ing truly."

"How runs it, housekeeper?" said Asmund.

"Thus, lord, if my skill is not at fault:--

"Whitefire is my name--
Dwarf-folk forged me--
Odin's sword was I--
Eric's sword was I--
Eric's sword shall I be--
And where I fall there he must follow me."

Now Gudruda looked at Eric Brighteyes wonderingly, and Ospakar saw it
and became very angry.

"Look not so, maiden," he said, "for it shall be another Eric than yon
flapper-duck who holds Whitefire aloft, though it may very well chance
that he shall feel its edge."

Now Gudruda bit her lip, and Eric burned red to the brow and spoke:

"It is ill, lord, to throw taunts like an angry woman. Thou art great
and strong, yet I may dare a deed with thee."

"Peace, boy! Thou canst climb a waterfall well, I gainsay it not; but
beware ere thou settest up thyself against my strength. Say now, what
game wilt thou play with Ospakar?"

"I will go on holmgang with thee, byrnie-clad or baresark,[*] and fight
thee with axe or sword, or I will wrestle with thee, and Whitefire
yonder shall be the winner's prize."

[*] To a duel, usually fought, in mail or without it, on an
island--"holm"--within a circle of hazel-twigs.

"Nay, I will have no bloodshed here at Middalhof," said Asmund sternly.
"Make play with fists, or wrestle if ye will, for that were great sport
to see; but weapons shall not be drawn."

Now Ospakar grew mad with anger and drink--and he grinned like a dog,
till men saw the red gums beneath his lips.

"Thou wilt wrestle with me, youngling--with _me_ whom no man has ever so
much as lifted from my feet? Good! I will lay thee on thy face and
whip thee, and Whitefire shall be the stake--I swear it on the holy
altar-ring; but what hast thou to set against the precious sword? Thy
poor hovel and its lot of land shall be all too little."

"I set my life on it; if I lose Whitefire let Whitefire slay me," said
Eric.

"Nay, that I will not have, and I am master here in this Temple," said
Asmund. "Bethink thee of some other stake, Ospakar, or let the game be
off."

Now Ospakar gnawed his lip with his black fang and thought. Then he
laughed aloud and spoke:

"Bright is Whitefire and thou art named Brighteyes. See now: I set the
great sword against thy right eye, and, if I win the match, it shall
be mine to tear it out. Wilt thou play this game with me? If thy heart
fails thee, let it go; but I will set no other stake ag