e the snow when summer comes. These are glad
tidings, comrade, and methinks I grow young again beneath the breath of
them. Why art thou so glum then?"

"There is something that must yet be told of Swanhild," said Asmund.
"She is called the Fatherless, but, if thou wilt have the truth, why
here it is for thee--she is my daughter, born out of wedlock, and I know
not how that will please thee."

Atli laughed aloud, and his bright eyes shone in his wrinkled face. "It
pleases me well, Asmund, for then the maid is sprung from a sound stock.
The name of the Priest of Middalhof is famous far south of Iceland; and
never that Iceland bred a comelier girl. Is that all?"

"One more thing, Earl. This I charge thee: watch thy wife, and hold her
back from witchcraft and from dealings with evil things and trolls of
darkness. She is of Finnish blood and the women of the Finns are much
given to such wicked work."

"I set little store by witchwork, goblins and their kin," said Atli. "I
doubt me much of their power, and I shall soon wean Swanhild from such
ways, if indeed she practise them."

Then they fell to talking of Swanhild's dower, and that was not small.
Afterwards Asmund sought Eric and Gudruda, and told them what had come
to pass, and they were glad at the news, though they grieved for Atli
the Earl. And when Swanhild met Gudruda, she came to her humbly, and
humbly kissed her hand, and with tears craved pardon of her evil doing,
saying that she had been mad; nor did Gudruda withhold it, for of all
women she was the gentlest and most forgiving. But to Eric, Swanhild
said nothing.

The wedding-feast must be held on the third day from this, for Atli
would sail on that same day, since his people wearied of waiting and his
ship might lie bound no longer. Blithe was Atli the Earl, and Swanhild
was all changed, for now she seemed the gentlest of maids, and, as
befitted one about to be made a wife, moved through the house with soft
words and downcast eyes. But Skallagrim, watching her, bethought him of
the grey wolf that he had seen by Goldfoss, and this seemed not well to
him.

"It would be bad now," he said to Eric, as they rode to Coldback, "to
stand in yon old earl's shoes. This woman's weather has changed too
fast, and after such a calm there'll come a storm indeed. I am now
minded of Thorunna, for she went just so the day before she gave herself
to Ospakar, and me to shame and bonds."

"Talk not of the raven till you hear