ine
hand," and she looked sweetly at him.

"They call thee Swanhild the Fatherless," he answered, "but I think that
Loki, the God of Guile, was thy father, for there is none to match thee
in craft and evil-doing, and in beauty one only. I know thy plots well
and all the sorrow that thou hast brought upon us. Still, each seeks
honour after his own manner, so seek thou as thou wilt; but thou shalt
find bitterness and empty days, and thy plots shall come back on thine
own head--yes, even though they bring Gudruda and me to sorrow and
death."

Swanhild laughed. "A day shall dawn, Eric, when thou who dost hate me
shalt hold me dear, and this I promise thee. Another thing I promise
thee also: that Gudruda shall never call thee husband."

But Eric did not answer, fearing lest in his anger he should say words
that were better unspoken.

Now men rose and sat down to meat, and all talked of the wrestling that
should be. But in the morning Ospakar repented of the match, for it is
truly said that _ale is another man_, and men do not like that in the
morning which seemed well enough on yester eve. He remembered that he
held Whitefire dear above all things, and that Eric's eye had no worth
to him, except that the loss of it would spoil his beauty, so that
perhaps Gudruda would turn from him. It would be very ill if he should
chance to lose the play--though of this he had no fear, for he was
held the strongest man in Iceland and the most skilled in all feats of
strength--and, at the best, no fame is to be won from the overthrow of a
deedless man, and the plucking out of his eye. Thus it came to pass that
when he saw Eric he called to him in a big voice:

"Hearken, thou Eric."

"I hear thee, thou Ospakar," said Eric, mocking him, and people laughed;
while Ospakar grinned angrily and said, "Thou must learn manners, puppy.
Still, I shall find no honour in teaching thee in this wise. Last night
we made a match in our cups, and I staked my sword Whitefire and thou
thine eye. It would be bad that either of us should lose sword or eye;
therefore, what sayest thou, shall we let it pass?"

"Ay, Blacktooth, if thou fearest; but first pay thou forfeit of the
sword."

Now Ospakar grew very mad and shouted, "Thou wilt indeed stand against
me in the ring! I will break thy back anon, youngster, and afterwards
tear out thine eye before thou diest."

"It may so befall," answered Eric, "but big words do not make big
deeds."

Presently the