the way along it, then came Eric and the rest. One by one they stepped
on to the giddy point of rock, and, catching at the birch-bush, entered
the hole. So they gained the platform and the great cave beyond; and
they found that no man had set foot there since the day when Eric had
striven with Skallagrim. For there on the rock, rotten with the weather,
lay that haft of wood which Brighteyes had hewed from the axe of
Skallagrim, and in the cave were many things beside as the Baresark had
left them.

So they took up their dwelling in the cave, Eric, Skallagrim, and the
six Coldback men, and there they dwelt many months. But Eric sent out
his men, one at a time, and got together food and a store of sheepskins,
and other needful things. For he knew this well: that Gizur and Swanhild
would before long come up against them, and, if they could not take them
by force, would set themselves to watch the mountain-path and starve
them out.



When Eric and Skallagrim rode away from Middalhof the fight still raged
fiercely in the hall, and nothing but death might stay it. The minds of
men were mad, and they smote one another, and slew each other, till
at length of all that marriage company few were left unharmed, except
Gizur, Swanhild, and Gudruda. For the serving thralls and womenfolk had
fled the hall, and with them some peaceful men.

Then Gudruda spoke as one in a dream.

"Saevuna's prophecy was true," she said, "red was the marriage-feast of
Asmund my father, redder has been the marriage-feast of Ospakar! She saw