But Brighteyes thought little of his deeds, and much of Gudruda.  At times also he thought of Swanhild, and of that witch-dream she sent him:  for it was wonderful to him that she should have saved him thus from Ran’s net.

Eric was heartily welcomed by the Earl of the Farey Isles, for, when he heard his deeds, he made a feast in his honour, and set him in the high seat.  It was a great feast, but Skallagrim became drunk at it and ran down the chamber, axe aloft, roaring for Hall of Lithdale.

This angered Eric much and he would scarcely speak to Skallagrim for many days, though the great Baresark slunk about after him like his shadow, or a whipped hound at its master’s heel, and at length humbled his pride so far as to ask pardon for his fault.

“I grant it for thy deeds’ sake,” said Eric shortly; “but this is upon my mind:  that thou wilt err thus again, and it shall be my cause of death—­ay, and that of many more.”

“First may my bones be white,” said Skallagrim.

“They shall be white thereafter,” answered Eric.

At Fareys Eric shipped twelve good men and true, to take the seats of those who had been slain by Ospakar’s folk.  Afterwards, when the wounded were well of their hurts (except one man who died), and the Gudruda was made fit to take the sea again, Brighteyes bade farewell to the Earl of those Isles, who gave him a good cloak and a gold ring at parting, and sailed away.

Now it were too long to tell of all the deeds that Eric and his men did.  Never, so scalds sing, was there a viking like him for strength and skill and hardihood, and, in those days, no such war-dragon as the Gudruda had been known upon the sea.  Wherever Eric joined battle, and that was in many places, he conquered, for none prevailed against him, till at last foes would fly before the terror of his name, and earls and kings would send from far craving the aid of his hands.  Withal he was the best and gentlest of men.  It is said of Eric that in all his days he did no base deed, nor hurt the weak, nor refused peace to him who prayed it, nor lifted sword against prisoner or wounded foe.  From traders he would take a toll of their merchandise only and let them go, and whatever gains he won he would share equally, asking no larger part than the meanest of his band.  All men loved Eric, and even his foes gave him honour and spoke well of him.  Now that Hall of Lithdale was gone, there was no man among his mates who would not have passed to death for him, for they held him dearer than their lives.  Women, too, loved him much; but his heart was set upon Gudruda, and he seldom turned to look on them.