slew Koll. But afterwards Swanhild brought is to believe that Earl Atli
was distraught when he spoke thus, and that things were indeed as she
had said."

Again men murmured, and a strange light shone in Gudruda's eyes.

"Now, Gudruda, thou hast heard all my story," said Eric. "Say, dost thou
believe me?"

"I believe thee, Eric."

"Say then, wilt thou still wed yon Ospakar?"

Gudruda looked on Blacktooth, then she looked at golden Eric and opened
her lips to speak. But before a word could pass them Ospakar rose in
wrath, laying his hand upon his sword.

"Thinkest thou thus to lure away my dove, outlaw? First I will see thee
food for crows."

"Well spoken, Blacktooth," laughed Eric. "I waited for such words from
thee. Thrice have we striven together--once out yonder in the snow, once
on Horse-Head Heights, and once by Westman Isles--and still we live
to tell the tale. Come down, Ospakar: come down from that soft seat of
thine and here and now let us put it to the proof who is the better man.
When we met before, the stake was Whitefire set against my eye. Now the
stake is our lives and fair Gudruda's hand. Talk no more, Ospakar, but
fall to it."

"Gudruda shall never wed thee, while I live!" said Björn; "thou art a