d his teeth
chattered at the thought of how he should be made to die. Still, he
would say nothing.

Then Swanhild spoke to Gizur and the thrall, and bade them bind him with
a rope, tear the garments from him, and bring snow. They did this, and
pushed the matter to the drawing of knives. But when he saw the steel
Jon cried aloud that he would tell all.

"Now thou takest good counsel," said Swanhild.

Then in his fear Jon told how Eric had gone down to Middalhof to wed
Gudruda, and thence to fly with her to England.

Now Swanhild was mad with wrath, for she had sooner died than that this
should come about.

"Let us away," she said to Gizur. "But first kill this man."

"Nay," said Gizur, "I will not do that. He has told his tidings; let him
go free."

"Thou art chicken-hearted," said Swanhild, who, after the fashion of
witches, had no mercy in her. "At the least, he shall not go hence to
warn Eric and Gudruda of our coming. If thou wilt not kill him, then
bind him and leave him."

So Jon was bound, and there in the booth he sat two days before anyone
came to loose him.

"Whither away?" said Gizur to Swanhild.

"To Middalhof first," Swanhild answered.

XXIX

HOW WENT THE BRIDAL NIGHT

Now Eric and Gudruda sat silent in the high seat of the hall at
Middalhof till they heard Skallagrim enter by the women's door. Then
they came down from the high seat, and stood hand in hand by the fire
on the hearth. Skallagrim greeted Gudruda, looking at her askance, for
Skallagrim stood in fear of women alone.

"What counsel now, lord?" said the Baresark.

"Tell us thy plans, Gudruda," said Eric, for as yet no word had passed
between them of what they should do.

"This is my plan, Eric," she answered. "First, that we eat; then that
thy men take horse and ride hence through the night to where the ship
lies, bearing word that we will be there at dawn when the tide serves,
and bidding the mate make everything ready for sailing. But thou and
I and Skallagrim will stay here till to-morrow is three hours old,
and this because I have tidings that Gizur's folk will search the ship
to-night. Now, when they search and do not find us, they will go away.
Then, at the dawning, thou and I and Skallagrim will row on board the
ship as she lies at anchor, and, slipping the cable, put to sea before
they know we are there, and so bid farewell to Swanhild and our woes."

"Yet it is a risk for us to sleep here alone," said Eric.