thee!"

"Call on, Gudruda. I set little price upon my life. I laid it in the
hands of chance when I came from Mosfell to speak with thee, and now I
will pay it down if so it pleases thee. Fear not, thy thralls shall have
an easy task: for I shall scarcely care to hold my own. Say, shall I
call for thee?"

"Hush! Speak not so loud! Folk may hear thee, Eric, and then thou wilt
be in danger--I would say that, then shall ill things be told of me,
because I am found with him who slew my brother?"

"I slew Ospakar too, Gudruda. Surely the death of him by whose side thou
didst sit as wife is more to thee than the death of Björn?"

"The bride-cup was not yet drunk, Eric; therefore I have no blood-feud
for Ospakar."

"Is it, then, thy will that I should go, lady?"

"Yes, go!--go! Never let me see thy face again!"

Brighteyes turned without a word. He took three paces and Gudruda
watched him as he went.

"Eric!" she called. "Eric! thou mayest not go yet: for at this hour the
thralls bring down the kine to milk, and they will see thee. Liest thou
hid here. I--I will go. For though, indeed, thou dost deserve to die, I
am not willing to bring thee to thy end--because of old friendship I am
not willing!"