rang from the dais and rushed along the hall, screaming. Men made way
for her, and at the door she also fell dead.

This then was the end of Asmund Asmundson the Priest, and Unna, Thorod's
daughter, Eric's cousin, his new-made wife.

For a moment there was silence in the hall. But before the echoes of
Unna's screams had died away, Bjoern cried aloud:

"The witch! where is the witch?"

Then with a yell of rage, men leaped to their feet, seizing their
weapons, and rushed from the stead. Out they ran. There, on the
hill-side far above them, a black shape climbed and leapt swiftly. They
gave tongue like dogs set upon a wolf and sped up the hill.

They gained the crest of the hill, and now they were at Goldfoss brink.
Lo! the witch-wife had crossed the bed of the torrent, for little rain
had fallen and the river was low. She stood on Sheep-saddle, the water
running from her robes. On Sheep-saddle she stood and cursed them.

Bjoern took a bow and set a shaft upon the string. He drew it and the
arrow sung through the air and smote her, speeding through her heart.
With a cry Groa threw up her arms.

Then down she plunged. She fell on Wolf's Fang, where Eric once had
stood and, bouncing thence, rushed to the boiling deeps below and was no
more seen for ever.

Thus, then, did Asmund the Priest wed Unna, Thorod's daughter, and this
was the end of the feasting.

Thereafter Bjoern, Asmund's son, ruled at Middalhof, and was Priest in
his place. He sought for Koll the Half-witted to kill him, but Koll took
the fells, and after many months he found passage in a ship that was
bound for Scotland.

Now Bjoern was a hard man and a greedy. He was no friend to Eric
Brighteyes, and always pressed it on Gudruda that she should wed Ospakar
Blacktooth. But to this counsel Gudruda would not listen, for day and
night she thought upon her love. Next summer there came tidings that
Eric was safe in Ireland, and men spoke of his deeds, and of how he and
Skallagrim had swept the ship of Ospakar single-handed. Now after these
tidings, for a while Gudruda walked singing through the meads, and no
flower that grew in them was half so fair as she.

That summer also Ospakar Blacktooth met Bjoern, Asmund's son, at the
Thing, and they talked much together in secret.

XVIII

HOW EARL ATLI FOUND ERIC AND SKALLAGRIM ON THE SOUTHERN ROCKS OF
STRAUMEY ISLE

Swanhild, robed in white, as though new risen from sleep, stood, candle
in ha