t. Though
none else saw, I saw; and I say this: that if I may have my will, I will
string thee, living, to the prow in that same cable till gulls tear out
thy fox-heart!"

Now Hall grew very white and his knees trembled beneath him. "It is
true," he said, "that I cut the chain, but not from any thought of evil.
Had I not cut it the vessel must have sunk and all been lost."

"Did we not swear, Hall," said Eric sternly, "together to fight and
together to fall--together to fare and, if need be, together to cease
from faring, and dost thou read the oath thus? Say, mates, what
reward shall be paid to this man for his good fellowship to us and his
tenderness for your lives?"

As with one voice the men answered "_Death!_"

"Thou hearest, Hall?" said Eric. "Yet I would deal more gently with one
to whom I swore fellowship so lately. Get thee gone from our company,
and let us see thy cur's face no more. Get thee gone, I say, before I
repent of my mercy."

Then amidst a loud hooting, Hall took his weapons and without a word
slunk into the boat of the Raven that lay astern, and rowed ashore; nor
did Eric see his face for many months.

"Thou hast done foolishly, lord, to let that weasel go," said
Skallagrim, "for he will live to nip thy hand."

"For good or evil, he is gone," said Eric, "and now I am worn out and
desire to sleep."

After this Eric and Skallagrim rested three full days, and they were so
weary that they were awake for little of this time. But on the third day
they rose up, strong and well, except for their hurts and soreness. Then
they told the men of that which had come to pass, and all wondered at
their might and hardihood. To them indeed Eric seemed as a God, for few
such deeds as his had been told of since the God-kind were on earth.

But Brighteyes thought little of his deeds, and much of Gudruda. At
times also he thought of Swanhild, and of that witch-dream she sent him:
for it was wonderful to him that she should have saved him thus from
Ran's net.

Eric was heartily welcomed by the Earl of the Farey Isles, for, when he
heard his deeds, he made a feast in his honour, and set him in the high
seat. It was a great feast, but Skallagrim became drunk at it and ran
down the chamber, axe aloft, roaring for Hall of Lithdale.

This angered Eric much and he would scarcely speak to Skallagrim for
many days, though the great Baresark slunk about after him like his
shadow, or a whipped hound at its master'