“Swift away sped ship Gudruda,
Left her lord in foeman’s ring;
Brighteyes back to back with Baresark
Held his head ‘gainst mighty odds.
Down amidst the ballast tumbling,
Ospakar’s shield-carles were rolled.
Holy peace at length they handselled,
Eric must in bonds be laid!
“Came the Grey Rat, came the Earl’s wife,
Came the witch-word from afar;
Cag’d wolves roused them, and with struggling
Tore their fetter from its hold.
Now they watch upon their weapons;
Now they weep and pray for life;
Now they leap forth like a torrent—
Swept away is foeman’s strength!
“Then alone upon the Raven
Three long days they steer and sail,
Till the waters, welling upwards,
Wash dead men about their feet.
Fails the gale and sinks the dragon,
Barely may they win the boat:
Safe they stand on ship Gudruda—
Say, who cut the grapnel-chain?”
CHAPTER XV
HOW ERIC DWELT IN LONDON TOWN
Men stood astonished, but Hall the mate slunk back.
“Hold, comrade,” said Eric, “I have something to say that songs cannot carry. Hearken, my shield-mates: we swore to be true to each other, even to death: is it not so? What then shall be said of that man who cut loose the Gudruda and left us two to die at the foeman’s hand?”
“Who was the man?” asked a voice.
“That man was Hall of Lithdale,” said Eric.
“It is false!” said Hall, gathering up his courage; “the cable parted beneath the straining of the ship, and afterwards we could not put about because of the great sea.”
“Thou art false!” roared Skallagrim. “With my eyes I saw thee let thine axe fall upon the cable. Liar art thou and dastard! Thou art jealous also of Brighteyes thy lord, and this was in thy mind: to let him die upon the Raven and then to bind his shoes upon thy cowardly feet. Though none else saw, I saw; and I say this: that if I may have my will, I will string thee, living, to the prow in that same cable till gulls tear out thy fox-heart!”
Now Hall grew very white and his knees trembled beneath him. “It is true,” he said, “that I cut the chain, but not from any thought of evil. Had I not cut it the vessel must have sunk and all been lost.”
“Did we not swear, Hall,” said Eric sternly, “together to fight and together to fall—together to fare and, if need be, together to cease from faring, and dost thou read the oath thus? Say, mates, what reward shall be paid to this man for his good fellowship to us and his tenderness for your lives?”