And after that the feast went merrily, till all men were drunk, except Asmund and Eric.

Now Eric went to rest, but first he rubbed his limbs with the fat of seals, for he was still sore with the beating of the waters, and they must needs be supple on the morrow if he would keep his eye.  Then he slept sound, and rose strong and well, and going to the stream behind the stead, bathed, and anointed his limbs afresh.  But Ospakar did not sleep well, because of the ale that he had drunk.  Now as Eric came back from bathing, in the dark of the morning, he met Gudruda, who watched for his coming, and, there being none to see, he kissed her often; but she chided him because of the match that he had made with Ospakar and the oath that he had sworn.

“Surely,” she said, “thou wilt lose thine eye, for this Ospakar is a giant, and strong as a troll; also he is merciless.  Still, thou art a mighty man, and I shall love thee as well with one eye as with two.  Oh!  Eric, methought I should have died yesterday when thou didst leap from Wolf’s Fang!  My heart seemed to stop within me.”

“Yet I came safely to shore, sweetheart, and well does this kiss pay for all I did.  And as for Ospakar, if but once I get these arms about him, I fear him little, or any man, and I covet that sword of his greatly.  But we can talk more certainly of these things to-morrow.”

Now Gudruda clung to him and told him all that had befallen, and of the doings and words of Swanhild.

“She honours me beyond my worth,” he said, “who am in no way set on her, but on thee only, Gudruda.”

“Art thou so sure of that, Eric?  Swanhild is fair and wise.”

“Ay and evil.  When I love Swanhild, then thou mayest love Ospakar.”

“It is a bargain,” she said, laughing.  “Good luck go with thee in the wrestling,” and with a kiss she left him, fearing lest she should be seen.

Eric went back to the hall, and sat down by the centre hearth, for all men slept, being still heavy with drink, and presently Swanhild glided up to him, and greeted him.

“Thou art greedy of deeds, Eric,” she said.  “Yesterday thou camest here by a path that no man has travelled, to-day thou dost wrestle with a giant for thine eye, and presently thou goest up against Skallagrim!”

“It seems that this is true,” said Eric.

“Now all this thou doest for a woman who is the betrothed of another man.”

“All this I do for fame’s sake, Swanhild.  Moreover, Gudruda is betrothed to none.”

“Before another Yule-feast is spread, Gudruda shall be the wife of Ospakar.”

“That is yet to be seen, Swanhild.”

Now Swanhild stood silent for a while and then spoke:  “Thou art a fool, Eric—­yes, drunk with folly.  Nothing but evil shall come to thee from this madness of thine.  Forget it and pluck that which lies to thine hand,” and she looked sweetly at him.