en from the sea in the shapes of Eric and the Baresark.

Then Eric sang this song:

"Swift and sure across the Swan's Bath
Sped Sea-stag on Raven's track,
Heav'd Ran's breast in raging billows,
Stream'd gale-banners through the sky!
Yet did Eric the war-eager
Leap with Baresark-mate aboard,
Fierce their onset on the foemen!
Wherefore brake the grapnel-chain?"

Hall heard and slunk back, for now he saw that these were indeed Eric
and Skallagrim come up alive from the sea, and that they knew his
baseness.

Eric looked at him and sang again:

"Swift away sped ship Gudruda,
Left her lord in foeman's ring;
Brighteyes back to back with Baresark
Held his head 'gainst mighty odds.
Down amidst the ballast tumbling,
Ospakar's shield-carles were rolled.
Holy peace at length they handselled,
Eric must in bonds be laid!

"Came the Grey Rat, came the Earl's wife,
Came the witch-word from afar;
Cag'd wolves roused them, and with struggling
Tore their fetter from its hold.
Now they watch upon their weapons;
Now they weep and pray for life;
Now they leap forth like a torrent--
Swept away in foeman's strength!

"Then alone upon the Raven
Three long days they steer and sail,
Till the waters, welling upwards,
Wash dead men about their feet.
Fails the gale and sinks the dragon,
Barely may they win the boat:
Safe they stand on ship Gudruda--
Say, who cut the grapnel-chain?"

XV

HOW ERIC DWELT IN LONDON TOWN

Men stood astonished, but Hall the mate slunk back.

"Hold, comrade," said Eric, "I have something to say that songs cannot
carry. Hearken, my shield-mates: we swore to be true to each other,
even to death: is it not so? What then shall be said of that man who cut
loose the Gudruda and left us two to die at the foeman's hand?"

"Who was the man?" asked a voice.

"That man was Hall of Lithdale," said Eric.

"It is false!" said Hall, gathering up his courage; "the cable parted
beneath the straining of the ship, and afterwards we could not put about
because of the great sea."

"Thou art false!" roared Skallagrim. "With my eyes I saw thee let thine
axe fall upon the cable. Liar art thou and dastard! Thou art jealous
also of Brighteyes thy lord, and this was in thy mind: to let him die
upon the Raven and then to bind his shoes upon thy cowardly fee