e felt his head, and said that, before the sun sank again, a
hundred fathoms of air should link it to his shoulders."

"It may be so," answered Eric. "I thought as I lay in thy grip yonder
that the fate was near. And now arm thyself, and take such goods as thou
needest, and let us hence, for that thrall of mine who waits me yonder
will think thou hast been too mighty for me."

Skallagrim went to the edge of the rift and searched the plain with his
hawk eyes.

"No need to hasten, lord," he said. "See yonder rides thy thrall across
the black sand, and with him goes thy horse. Surely he thought thou
camest no more down the path by which thou wentest up, and it is not
thrall's work to seek Skallagrim in his lair and ask for tidings."

"Wolves take him for a fool!" said Eric in anger. "He will ride to
Middalhof and sing my death-song, and that will sound sadly in some
ears."

"It is pleasant, lord," said Skallagrim, "when good tidings dog the
heels of bad, and womenfolk can spare some tears and be little poorer. I
have horses in a secret dell that I will show thee, and on them we will
ride hence to Middalhof--and there thou must claim peace for me."

"It is well," said Eric; "now arm thyself, for if thou goest with me
thou must make an end of thy Baresark ways, or keep them for the hour of
battle."

"I will do thy bidding, lord," said Skallagrim. Then he entered the cave
and set a plain black steel helm upon his black locks, and a black chain
byrnie about his breast. He took the great axe-head also and fitted to
it the half of another axe that lay among the weapons. Then he drew out
a purse of money and a store of golden rings, and set them in a bag of
otter skin, and buckled it about him. But the other goods he wrapped
up in skins and hid behind some stones which were at the bottom of the
cave--purposing to come another time and fetch them.

Then they went forth by that same perilous path which Eric had trod, and
Skallagrim showed him how he might pass the rock in safety.

"A rough road this," said Eric as he gained the deep cleft.

"Yea, lord, and, till thou camest, one that none but wood-folk have
trodden."

"I would tread it no more," said Eric again, "and yet that fellow thief
of thine said that I should die here," and for a while his heart was
heavy.

Now Skallagrim Lambstail led him by secret paths to a dell rich in
grass, that is hid in the round of the mountain, and here three good
horses were at feed