n he turned and the rage went out of his heart.

"Let them seek me on Mosfell," he said, "I will not slay them secretly
and by reek, the innocent and the guilty together." And he strode round
the house to where Skallagrim stood at the south door, axe aloft and
watching.

"Does the fire burn, lord? I see no smoke," whispered Skallagrim.

"Nay, I have made none. I will shed no more blood, except to save my
life. I leave vengeance to the Norns."

Now Skallagrim thought that Brighteyes was mad, but he dared say
nothing. So they went to their horses, and when they found them,
Eric rode back to the house. Presently they drew near, and Eric told
Skallagrim to stay where he was, and riding on to the house, smote heavy
blows upon the door, just as Skallagrim once had smitten, before Eric
went up to Mosfell.

Now Swanhild lay in her shut bed; but she could not sleep, because of
what she saw in the eyes of Gudruda. Little may she ever sleep again,
for when she shuts her eyes once more she sees that which was written in
the dead eyes of Gudruda. So, as she lay, she heard the blows upon the
door, and sprang frightened from her bed. Now there was tumult in the
hall, for every man rose to his feet in fear, searching for his weapons.
Again the loud knocks came.

"It is the ghost of Eric!" cried one, for Gizur had given out that Eric
was dead at his hand in fair fight.

"Open!" said Gizur, and they opened, and there, a little way from the
door, sat Brighteyes on a horse, great and shadowy to see, and behind
him was Skallagrim the Baresark.

"It is the ghost of Eric!" they cried again.

"I am no ghost," said Brighteyes. "I am no ghost, ye men of Swanhild.
Tell me: is Gizur, the son of Ospakar, among you?"

"Gizur is here," said a voice; "but he swore he slew thee last night."

"Then he lied," quoth Eric. "Gizur did not slay me--he murdered Gudruda
the Fair as she lay asleep at my side. See!" and he drew Whitefire from
its scabbard and held it in the rays of the moon that now shone out
between the cloud rifts. "Whitefire is red with Gudruda's blood--Gudruda
slaughtered in her sleep by Gizur's coward hand!"

Now men murmured, for this seemed to them the most shameful of all
deeds. But Gizur, hearing, shrank back aghast.

"Listen again!" said Eric. "I was minded but now to burn you all as ye
slept--ay, the firing is piled against the door. Still, I held my hand,
for I have sworn to slay no more, except to save my life. Now I