Eric sat in his mountain nest waiting for tidings, and watched the nesting eagles wheel about the cliffs.  At length news came.  For one morning, as he rose, Skallagrim told him that a man wanted to speak with him.  He had come to the mountain in the darkness, and had lain in a dell till the breaking of the light, for, now that the snows were melting, the men of Gizur and Swanhild watched the ways.

Eric bade them bring the man to him.  When he saw him he knew that he was a thrall of Gudruda’s and welcomed him heartily.

“What tidings?” he asked.

“This, lord,” said the thrall:  “Gudruda the Fair bids me say that she is well and that the snows melt on the roof of Middalhof.”

Now this was the signal word that had been agreed upon between Eric and Gudruda, that she should send him when all was ready.

“Good,” said Eric, “ride back to Gudruda the Fair and say that Eric Brighteyes is well, but on Hecla the snows melt not.”

By this answer he meant that he would be with her presently, though the thrall could make nothing of it.  Then Skallagrim asked tidings of the man, and learned that Swanhild was still at Middalhof, and with her Gizur, and that they gave out that they wished to make an end of waiting and slay Eric.

“First snare your bird, then wring his neck,” laughed Skallagrim.

Then Eric did this:  among his men were some who he knew were not willing to sail from Iceland, and Jon, his thrall, was of them, for Jon did not love the angry sea.  He bade these bide a while on Mosfell and make fires nightly on the platform of rock which is in front of the cave, that the spies of Gizur and Swanhild might be deceived by them, and think that Eric was still on the fell.  Then, when they heard that he had sailed, they were to come down and hide themselves with friends till Gizur and his following rode north.  But he told two of the men who would sail with him to make ready.

That night before the moon rose Eric said farewell to Jon and the others who stayed on Mosfell, and rode away with Skallagrim and the two who went with him.  They passed the plain of black sand in safety, and so on to Horse-Head Heights.  Now at length, as the afternoon drew on to evening, from Stonefell’s crest they saw the Hall of Middalhof before them, and Eric’s heart swelled in his breast.  Yet they must wait till darkness fell before they dared enter the place, lest they should be seen and notice of their coming should be carried to Gizur and Swanhild.  And this came into the mind of Eric, that of all the hours of his life that hour of waiting was the longest.  Scarcely, indeed, could Skallagrim hold him back from going down the mountain side, he was so set on coming to Gudruda whom he should wed that night.