landless loon, a brawler, and an outlaw. Get thee gone, Eric, with thy
wolf-hound!"

"Squeak not so loud, rat--squeak not so loud, lest hound's fang worry
thee!" said Skallagrim.

"Whether I wed Gudruda or whether I wed her not is a matter that shall
be known in its season," said Eric. "For thy words, I say this: that it
is risky to hurl names at such as I am, Björn, lest perchance I answer
them with spear-thrusts. Thy answer, Ospakar! What need to wait? Thy
answer!"

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?"