“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 thousand.  They might strike no blow at one another with hand, or head, or elbow, foot or knee; and it should be counted no fall if the haunch and the head of the fallen were not on the ground at the self-same time.  He who suffered two falls should be adjudged conquered and lose his stake.

Asmund called these rules aloud in the presence of witnesses, and Ospakar and Eric said that should bind them.  Ospakar drew a small knife and gave it to his son Gizur to hold.

“Thou shalt soon know, youngling, how steel tastes in the eyeball,” he said.

“We shall soon know many things,” Eric answered.

Now they drew off their cloaks and stood in the ring.  Ospakar was great beyond the bigness of men and his arms were clothed with black hair like the limbs of a goat.  Beneath the shoulder joint they were almost as thick as a girl’s thigh.  His legs also were mighty, and the muscles stood out upon him in knotty lumps.  He seemed a very giant, and fierce as a Baresark, but still somewhat round about the body and heavy in movement.