Now Ospakar looked at Brighteyes and grew afraid.  He was a mighty man, but he knew the weight of Eric’s arm.

“I will not fight with thee, carle,” he said, “who hast naught to lose.”

“Then thou art coward and niddering!” said Eric.  “Ospakar Niddering I name thee here before all men!  What! thou couldst plot against me—­thou couldst waylay me, ten to one and two ships to one, but face to face with me alone thou dost not dare to stand?  Comrades, look on your lord!—­look at Ospakar the Niddering!”

Now the swarthy brow of Blacktooth grew red with rage, and his breath came in great gasps.  “Ho, men!” he cried, “drive this knave away.  Strip his harness off him and whip him hence with rods.”

“Let but a man stir towards me and this spear flies through thy heart, Niddering,” cried Eric.  “Gudruda, what thinkest thou of thy lord?”

“I know this,” said Gudruda, “that I will not wed a man who is named ‘Niddering’ in the face of all and lifts no sword.”

Gudruda spoke thus, because she was mad with love and fear and shame, and she desired that Eric should stand face to face with Ospakar Blacktooth, for thus, alone, she might perhaps be rid of Ospakar.

“Such words do not come well from gentle lips,” said Bjoern.

“Is it to be borne, brother,” answered Gudruda, “that the man who would call me wife should be named Ospakar the Niddering?  When that shame is washed away, and then only, can I think on marriage.  I will never be Niddering’s bride!”

“Thou hearest, Ospakar Niddering?” said Eric.  Then he gave the spear in his hand to Skallagrim, and, gripping Whitefire’s hilt, he burst the peace-strings, and tore it from the scabbard.

Now the great sword shone on high like lightning leaping from a cloud, and as it shone men shouted, “Ospakar!  Ospakar Niddering! Come, win back Whitefire from Eric’s hand, or be for ever shamed!”

Blacktooth could endure this no more.  He snatched sword and shield, and, like a bear from a cave, like a wolf from his lair, rushed roaring from his seat.  On he came, and the ground shook beneath his bulk.

“At last, Niddering!” cried Eric, and sprang to meet him.

“Back! all men, back!” shouted Skallagrim, “now we shall see blows.”

As he spoke the great swords flashed aloft and clanged upon the iron shields.  So heavy were the blows that fire leapt out from them.  Ospakar reeled back beneath the shock, and Eric was beaten to his knee.  Now he was up, but as he rushed, Ospakar struck again and swept away half of Brighteyen’s pointed shield so that it fell upon the floor.  Eric smote also, but Ospakar dropped his knee to earth and the sword hissed over him.  Blacktooth cut at Eric’s legs; but Brighteyes sprang from the ground and took no harm.

Now some cried, “Eric!  Eric!” and some cried “Ospakar!  Ospakar!” for no one knew how the fight would go.