d now the great axe fell, and at every stroke a man lay dead
or wounded. Six of the boarders turned to fly, but just then the
grappling-iron broke and their ship drifted out with the tide towards
the open sea, and presently no man of that twenty was left alive.

Now the men of the ship of Ospakar and of the Gudruda pressed each other
hard. Thrice did Ospakar strive to come aboard and thrice he was pushed
back. Eric was ever where he was most needed, and with him Skallagrim,
for these two threw themselves from side to side, and were now here and
now there, so that it seemed as though there were not one golden helm
and one black, but rather four on board the Gudruda.

Eric looked and saw that the other ship was drawing round, though
somewhat slowly, to come alongside of them once more.

"Now we must make an end of Ospakar, else our hands will be overfull,"
he said, and therewith sprang up upon the bulwarks and after him many
men. Once they were driven back, but came on again, and now they thrust
all Ospakar's men before them and passed up his ship on both boards. By
the mast stood Ospakar and with him Gizur his son, and Eric strove to
come to him. But many men were between them, and he could not do this.

Presently, while the fight yet went on hotly and men fell fast,
Brighteyes felt the dragon of Ospakar strike, and, looking, saw that
they had drifted with the send of the tide on to the rocks of the
island. There was a great hole in the hull amidships and the water
rushed in fast.

"Back! men; back!" he cried, and all his folk that were unhurt, ran, and
leapt on board the Gudruda; but Ospakar and his men sprang into the sea
and swam for the shore. Then Skallagrim cut loose the grappling-irons
with his axe, and that not too soon, for, scarcely had they pushed
clear with great toil when the long warship slipped from the rock and
foundered, taking many dead and wounded men with her.

Now Ospakar and some of his people stood safe upon the rocks, and Eric
called to him in mockery, bidding him come aboard the Gudruda.

Ospakar made no answer, but stood gnawing his hand, while the water ran
from him. Only Gizur his son cursed them aloud.

Eric was greatly minded to follow them, and land and fight them there;
but he might not do this, because of the rocks and of the other dragon,
that hung about them, fearing to come on and yet not willing to go back.

"We will have her, at the least," said Eric, and bade the rowers get