hearken. Thou hast given me my life,
and it is thine from this hour to the end. Here I swear fealty to thee.
Slay me if thou wilt, or use me if thou wilt, but I think it will be
better for thee to do this rather than that, for there is but one who
has mastered me, and thou art he, and it is borne in upon my mind that
thou wilt have need of my strength, and that shortly."

"That may well be, Skallagrim," said Eric, "yet I put little trust in
outlaws and cave-dwellers. How do I know, if I take thee to me, that
thou wilt not murder me in my sleep, as it would have been easy for me
to do by thee but now?"

"What is it that runs from thy arm," asked Skallagrim.

"Blood," said Eric.

"Stretch out thine arm, lord."

Eric did so, and the Baresark put his lips to the scratch and sucked the
blood, then said:

"In this blood of thine I pledge thee, Eric Brighteyes! May Valhalla
refuse me and Hela take me; may I be hunted like a fox from earth to
earth; may trolls torment me and wizards sport with me o' night; may my
limbs shrivel and my heart turn to water; may my foes overtake me, and
my bones be crushed across the doom-stone--if I fail in one jot from
this my oath that I have sworn! I will guard thy back, I will smite
thy enemies, thy hearthstone shall be my temple, thy honour my honour.
Thrall am I of thine, and thrall I will be, and whiles thou wilt we will
live one life, and, in the end, we will die one death."

"It seems that in going to seek a foe I have found a friend," said Eric,
"and it is likely enough that I shall need one. Skallagrim, Baresark and
outlaw as thou art, I take thee at thy word. Henceforth, we are master
and man and we will do many a deed side by side, and in token of it I
lengthen thy name and call thee Skallagrim Lambstail. Now, if thou hast
it, give me food and drink, for I am faint from that hug of thine, old
bear."

VIII

HOW OSPAKAR BLACKTOOTH FOUND ERIC BRIGHTEYES AND SKALLAGRIM LAMBSTAIL ON
HORSE-HEAD HEIGHTS

Now Skallagrim led Eric to his cave and fed the fire and gave him flesh
to eat and ale to drink. When he had eaten his fill Eric looked at the
Baresark. He had black hair streaked with grey that hung down upon his
shoulders. His nose was hooked like an eagle's beak, his beard was wild
and his sunken eyes were keen as a hawk's. He was somewhat bent and not
over tall, but of a mighty make, for his shoulders must pass many a door
sideways.

"Thou art a great man," said Eric