id, to be piled upon the ship, for he would have her
laid upon a hill of flowers.

And the men obeyed; and the whole deck was so thickly strewn with
flowers that nowhere was a bit of wood visible.

And close by the mast rose a swelling couch of perfumed light
wood-grass, and all the loveliest wood flowers, so high that it reached
to Halfred's breast.

Over this he spread a rich white linen mantle, and laid the heavily
breathing form upon it.

And again the moon was full, as on that night of the battle on the
ship. But many storm-rent clouds were still driving across the heavens,
and the sailing disk of the moon had not pierced through them.

And it was midsummer night. The first that Halfred had not spent by the
black Heckla Stone in Iceland.

Thora had fallen asleep upon her flowers.

Halfred had covered her with his own mantle. And he sat close by the
flower hill, and looked into the noble, pale, all bloodless face, and
then quietly before him again.

"Ye have done all things well, ye merciful dwellers in the stars above.
Ye have requited me, for that I never altogether doubted ye. I will not
again question with ye, wherefore ye have ordained for me this second
fearful thing, that I should be forced to slay my dear blood-brethren,
and so many of the ship's crew.

"Because ye have saved this wonderful flower, and have not suffered her
guiltless, to perish for other's guilt, for ever will I bless ye.

"And a song of praise will I compose for you, ye merciful and gracious
Gods; such as never yet has resounded to your praise. Thanks to you, ye
gracious Gods!"

And thus musing he fell asleep; for it was many many nights since he
had slept.

Then a piercing cry awoke him, which seemed to ring from the stars.
"Halfred." It fell upon his ear from high above.

He started up from slumber, and looked upwards. There he saw what
filled him with horror. The full moon had, while he slept, pierced the
clouds, and shone with full radiance upon Thora's face. Now Halfred saw
her, standing swaying, high on the slender cross-spars, many many feet
above his head.

Like a white ghost she shone in the moonlight; her widely opened eyes
looked out into her future; her right hand she stretched, as though
warding off, into the night. She did not hold fast by the slender
towering mast, on whose giddying height naught else save the seabird,
tossing, rested. And yet she stood firmly erect; but in her face was
despairing woe.

"