light came and thralls went out with spades and cleared
away the snow in a circle two rods across, and brought dry sand and
sprinkled it on the frozen turf, so that the wrestlers should not slip.
And they piled the snow in a wall around the ring.

But Groa came up to Ospakar and spoke to him apart.

"Knowest thou, lord," she said, "that my heart bodes ill of this match?
Eric is a mighty man, and, great though thou art, I think that thou
shalt lout low before him."

"It will be a bad business if I am overthrown by an untried man," said
Ospakar, and was troubled in his mind, "and it would be evil moreover to
lose the sword. For no price would I have it so."

"What wilt thou give me, lord, if I bring thee victory?"

"I will give thee two hundred in silver."

"Ask no questions and it shall be so," said Groa.

Now Eric was without, taking note of the ground in the ring, and
presently Groa called to her the thrall Koll the Half-witted, whom she
had sent to Swinefell.

"See," she said, "yonder by the wall stand the wrestling shoes of Eric
Brighteyes. Haste thee now and take grease, and rub the soles with it,
then hold them in the heat of the fire, so that the fat sinks in. Do
this swiftly and secretly, and I will give thee three pennies."

Koll grinned, and did as he was bid, setting back the shoes just as
they were before. Scarcely was the deed done when Eric came in, and made
himself ready for the game, binding the greased shoes upon his feet, for
he feared no trick.

Now everybody went out to the ring, and Ospakar and Eric stripped
for wrestling. They were clad in tight woollen jerkins and hose, and
sheep-skin shoes were on their feet.

They named Asmund master of the game, and his word must be law to both
of them. Eric claimed that Asmund should hold the sword Whitefire that
was at stake, but Ospakar gainsaid him, saying that if he gave Whitefire
into Asmund's keeping, Eric must also give his eye--and about this they
debated hotly. Now the matter was brought before Asmund as umpire, and
he gave judgment for Eric, "for," he said, "if Eric yield up his eye
into my hand, I can return it to his head no more if he should win; but
if Ospakar gives me the good sword and conquers, it is easy for me to
pass it back to him unharmed."

Men said that this was a good judgment.

Thus then was the arm-game set. Ospakar and Eric must wrestle thrice,
and between each bout there would be a space while men could count a
thou