“Now I am afeared,” said Eric to Skallagrim, as they stood in darkness upon their ship. “The gale blows from behind us, and yet the mist drives fast in our faces! What comes next?!”
“This is witch-work, lord,” answered Skallagrim, “and in such things no counsel can avail! Hold the tiller straight and drive on, say I. Methinks the gale lessens more and more.”
So they sailed on, and all around them sounded the roar of breakers. Darker grew the sky, till at the last, though they stood side by side, they could not see each other’s shapes.
“I hear the roar of breakers as it were beneath the prow,’ Eric said; “but I see them not!”
“Lash the helm, lord, and let us go forward!” called Skallagrim. “And if there be breakers, perhaps we shall see their foam through the blackness!”
Eric did so, and they crept forward on the starboard side right to the prow of the ship, and there Skallagrim peered into the fog and sleet.
“Lord,” he whispered presently, and his voice shook strangely, “What is that yonder on the waters? Seest thou aught?!”
Eric stared and said, “By Odin’s one good eye! I see a shape of light like that of a woman! It walks upon the waves towards us and the mist melts before it — and look you how the sea grows calm beneath its feet!”
“I see that also!” whispered Skallagrim.
“She comes nigh!” gasped Eric. “See how swiftly she comes! By the dead, it is Swanhild’s shape! Look, Skallagrim! Look how her eyes flame! Look how her raven-colored hair streams upon the wind!”
“It is Swanhild, and we are fey!” growled Skallagrim, and they ran back to the helm, where Skallagrim stood clutching his great axe — for always he had liked Swanhild not! Neither her nor her ‘witchy-ways’!
“See there, Skallagrim, she glides before the ‘Gudruda’s’ bow! She points yonder — there to the right! Shall I put the helm down and follow her?!”
“Nay, lord, nay; set no faith in witchcraft or evil will befall us all!”
As he spoke a great gust of wind shook the ship, the music of the breakers roared in their ears, and the gleaming shape upon the waters pointed again to the right.
“The breakers call straight ahead,” said Eric. “And Swanhild’s shade points yonder, where I hear no cruel sound of the sea! Once before, Skallagrim, Swanhild walked the waves to warn us and thereby saved us from Ospa’s men.
Ever she swore she loved me; now she is surely come in love to save us and all our comrades! Look there! Once again she beckons!”
“I have no rede for you, lord,” said Skallagrim, “and I love not witch-work! But we can die but once, and death is all around. Be it as thou wilt, lord. I, as ever, follow!”
So Eric put over the helm with all his might and the ‘Gudruda’ answered. Her timbers groaned loudly, as though in woe, when the strain of the sea struck her abeam, but then once more she flew fast across the waters. Yet faster still before her glided Swanhild’s wraith. It pointed here and there, and as it pointed so Eric shaped his course. For a while the noise of breakers lessened, but now again came the thunder, like mighty waves smiting on a cliff, and about the sides of the sleek craft the waves hissed like snakes.
