agrim looked up and saw what had come about.

"They have gained the crest of the fell," he cried. "Now we must fly
into the cave or down the narrow way and hold it."

"Down the narrow way, then," said Eric, and while rocks, spears and
arrows rushed between and around them, they stepped on to the stone and
won the path beyond. It was clear, for Gizur's folk had not yet come,
and they ran nearly to the mouth of it, where there was a bend in the
way, and stood there side by side.

"Thou wast at death's door then, lord!" said Skallagrim.

"Head-piece is not head," answered Eric; "but I wonder how they won the
crest of the fell. I have never heard tell of any path by which it might
be gained."

"There they are at the least," said Skallagrim. "Now this is my will,
that thou shouldst take my helm. I am Baresark and put little trust in
harness, but rather in my axe and strength alone."

"I will not do that," said Eric. "Listen: I hear them come."

Presently the tumult of voices and the tramp of feet grew clearer, and
after a while Gizur, Swanhild, and the men of their following turned
the corner of the narrow way, and lo! there before them--ay within three
paces of them--stood Eric and Skallagrim shoulder to shoulder, and the
light poured down upon them from above.

They were terrible to see, and the light shone brightly on Eric's golden
hair and Whitefire's flashing blade, and the shadows lay dark on the
black helm of Skallagrim and in the fierce black eyes beneath.

Back surged Gizur and those with him. Skallagrim would have sprung upon
them, but Eric caught him by the arm, saying: "A truce to thy Baresark
ways. Rush not and move not! Let us stand here till they overwhelm us."

Now those behind Gizur cried out to know what ailed them that they
pushed back.

"Only this," said Gizur, "that Eric Brighteyes and Skallagrim Lambstail
stand like two grey wolves and hold the narrow way."

"Now we shall have fighting worth the telling of," quoth Ketel the
viking. "On, Gizur, Ospakar's son, and cut them down!"

"Hold!" said Swanhild; "I will speak with Eric first," and, together
with Gizur and Ketel, she passed round the corner of the path and came
face to face with those who stood at bay there.

"Now yield, Eric," she cried. "Foes are behind and before thee. Thou
art trapped, and hast little chance of life. Yield thee, I say, with thy
black wolf-hound, so perchance thou mayest find mercy even at the hands
of her whose