h parties was plainly at stake. Erik, unwilling to
be thought quicker of tongue than of hand, did not refuse the terms.

Now the manner of combat was as follows. A ring, plaited of withy or
rope, used to be offered to the combatants for them to drag away by
wrenching it with a great effort of foot and hand; and the prize went to
the stronger, for if either of the combatants could wrench it from the
other, he was awarded the victory. Erik struggled in this manner, and,
grasping the rope sharply, wrested it out of the hands of his opponent.
When Erode saw this, he said: "I think it is hard to tug at a rope with
a strong man."

And Erik said: "Hard, at any rate, when a tumour is in the body or a
hunch sits on the back."

And straightway, thrusting his foot forth, he broke the infirm neck and
back of the old man, and crushed him. And so Westmar failed to compass
his revenge: zealous to retaliate, he fell into the portion of those who
need revenging; being smitten down even as those whose slaughter he had
desired to punish.

Now Frode intended to pierce Erik by throwing a dagger at him. But
Gunwar knew her brother's purpose, and said, in order to warn
her betrothed of his peril, that no man could be wise who took no
forethought for himself. This speech warned Erik to ward off the
treachery, and he shrewdly understood the counsel of caution. For at
once he sprang up and said that the glory of the wise man would be
victorious, but that guile was its own punishment; thus censuring his
treacherous intent in very gentle terms. But the king suddenly flung his
knife at him, yet was too late to hit him; for he sprang aside, and the
steel missed its mark and ran into the wall opposite. Then said Erik:
"Gifts should be handed to friends, and not thrown; thou hadst made
the present acceptable if thou hadst given the sheath to keep the blade
company."

On this request the king at once took the sheath from his girdle and
gave it to him, being forced to abate his hatred by the self-control of
his foe. Thus he was mollified by the prudent feigning of the other, and
with goodwill gave him for his own the weapon which he had cast with
ill will. And thus Erik, by taking the wrong done him in a dissembling
manner, turned it into a favour, accepting as a splendid gift the steel
which had been meant to slay him. For he put a generous complexion on
what Frode had done with intent to harm. Then they gave themselves up
to rest. In the night G