where they knew that he must pass.

Now it drew towards evening when Eric rowed down this channel, for the
wind had fallen and he desired to be clear at sea. Presently, as the
Gudruda came near to the mouth of the channel, that had high cliffs on
either hand, Eric saw two long dragons of war--for their bulwarks were
shield-hung--glide from the cover of the island and take their station
side by side between him and the open sea.

"Now here are vikings," said Eric to Skallagrim.

"Now here is Ospakar Blacktooth," answered Skallagrim, "for well I know
that raven banner of his. This is a good voyage, for we must seek but a
little while before we come to fighting."

Eric bade the men lay on their oars, and spoke:

"Before us is Ospakar Blacktooth in two great dragons, and he is here to
cut us off. Now two choices are left to us: one is to bout ship and run
before him, and the other to row on and give him battle. What say ye,
comrades?"

Hall of Lithdale, the mate, answered, saying:

"Let us go back, lest we die. The odds are too great, Eric."

But a man among the crew cried out, "When thou didst go on holmgang at
Thingvalla, Eric, Ospakar's two chosen champions stood before thee,
yet at Whitefire's flash they skurried through the water like startled
ducks. It was an omen, for so shall his great ships fly when we swoop on
them." Then the others shouted:

"Ay, ay! Never let it be said that we fled from Ospakar--fie on thy
woman's talk, Hall!"

"Then we are all of one mind, save Hall only," said Eric. "Let us put
Ospakar to the proof." And while men shouted "Yea!" he turned to speak
with Skallagrim. The Baresark was gone, for, wasting no breath in words,
already he was fixing the long shields on the bulwark rail.

The men busked on their harness and made them fit for fight, and, when
all was ready, Eric mounted the poop, and with him Skallagrim, and bade
the rowers give way. The Gudruda leapt forward and rushed on towards
Ospakar's ships. Now they saw that these were bound together with a
cable and yet they must go betwixt them.

Eric ran forward to the prow, and with him Skallagrim, and called aloud
to a great man who stood upon the ship to starboard, wearing a black
helm with raven's wings:

"Who art thou that bars the sea against me?"

"I am named Ospakar Blacktooth," answered the great man.

"And what must we lose at thy hands, Ospakar?"

"But one thing--your lives!" answered Blacktooth.

"Thrice have