“If it is fated it will befall,” he said in his dream.

“Nay, it shall not befall.  Put forth all thy might and burst thy bonds.  Then fetch Whitefire; cut away the bonds of Skallagrim, and give him his axe and shield.  This done, cover yourselves with your cloaks, and wait till ye hear the murderers come.  Then rise and rush upon them, the two of you, and they shall melt before your might.  I have journeyed over the great deep to tell thee this, Eric!  Had Gudruda done as much, thinkest thou?”

And it seemed to him that the wraith of Swanhild kissed him on the brow, sighed and vanished, bearing the rat in her bosom.

Eric awoke suddenly, just as though he had never slept, and looked around.  He knew by the lowness of the sun that it was far into the night, and that he had slept for many hours.  They were alone beneath the deck, and far aft, beyond the mast, as the vessel rose upon the waves—­for the sea was still rough, though the wind had fallen—­Eric saw the mate of the Raven talking earnestly with some men of his crew.  Skallagrim snored beside him.

“Awake!” Eric said in his ear, “awake and listen!”

He yawned and roused himself.  “What now, lord?” he said.

“This,” said Eric, and he told him the dream that he had dreamed.

“That was a fey dream,” said Skallagrim, “and now we must do as the wraith bade thee.”

“Easy to say, but hard to do,” quoth Eric; “this is a great rope that holds us, and a strong.”

“Yes, it is great and strong; still, we must burst it.”

Now Eric and Skallagrim were made fast in this fashion:  their hands were bound behind them, and their legs were lashed above the feet and above the knee.  Moreover, a thick cord was fixed about the waist of each, and this cord was passed through the iron ring and knotted there.  But it chanced that beneath the hollows of their knees ran an oaken beam, which held the forepart of the dragon together.

“We may try this,” said Eric:  “to set our feet against the beam and strain with all our strength upon the rope; though I think that no two men can part it.”

“We shall know that presently,” said Skallagrim, gathering up his legs.

Then they set their feet against the beam and pulled till it groaned; but, though the rope gave somewhat, it would not break.  They rested a while, then strained again till the sweat burst out upon them and the rope cut into their flesh, but still it would not part.

“We have found our match,” said Eric.

“That is not altogether proved yet,” answered the Baresark.  “Many a shield is riven at the third stroke.”

So once again they set their feet against the beam, and put out all their strength.

“The ring bends,” gasped Eric.  “Now, when the roll of the ship throws our weight to leeward, in the name of Thor pull!”

They waited, then put out their might, and lo! though the rope did not break, the iron ring burst asunder and they rolled upon the deck.