him, walking
on the stormy seas. He saw her afar, and she came swiftly, and ever the
sea grew smooth before her feet, nor did the wind so much as stir her
hair. Presently she stood by him in the ship, and, bending over him,
touched him on the shoulder, saying:

"Awake, Eric Brighteyes! Awake! awake!"

It seemed to him that he awoke and said "What tidings, Swanhild?" and
that she answered:

"Ill tidings, Eric--so ill that I am come hither from Straumey[*] to
tell of them--ay, come walking on the seas. Had Gudruda done so much,
thinkest thou?"

[*] Stroma, the southernmost of the Orkneys.

"Gudruda is no witch," he said in his dream.

"Nay, but I am a witch, and it is well for thee, Eric. Ay, I am a witch.
Now do I seem to sleep at Atli's side, and lo! here I stand by thine,
and I must journey back again many a league before another day be
born--ay, many a league, and all for love of thee, Eric! Hearken, for
not long may the spell endure. I have seen this by my magic: that these
men who bound thee come even now to take thee, sleeping, and cast thee
and thy thrall into the deep, there to drown."

"If it is fated it will befall," he said in his dream.

"Nay, it shall not befall. Put forth all thy might and burst thy bonds.
Then fetch Whitefire; cut away the bonds of Skallagrim, and give him his
axe and shield. This done, cover yourselves with your cloaks, and wait
till ye hear the murderers come. Then rise and rush upon them, the two
of you, and they shall melt before your might. I have journeyed over the
great deep to tell thee this, Eric! Had Gudruda done as much, thinkest
thou?"

And it seemed to him that the wraith of Swanhild kissed him on the brow,
sighed and vanished, bearing the rat in her bosom.

Eric awoke suddenly, just as though he had never slept, and looked
around. He knew by the lowness of the sun that it was far into the
night, and that he had slept for many hours. They were alone beneath
the deck, and far aft, beyond the mast, as the vessel rose upon the
waves--for the sea was still rough, though the wind had fallen--Eric
saw the mate of the Raven talking earnestly with some men of his crew.
Skallagrim snored beside him.

"Awake!" Eric said in his ear, "awake and listen!"

He yawned and roused himself. "What now, lord?" he said.

"This," said Eric, and he told him the dream that he had dreamed.

"That was a fey dream," said Skallagrim, "and now we must do as the
wraith bade thee."