More than half the men in the hall jumped to their feet and waved their drinking-horns and shouted:
"I! I!"
Eric sat down in his chair and laughed.
"O you bloody birds of battle!" he cried. "Ever hungry for new frolic! Our swords are sisters in blood, and we are brothers in adventure. Do you know what is in my heart to do?"
He jumped to his feet, and his face glowed. Then he laughed as he looked at his men.
"I see the answer flashing from your eyes," he said, "that you will do it even if it is to go down to Niflheim and drag up Hela, the pale queen of the stiff dead."
His men pounded on the tables and shouted:
"Yes! Yes! Anywhere behind Eric!"
"But it is not to Niflheim," Eric laughed. "Did you ever hear that story that Gunnbiorn told? He was sailing for Iceland, but the fog came down, and then the wind caught him and blew him far off. While he drifted about he saw a strange land that rose up white and shining out of a blue sea. Huge ships of ice sailed out from it and met him. I mean to sail to that land."
A great shout went up that shook the rafters. Then the men sat and talked over plans. While they sat, a stranger came into the hall.