at Gudruda made a ship ready to sail to
Scotland on a trading voyage, and she was perplexed by this tale, for
she knew that Gudruda had no love of trading and never thought of gain.
So she set spies to watch the ship. Still, the slow days drew on, and
at length the air grew soft with spring, and flowers showed through the
snow.

Eric sat in his mountain nest waiting for tidings, and watched the
nesting eagles wheel about the cliffs. At length news came. For one
morning, as he rose, Skallagrim told him that a man wanted to speak with
him. He had come to the mountain in the darkness, and had lain in a dell
till the breaking of the light, for, now that the snows were melting,
the men of Gizur and Swanhild watched the ways.

Eric bade them bring the man to him. When he saw him he knew that he was
a thrall of Gudruda's and welcomed him heartily.

"What tidings?" he asked.

"This, lord," said the thrall: "Gudruda the Fair bids me say that she is
well and that the snows melt on the roof of Middalhof."

Now this was the signal word that had been agreed upon between Eric and
Gudruda, that she should send him when all was ready.

"Good," said Eric, "ride back to Gudruda the Fair and say that Eric
Brighteyes is well, but on Hecla the snows melt not."

By this answer he meant that he would be with her presently, though the
thrall could make nothing of it. Then Skallagrim asked tidings of the
man, and learned that Swanhild was still at Middalhof, and with her
Gizur, and that they gave out that they wished to make an end of waiting
and slay Eric.

"First snare your bird, then wring his neck," laughed Skallagrim.

Then Eric did this: among his men were some who he knew were not willing
to sail from Iceland, and Jon, his thrall, was of them, for Jon did not
love the angry sea. He bade these bide a while on Mosfell and make fires
nightly on the platform of rock which is in front of the cave, that the
spies of Gizur and Swanhild might be deceived by them, and think that
Eric was still on the fell. Then, when they heard that he had sailed,
they were to come down and hide themselves with friends till Gizur and
his following rode north. But he told two of the men who would sail with
him to make ready.

That night before the moon rose Eric said farewell to Jon and the others
who stayed on Mosfell, and rode away with Skallagrim and the two who
went with him. They passed the plain of black sand in safety, and so
on to Horse-Head He