ye will slay Koll the Half-witted, Groa's thrall, who came
hither about two days gone, since by his lies he hath set an edge upon
this sword of falsehood. That ye will raise no blood-feud against Eric
for this my slaying, for I goaded him to the deed. Do ye swear?"

"We swear," said the men.

"Then farewell! And to thee farewell, also, Eric Brighteyes! Now take
my hand and hold it while I die. Behold! I give thee a new name, and by
that name thou shalt be called in story. I name thee _Eric the Unlucky_.
Of all tales that are told, thine shall be the greatest. A mighty stroke
that was of thine--a mighty stroke! Farewell!"

Then his head fell back upon the rock and Earl Atli died. And as he died
the last rays of light went out of the sky.

XXI

HOW HALL OF LITHDALE TOOK TIDINGS TO ICELAND

Now on the same night that Atli died at the hand of Eric, Swanhild spake
with Hall of Lithdale, whom she had summoned from the mainland. She bade
him do this: take passage in a certain ship that should sail for Iceland
on the morrow from the island that is called Westra, and there tell all
these tidings of the ill-doings of Eric and of the slaying of Atli by
his hand.

"Thou shalt say this," she went on, "that Eric had been my love for
long, but that at length the matter came to the ears of Atli, the Earl.
Then, holding this the greatest shame, he went on holmgang with Eric and
was slain by him. This shalt thou add to thy tale also, that presently
Eric and I will wed, and that Eric shall rule as Earl in Orkneys. Now
these tidings must soon come to the ears of Gudruda the Fair, and she
will send for thee, and question thee straightly concerning them, and
thou shalt tell her the tale as thou toldest it at first. Then thou
shalt give Gudruda this packet, which I send her as a gift, saying, that
I bade her remember a certain oath which Eric took as to the cutting of
his hair. And when she sees that which is within the packet is somewhat
stained, tell her that is but the blood of Atli that is upon it, as his
blood is upon Eric's hands. Now remember thou this, Hall, that if thou
fail in the errand thy life shall pay forfeit, for presently I will also
come to Iceland and hear how thou hast sped."

Then Swanhild gave him faring-money and gifts of wadmal and gold rings,
promising that he should have so much again when she came to Iceland.

Hall said that he would do all these things, and went at once; nor did
he fail in his tasks