--for the sea was still rough, though the wind had fallen--Ericsaw the mate of the Raven talking earnestly with some men of his crew.Skallagrim snored beside him.
"Awake!" Eric said in his ear, "awake and listen!"
He yawned and roused himself. "What now, lord?" he said.
"This," said Eric, and he told him the dream that he had dreamed.
"That was a fey dream," said Skallagrim, "and now we must do as thewraith bade thee."
"Easy to say, but hard to do," quoth Eric; "this is a great rope thatholds us, and a strong."
"Yes, it is great and strong; still, we must burst it."
Now Eric and Skallagrim were made fast in this fashion: their hands werebound behind them, and their legs were lashed above the feet and abovethe knee. Moreover, a thick cord was fixed about the waist of each, andthis cord was passed through the iron ring and knotted there. But itchanced that beneath the hollows of their knees ran an oaken beam, whichheld the forepart of the dragon together.
"We may try this," said Eric: "to set our feet against the beam andstrain with all our strength upon the rope; though I think that no twomen can part it."
"We shall know that presently," said Skallagrim, gathering up his legs.
Then they set their feet against the beam and pulled till it groaned;but, though the rope gave somewhat, it would not break. They rested awhile, then strained again till the sweat burst out upon them and therope cut into their flesh, but still it would not part.
"We have found our match," said Eric.
"That is not altogether proved yet," answered the Baresark. "Many ashield is riven at the third stroke."
So once again they set their feet against the beam, and put out alltheir strength.
"The ring bends," gasped Eric. "Now, when the roll of the ship throwsour weight to leeward, in the name of Thor pull!"
They waited, then put out their might, and lo! though the rope did notbreak, the iron ring burst asunder and they rolled upon the deck.
"Well pulled, truly," said Skallagrim as he struggled to his haunches:"I am marked about the middle with rope-twists for many a day to come,that I will swear. What next, lord?"
"Whitefire," answered Eric.
Now, their arms were piled a fathom or more from where they sat, andright in the prow of the ship. Hither, then, they must crawl upon theirknees, and this was weary work, for ever as the ship rolled they fell,and could in no wise save themselves from hurt. Eric was bleeding at thebrow, and bloody was the hooked nose of Skallagrim, before they came towhere Whitefire was. At length they reached the sword, and pushed asidethe bucklers that were over it with their heads. The great war-blade wassheathed, and Eric must needs lie upon his breast and draw the weaponsomewhat with his teeth.
"This is an ill razor to shave with," he said, rising, for the keenblade had cut his chin.
"So some have thought and perchance more shall think," answeredSkallagrim. "Now set the rope on the edge and rub."
This they did, and presently the thick cord that bound them was in two.Then Eric knelt upon the deck and pressed the bonds that bound his legsupon the blade, and after him Skallagrim. They were free now, except fortheir hands, and it was no easy thing to cut away the bonds upon theirwrists. It was done thus: Skallagrim sat upon the deck, and Eric pushedthe sword between his fingers with his feet. Then the Baresark rose,holding the sword, and Eric, turning back to back with him, fretted thecords upon his wrists against the blade. Twice he cut himself, but thethird time the cord parted and he was free. He stretched his arms,for they were stiff; then took Whitefire and cut away the bonds ofSkallagrim.
"How goes it with that hurt of thine?" he asked.
"Better than I had thought," answered Skallagrim; "the soreness has comeout with the bruise."
"That is good news," said Eric, "for methinks, unless Swanhild walkedthe seas for nothing, thou wilt soon need thine arms."
"They have never failed me yet," said Skallagrim and took his axe andshield. "What counsel now?"
"This, Skallagrim: that we lie down as we were, and put the cloaks aboutus as though we were yet in bonds. Then, if these knaves come, we cantake them unawares as they think to take us."
So they went again to where they had been bound, and lay down upon theirshields and weapons, drawing cloaks over them. Scarcely had they donethis and rested a while, when they saw the mate and all the crew comingalong both boards towards them. They bore no weapons in their hands.
"None too soon did Swanhild walk," said Eric; "now we shall learn theirpurpose. Be thou ready to leap forth when I give the word."
"Ay, lord," answered Skallagrim as he worked his stiff arms to and fro."In such matters few have thought me backward."
"What news, friends?" cried Eric as the men drew near.
"Bad news for thee, Brighteyes," answered the mate, "and that Baresarkthrall of thine, for we must loose your bands."
"That is good news, then," said Eric, "for our limbs are numb and deadbecause of the nipping of the cords. Is land in sight?"
"Nay, nor will be for thee, Eric."
"How now, friend? how now? Sure, having handselled peace to us, ye meanno harm towards two unarmed men?"
"We swore to do you no harm, nor will we, Eric; this only will we do:deliver you, bound, to Ran, and leave her to deal with you as she may."
"Bethink you, sirs," said Eric: "this is a cruel deed and most unmanly.We yielded to you in faith--will ye break your troth?"
"War has no troth," he answered, "ye are too great to let slip betweenour fingers. Shall it be said of us that two men overcame us all?"
"Mayhap!" murmured Skallagrim beneath his breath.
"Oh, sirs, I beseech you," said Eric; "I am young, and there is a maidwho waits me out in Iceland, and it is hard to die," and he made asthough he wept, while Skallagrim laughed within his sleeve, for it wasstrange to see Eric feigning fear.
But the men mocked aloud.
"This is the great man," they cried, "this is that Eric of whose deedsfolk sing! Look! he weeps like a child when he sees the water. Drag himforth and away with him into the sea!"
"Little need for that," cried Eric, and l
o! the cloaks about him andSkallagrim flew aside. Out they came with a roar; they came out asa she-bear from her cave, and high above Brighteyes' golden curlsWhitefire shone in the pale light, and nigh to it shone the axe ofSkallagrim. Whitefire flared aloft, then down he fell and sought thefalse heart of the mate. The great axe of Skallagrim shone and was lostin the breast of the carle who stood before him.
"Trolls!" shrieked one. "Here are trolls!" and turned to fly. But againWhitefire was up and that man flew not far--one pace, and no more. Thenthey fled screaming and after them came axe and sword. They fled, theyfell, they leaped into the sea, till none were left to fall and leap,for they had no time or heart to find or draw their weapons, andpresently Eric Brighteyes and Skallagrim Lambstail stood alone upon thedeck--alone with the dead.
"Swanhild is a wise witch," gasped Eric, "and, whatever ill she hasdone, I will remember this to her honour."
"Little good comes of witchcraft," answered Skallagrim, wiping his brow:"to-day it works for our hands, to-morrow it shall work against them."
"To the helm," said Eric; "the ship yaws and comes side on to the seas."
Skallagrim sprang to the tiller and put his strength on it, and but justin time, for one big sea came aboard them and left much water in thehold.
"We owe this to thy Baresark ways," said Eric. "Hadst thou not slain thesteersman we had not filled with water."
"True, lord," answered Skallagrim; "but when once my axe is aloft, itseems to fly of itself, till nothing is left before it. What coursenow?"
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