But some three months ago, I was left with her: and a man called Koll,
Groa's thrall, of whom ye know, came out from Iceland, bringing news
of the death of Asmund the priest, of Unna my cousin, and of Groa the
witch. To these ill-tidings Swanhild bribed him to add something. She
bribed him to add this: that thou, Gudruda, wast betrothed to Ospakar,
and wouldst wed him on last Yule Day. Moreover, he gave me a certain
message from thee, Gudruda, and, in token of its truth, the half of that
coin which I broke with thee long years ago. Say now, lady, didst thou
send the coin?"

"Nay, never!" cried Gudruda; "many years ago I lost the half thou gavest
me, though I feared to tell thee."

"Perchance one stands there who found it," said Eric, pointing with his
spear at Swanhild. "At the least I was deceived by it. Now the tale is
short. Swanhild mourned with me, and in my sorrow I mourned bitterly.
Then it was she asked a boon, that lock of mine, Gudruda, and, thinking
thee faithless, I gave it, holding all oaths broken. Then too, when
I would have left her, she drugged me with a witch-draught--ay, she
drugged me, and I woke to find myself false to my oath, false to Atli,
and false to thee, Gudruda. I cursed her and I left her, waiting for
the Earl, to tell him all. But Swanhild outwitted me. She told him
that other tale of shame that ye have heard, and brought Koll to him as
witness of the tale. Atli was deceived by her, and not until I had cut
him down in anger at the bitter words he spoke, calling me coward and
niddering, did he know the truth. But before he died he knew it; and
he died, holding my hand and bidding those about him find Koll and slay
him. Is it not so, ye who were Atli's men?"

"It is so, Eric!" they cried; "we heard it with our own ears, and we