fells.  I have still a hundred in silver, if I might but come at it.  It is hidden, sir, and I will pay thee if thou wilt help me to bury her.  These old hands are too feeble to dig a grave, nor could I bear her there alone if it were dug.  Thou wilt not help me?—­then may thine own mother’s bones lie uncovered, and be picked of gulls and ravens.  Oh, that Eric Brighteyes would come home again!  Oh, that Eric was here! there is work to do and never a man to do it.”

Now Eric gave a great sob and cried, “Nurse, nurse! knowest thou me not! I am Eric Brighteyes.”

She uttered a loud cry, and, clasping him by the knees, looked up into his face.

“Thanks be to Odin!  Thou art Eric—­Eric come home again!  But alas, thou hast come too late!”

“What has happened, then?” said Eric.

“What has happened?  All evil things.  Thou art outlawed, Eric, at the suit of Swanhild for the slaying of Atli the Earl.  Swanhild sits here in Coldback, for she hath seized thy lands.  Saevuna, thy mother, died two days ago in the hall of Middalhof, whither she went to speak with Gudruda.”

“Gudruda! what of Gudruda?” cried Eric.

“This, Brighteyes:  to-day she weds Ospakar Blacktooth.”

Eric covered his face with his hand.  Presently he lifted it.

“Thou art rich in evil tidings, nurse, though, it would seem, poor in all besides.  Tell me at what hour is the wedding-feast?”

“An hour after noon, Eric; but now Swanhild has ridden thither with her company.”

“Then room must be found at Middalhof for one more guest,” said Eric, and laughed aloud.  “Go on!—­pour out thy evil news and spare me not!—­for nothing has any more power to harm me now!  Come hither, Skallagrim, and see and hearken.”

Skallagrim came and looked on the face of dead Saevuna.

“I am outlawed at Swanhild’s suit, Lambstail.  My life lies in thy hand, if so be thou wouldst take it!  Hew off my head, if thou wilt, and bear it to Gudruda the Fair—­she will thank thee for the gift.  Lay on, Lambstail; lay on with that axe of thine.”

“Child’s talk!” said Skallagrim.

“Child’s talk, but man’s work!  Thou hast not heard the tale out.  Swanhild hath seized my lands and sits here at Coldback!  And—­what thinkest thou, Skallagrim?—­but now she has ridden a-guesting to the marriage-feast of Ospakar Blacktooth with Gudruda the Fair!  Swanhild at Gudruda’s wedding!—­the eagle in the wild swan’s nest!  But there will be another guest,” and again he laughed aloud.

“Two other guests,” said Skallagrim.

“More of thy tale, old nurse!—­more of thy tale!” quoth Eric.  “No better didst thou ever tell me when, as a lad, I sat by thee, in the ingle o’ winter nights—­and the company is fitting to the tale!” and he pointed to dead Saevuna.

Then the carline told on.  She told how Hall of Lithdale had come out to Iceland, and of the story that he bore to Gudruda, and of the giving of the lock of hair.