t
scarce deny me. The years will be long when thou art gone, for from this
night it is best that we should meet no more, and I would keep something
of thee to call back thy memory and the memories of our youth when thou
hast passed away and I grow old."

"What wouldst have then, Swanhild? I have nothing left to give, except
Whitefire alone."

"I do not ask Whitefire, Eric, though Whitefire shall kiss the gift. I
ask nothing but one tress of that golden hair of thine."

"Once I swore that none should touch my hair again except Gudruda's
self."

"It will grow long, then, Eric, for now Gudruda tends black locks and
thinks little on golden. Broken are all oaths."

Eric groaned. "All oaths are broken in sooth," he said. "Have then thy
will;" and, loosing the peace-strings, he drew Whitefire from its sheath
and gave her the great war-sword.

Swanhild took it by the hilt, and, lifting a tress of Eric's yellow
hair, she shore through it deftly with Whitefire's razor-edge, smiling
as she shore. With the same war-blade on which Eric and Gudruda had
pledged their troth, did Swanhild cut the locks that Eric had sworn no
hand should clip except Gudruda's.

He took back the sword and sheathed it, and, knotting the long tress,
Swanhild hid it in her bosom.

"Now drink the cup, Eric," she said--"pledge me and go."

Eric drank to the dregs and cast the cup down, and lo! all things
changed to him, for his blood was afire, and seas seemed to roll within
his brain. Only before him stood Swanhild like a shape of light and
glory, and he thought that she sang softly over him, always drawing
nearer, and that with her came a scent of flowers like the scent of the
Iceland meads in May.

"All oaths are broken, Eric," she murmured, "all oaths are broken
indeed, and now must new oaths be sworn. For cut is thy golden hair,
Brighteyes, and not by Gudruda's hand!"

XX

HOW ERIC WAS NAMED ANEW

Eric dreamed. He dreamed that Gudruda stood by him looking at him with
soft, sad eyes, while with her hand she pointed to his hair, and spake.

"Thou hast done ill, Eric," she seemed to say. "Thou hast done ill to
doubt me; and now thou art for ever shamed, for thou hast betrayed Atli,
thy friend. Thou hast broken thy oath, and therefore hast thou fallen
into this pit; for when Swanhild shore that lock of thine, my watching
Spirit passed, leaving thee to Swanhild and thy fate. Now, I tell thee
this: that shame shall lead to shame, and ma