e men of Ospakar, having little heart left in them for such work
as this, had taken thought together.

"We have got great hurt, and little honour," said the mate. "There are
but nineteen of us left alive, and that is scarcely enough to work the
ship, and it seems that we shall be fewer before Eric Brighteyes and
Skallagrim Lambstail lie quiet by yonder mast. They are mighty men,
indeed, and it would be better, methinks, to deal with them by craft,
rather than by force."

The sailors said that this was a good word, for they were weary of the
sight of Whitefire as he flamed on high and the sound of the axe of
Skallagrim as it crashed through helm and byrnie; and as fear crept in
valour fled out.

"This is my rede, then," said the mate: "that we go to them and give
them peace, and lay them in bonds, swearing that we will put them ashore
when we are come back to Iceland. But when we have them fast, as they
sleep at night, we will creep on them and hurl them into the sea, and
afterwards we will say that we slew them fighting."

"A shameful deed!" said a man.

"Then go thou up against them," answered the mate. "If we slay them
not, then shall this tale be told against us throughout Iceland: that a
ship's company were worsted by two men, and we may not live beneath that
dishonour."

The man held his peace, and the mate, laying down his arms, crept
forward alone, towards the mast, just as Eric and Skallagrim were about
to cut themselves loose and rush on them.

"What wouldest thou?" shouted Eric. "Has it gone so well with you with
arms that ye are minded to come up against us bearing none?"

"It has gone ill, Eric," said the mate, "for ye twain are too mighty for
us. We have lost many men, and we shall lose more ere ye are laid low.
Therefore we make you this offer: that you lay down your weapons and
suffer yourselves to be bound till such time as we touch land, where we
will set you ashore, and give you your arms again. Meanwhile, we will
deal with you in friendly fashion, giving you of the best we have; nor
will we set foot any suit against you for those of our number whom ye
two have slain."

"Wherefore then should we be bound?" said Eric.

"For this reason only: that we dare not leave you free within our ship.
Now choose, and, if ye will, take peace, which we swear by all the Gods
we will keep towards you, and, if ye will not, then we will bear you
down with beams and sails and stones, and slay you."

"What th