rtain message for
Eric Brighteyes, if I should chance to see him as I journeyed."

Then Swanhild, Atli's wife, and Koll the Half-witted talked long and
earnestly together.

At nightfall Eric came in from his fishing. His heart was light, for
the time drew near when he should sail for home, and he did not think on
evil. For now he feared Swanhild no longer, and, no fresh tidings having
come from Iceland about Ospakar and Gudruda, he had almost put the
matter from his mind. On he walked to the hall, limping somewhat from
his wound, but singing as he came, and bearing his fish slung upon a
pole.

At the men's door of the hall a woman stood waiting. She told Eric that
the lady Swanhild would speak with him in her bower. Thither he went and
knocked. Getting no answer he knocked again, then entered.

Swanhild sat on a couch. She was weeping, and her hair fell about her
face.

"What now, Swanhild?" he said.

She looked up heavily. "Ill news for thee and me, Eric. Koll, who was
my mother's thrall, has come hither from Iceland, and these are
his tidings: that Asmund is dead, and Unna, thy cousin, Thorod of
Greenfell's daughter, is dead, and my mother Groa is dead also."

"Heavy tidings, truly!" said Eric; "and what of Gudruda, is she also
dead?"

"Nay, Eric she is wed--wed to Ospakar."

Now Eric reeled against the wall, clutching it, and for a space all
things swam round him. "Where is this Koll?" he gasped. "Send me Koll
hither."

Presently he came, and Eric questioned him coldly and calmly. But Koll
could lie full well. It is said that in his day there was no one in
Iceland who could lie so well as Koll the Half-witted. He told Eric how
it was said that Gudruda was plighted to Ospakar, and how the match had
been agreed on at the Althing in the summer that was gone (and indeed
there had been some such talk), and how that the feast was to be at
Middalhof on last Yule Day.

"Is that all thy tidings?" said Eric. "If so, I give no heed to them:
for ever, Koll, I have known thee for a liar!"

"Nay, Eric, it is not all," answered Koll. "As it chanced, two days
before the ship in which I sailed was bound, I saw Gudruda the Fair.
Then she asked me whither I was going, and I told her that I would
journey to London, where men said thou wert, and asked her if she would
send a message. Then she alighted from her horse, Blackmane, and spoke
with me apart. 'Koll,' she said, 'it well may happen that thou wilt see
Eric Bri