traumey and tossed her white arms towards the north.

"Come, fog! come, sleet!" she cried. "Come, fog! come, sleet! Put out
the moon and blind the eyes of Eric!" And as she called, the fog rose up
like a giant and stretched his arms from shore to shore.

"Move, fog! beat, rain!" she cried. "Move and beat against the gale, and
blind the eyes of Eric!"

And the fog moved on against the wind, and with it sleet and rain.

"Now I am afeared," said Eric to Skallagrim, as they stood in darkness
upon the ship: "the gale blows from behind us, and yet the mist drives
fast in our faces. What comes now?"

"This is witch-work, lord," answered Skallagrim, "and in such things
no counsel can avail. Hold the tiller straight and drive on, say I.
Methinks the gale lessens more and more."

So they did for a little while, and all around them sounded the roar of
breakers. Darker grew the sky and darker yet, till at the last, though
they stood side by side, they could not see each other's shapes.

"This is strange sailing," said Eric. "I hear the roar of breakers as it
were beneath the prow."

"Lash the helm, lord, and let us go forward. If there are breakers,
perhaps we shall see their foam through the blackness," said Skallagrim.

Eric did so, and they crept forward on the starboard board right to the
prow of the ship, and there Skallagrim peered into the fog and sleet.

"Lord," he whispered presently, and his voice shook strangely, "what is
that yonder on the waters? Seest thou aught?"

Eric stared and said, "By Odin! I see a shape of light like to the
shape of a woman; it walks upon the waters towards us and the mist melts
before it, and the sea grows calm beneath its feet."

"I see that also!" said Skallagrim.

"She comes nigh!" gasped Eric. "See how swift she comes! By the dead,
it is Swanhild's shape! Look, Skallagrim! look how her eyes flame!--look
how her hair streams upon the wind!"

"It is Swanhild, and we are fey!" quoth Skallagrim, and they ran back to
the helm, where Skallagrim sank upon the deck in fear.

"See, Skallagrim, she glides before the Gudruda's beak! she glides
backwards and she points yonder--there to the right! Shall I put the
helm down and follow her?"

"Nay, lord, nay; set no faith in witchcraft or evil will befall us."

As he spoke a great gust of wind shook the ship, the music of the
breakers roared in their ears, and the gleaming shape upon the waters
tossed its arms wildly and pointed to the