d in him.

"Almost do I believe thee, Swanhild," he said, stretching out his hand;
"but I know thus: that thou art never twice in the same mood, and that
is beyond my measuring. Thou hast done much evil and thou hast striven
to do more; also I love not those who seem to walk the seas o' nights.
Still, hold thou to this last saying of thine and there shall be peace
between us while I bide here."

She touched his hand humbly and turned to go. But as she went Eric spoke
again: "Say, Swanhild, hast thou tidings from Iceland yonder? I have
heard no word of Asmund or of Gudruda for two long years and more."

She stood still, and a dark shadow that he could not see flitted across
her face.

"I have few tidings, Eric," she said, turning, "and those few, if I may
trust them, bad enough. For this is the rumour that I have heard:
that Asmund the Priest, my father, is dead; that Groa, my mother, is
dead--how, I know not; and, lastly, that Gudruda the Fair, thy love, is
betrothed to Ospakar Blacktooth and weds him in the spring."

Now Eric sprang up with an oath and grasped the hilt of Whitefire. Then
he sat down again upon the stone and covered his face with his hands.

"Grieve not, Eric," she said gently; "I put no faith in this news, for
rumour, like the black-backed gull, often changes colour in its flight
across the seas. Also I had it but at fifth hand. I am sure of this, at
least, that Gudruda will never forsake thee without a cause."

"It shall go ill with Ospakar if this be true," said Eric, smiling
grimly, "for Whitefire is yet left me and with it one true friend."

"Run not to meet the evil, Eric. Thou shalt come to Iceland with the
summer flowers and find Gudruda faithful and yet fairer than of yore.
Knowest thou that Hall of Lithdale, who was thy mate, has sat here these
two months? He is gone but this morning, I know not whither, leaving a
message that he returns no more."

"He did well to go," said Eric, and he told her how Hall had cut the
cable.

"Ay, well indeed," answered Swanhild. "Had Atli known this he would have
scourged Hall hence with rods of seaweed. And now, Eric, I desire to
ask thee one more thing: why wearest thou thy hair long like a woman's?
Indeed, few women have such hair as thine is now."

"For this cause, Swanhild: I swore to Gudruda that none should cut my
hair till she cut it once more. It is a great burden to me surely, for
never did hair grow so fast and strong as mine, and once in