Eric Brighteyes

by H. Rider Haggard

  "The same on which the Gudruda was laid. Perhaps, if we may endure tillwe come to the Farey Isles,[*] we shall find her in harbour there."

  [*] The Faroes.

  "There is not much chance of that," said Skallagrim; "still, the wind isfair, and we fly fast before it."

  Then they lashed the tiller and set to bailing. They bailed long, and itwas heavy work, but they rid the ship of much water. After that they atefood, for it was now morning, and it came on to blow yet more strongly.

  For three days and three nights it blew thus, and the Raven sped alongbefore the gale. All this time, turn and turn about, Eric and Skallagrimstood at the helm and tended the sails. They had little time to eat, andnone to sleep. They were so hard pressed also, and must harbour theirstrength so closely, that the bodies of the dead men yet cumbered thehold. Thus they grew very weary and like to fall from faintness, butstill they held the Raven on her course. In the beginning of the fourthnight a great sea struck the good ship so that she quivered from stem tostern.

  "Methinks I hear water bubbling up," said Skallagrim in a hoarse voice.

  Eric climbed down into the well and lifted the bottom planks, andthere beneath them was a leak through which the water spouted in a thinstream. He stopped up the rent as best he might with garments from thedead men, and placed ballast stones upon them, then clambered on to thedeck again.

  "Our hours are short now," he said, "the water rushes in apace."

  "Well, it is time to rest," said Skallagrim; "but see, lord!" and hepointed ahead. "What land is that?"

  "It must be the Fareys," answered Eric; "now, if we can but keep afloatfor three hours more, we may yet die ashore."

  After this the wind began to fall, but still there was enough to drivethe Raven on swiftly.

  And ever the water gained in the hold.

  Now they were not far from land, for ahead of them the bleak hillstowered up, shining in the faint midnight light, and between the hillswas a cleft that seemed to be a fjord. Another hour passed, and theywere no more than ten furlongs from the mouth of the fjord, whensuddenly the wind fell, and they were in calm water under shelter of theland. They went amidships and looked. The hold was half full of water,and in it floated the bodies of Ospakar's men.

  "She has not long to live," said Skallagrim, "but we may still be savedif the boat is not broken."

  Now aft, near the tiller, a small boat was bound on the half deck of theRaven. They went to it and looked; it was whole, with oars lashed init, but half full of water, which they must bail out. This they did asswiftly as they might; then they cut the little boat loose, and, havingmade it fast with a rope, lifted it over the side-rail and let it fallinto the sea, and that was no great way, for the Raven had sunk deep.It fell on an even keel, and Eric let himself down the rope into it andcalled to Skallagrim to follow.

  "Bide a while, lord," he answered; "there is that which I would bringwith me."

  For a space Eric waited and then called aloud, "Swift! thou fool; swift!the ship sinks!"

  And as he called, Skallagrim came, and his arms were full of swords andbyrnies, and red rings of gold that he had found time to gather from thedead and out of the cabin.

  "Throw all aside and come," said Eric, laying on to the oars, for theRaven wallowed before she sank.

  "There is yet time, lord, and the gear is good," answered Skallagrim,and one by one he threw pieces down into the boat. As the last fell theRaven sank to her bulwarks. Then Skallagrim stepped from the sinkingdeck into the boat, and cut the cord, not too soon.

  Eric gave way with all his strength, and, as he pulled, when he was nomore than five fathoms from her, the Raven vanished with a huge swirl.

  "Hold still," he said, "or we shall follow."

  Round spun the boat in the eddy, she was sucked down till the watertrickled over her gunwale, and for a moment they knew not if they werelost or saved. Eric held his breath and watched, then slowly the boatlifted her nose, and they were safe from the whirlpool of the lostdragon.

  "Greed is many a man's bane," said Eric, "and it was nearly thine andmine, Skallagrim."

  "I had no heart to leave the good gear," he answered; "and thou seest,lord, it is safe and we with it."

  Then they got the boat's head round slowly into the mouth of the fjord,pausing now and again to rest, for their strength was spent. For twohours they rowed down a gulf, as it were, and on either side of themwere barren hills. At length the water-way opened out into a greatbasin, and there, on the further side of the basin, they saw greenslopes running down to the water's edge, strewn with white stock-fishset to dry in the wind and sun, and above the slopes a large hall, andabout it booths. Moreover, they saw a long dragon of war at anchor nearthe shore. For a while they rowed on, easing now and again. Then Ericspoke to Skallagrim.

  "What thinkest thou of yonder ship, Lambstail?"

  "I think this, lord: that she is fashioned wondrous like to theGudruda."

  "That is in my mind also," said Eric, "and our fortune is good if it isshe."

  They rowed on again, and presently a ray from the sun came over thehills--for now it was three hours past midnight--and, the ship havingswung a little with the tide, lit upon her prow, and lo! there gleamedthe golden dragon of the Gudruda.

  "This is a strange thing," said Eric.

  "Ay, lord, a strange and a merry, for now I shall talk with Hall themate," and the Baresark smiled grimly.

  "Thou shalt do no hurt to Hall," said Eric. "I am lord here, and I mustjudge."

  "Thy will is my will," said Skallagrim; "but if my will were thine, hewould hang on the mast till sea-birds nested amidst his bones."

  Now they were close to the ship, but they could see no man. Skallagrimwould have called aloud, but Eric bade him hold his peace.

  "Either they are dead, and thy calling cannot wake them, or perchancethey sleep and will wake of themselves. We will row under the stern,and, having made fast, climb aboard and see with our own eyes."

  This, then, they did as silently as might be, and saw that the Gudrudahad not been handled gently by the winds and waves, for her shield railwas washed away. This they found also, that all men lay deep in sleep.Now, amidships a fire still burned, and by it was food. They came thereand ate of the food, of which they had great need. Then they took twocloaks that lay on the deck, and, throwing them about them, warmedthemselves over the fire: for they were cold and wet, ay, and utterlyoutworn.

  As they sat thus warming themselves, a man of the crew awoke and sawthem, and being amazed, at once called to his fellows, saying that twogiants were aboard, warming themselves at the fire. Now men sprang up,and, seizing their weapons, ran towards them, and among them was Hallthe mate.

  Then suddenly Eric Brighteyes and Skallagrim Lambstail threw aside thecloaks and stood up. They were gaunt and grim to see. Their cheeks werehollow and their eyes stared wide with want of sleep. Thick was theirharness with brine, and open wounds gaped upon their faces and theirhands. Men saw and fell back in fear, for they held them to be wizardsrisen from the sea in the shapes of Eric and the Baresark.

  Then Eric sang this song:

  "Swift and sure across the Swan's Bath Sped Sea-stag on Raven's track, Heav'd Ran's breast in raging billows, Stream'd gale-banners through the sky! Yet did Eric the war-eager Leap with Baresark-mate aboard, Fierce their onset on the foemen! Wherefore brake the grapnel-chain?"

  Hall heard and slunk back, for now he saw that these were indeed Ericand Skallagrim come up alive from the sea, and that they knew hisbaseness.

  Eric looked at him and sang again:

  "Swift away sped ship Gudruda, Left her lord in foeman's ring; Brighteyes back to back with Baresark Held his head 'gainst mighty odds. Down amidst the ballast tumbling, Ospakar's shield-carles were rolled. Holy peace at length they handselled, Eric must in bonds be laid!

  "Came the Grey Rat, came the Earl's wife, Came the witch-word from afar; Cag'd wolves roused t
hem, and with struggling Tore their fetter from its hold. Now they watch upon their weapons; Now they weep and pray for life; Now they leap forth like a torrent-- Swept away in foeman's strength!

  "Then alone upon the Raven Three long days they steer and sail, Till the waters, welling upwards, Wash dead men about their feet. Fails the gale and sinks the dragon, Barely may they win the boat: Safe they stand on ship Gudruda-- Say, who cut the grapnel-chain?"

  XV

  HOW ERIC DWELT IN LONDON TOWN

  Men stood astonished, but Hall the mate slunk back.

  "Hold, comrade," said Eric, "I have something to say that songs cannotcarry. Hearken, my shield-mates: we swore to be true to each other,even to death: is it not so? What then shall be said of that man who cutloose the Gudruda and left us two to die at the foeman's hand?"

  "Who was the man?" asked a voice.

  "That man was Hall of Lithdale," said Eric.

  "It is false!" said Hall, gathering up his courage; "the cable partedbeneath the straining of the ship, and afterwards we could not put aboutbecause of the great sea."

  "Thou art false!" roared Skallagrim. "With my eyes I saw thee let thineaxe fall upon the cable. Liar art thou and dastard! Thou art jealousalso of Brighteyes thy lord, and this was in thy mind: to let him dieupon the Raven and then to bind his shoes upon thy cowardly feet. Thoughnone else saw, I saw; and I say this: that if I may have my will, I willstring thee, living, to the prow in that same cable till gulls tear outthy fox-heart!"

  Now Hall grew very white and his knees trembled beneath him. "It istrue," he said, "that I cut the chain, but not from any thought of evil.Had I not cut it the vessel must have sunk and all been lost."

  "Did we not swear, Hall," said Eric sternly, "together to fight andtogether to fall--together to fare and, if need be, together to ceasefrom faring, and dost thou read the oath thus? Say, mates, whatreward shall be paid to this man for his good fellowship to us and histenderness for your lives?"

  As with one voice the men answered "_Death!_"

  "Thou hearest, Hall?" said Eric. "Yet I would deal more gently with oneto whom I swore fellowship so lately. Get thee gone from our company,and let us see thy cur's face no more. Get thee gone, I say, before Irepent of my mercy."

  Then amidst a loud hooting, Hall took his weapons and without a wordslunk into the boat of the Raven that lay astern, and rowed ashore; nordid Eric see his face for many months.

  "Thou hast done foolishly, lord, to let that weasel go," saidSkallagrim, "for he will live to nip thy hand."

  "For good or evil, he is gone," said Eric, "and now I am worn out anddesire to sleep."

  After this Eric and Skallagrim rested three full days, and they were soweary that they were awake for little of this time. But on the third daythey rose up, strong and well, except for their hurts and soreness. Thenthey told the men of that which had come to pass, and all wondered attheir might and hardihood. To them indeed Eric seemed as a God, for fewsuch deeds as his had been told of since the God-kind were on earth.

  But Brighteyes thought little of his deeds, and much of Gudruda. Attimes 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 fromRan's net.

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

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

  "I grant it for thy deeds' sake," said Eric shortly; "but this is uponmy mind: that thou wilt err thus again, and it shall be my cause ofdeath--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 ofthose who had been slain by Ospakar's folk. Afterwards, when the woundedwere well of their hurts (except one man who died), and the Gudruda wasmade fit to take the sea again, Brighteyes bade farewell to the Earl ofthose Isles, who gave him a good cloak and a gold ring at parting, andsailed away.

  Now it were too long to tell of all the deeds that Eric and his mendid. Never, so scalds sing, was there a viking like him for strengthand skill and hardihood, and, in those days, no such war-dragon as theGudruda had been known upon the sea. Wherever Eric joined battle, andthat 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 andkings would send from far craving the aid of his hands. Withal he wasthe best and gentlest of men. It is said of Eric that in all his days hedid no base deed, nor hurt the weak, nor refused peace to him who prayedit, nor lifted sword against prisoner or wounded foe. From tradershe would take a toll of their merchandise only and let them go, andwhatever gains he won he would share equally, asking no larger part thanthe meanest of his band. All men loved Eric, and even his foes gave himhonour and spoke well of him. Now that Hall of Lithdale was gone, therewas 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 onthem.

  The first summer of his outlawry Eric warred along the coast of Ireland,but in the winter he came to Dublin, and for a while served in thebody-guard of the king of that town, who held him in honour, and wouldhave had him stay there. But Eric would not bide there, and next spring,the Gudruda being ready for sea, he sailed for the shores of England.There he gave battle to two vikings' ships of war, and took them aftera hard fight. It was in this fight that Skallagrim Lambstail was woundedalmost to death. For when, having taken one ship, Eric boarded the otherwith but few men, he was driven back and fell over a beam, and wouldhave been slain, had not Skallagrim thrown himself across his body,taking on his own back that blow of a battle-axe which was aimed atEric's head. This was a great wound, for the axe shore through the steelof the byrnie and sank into the flesh. But when Eric's men saw theirlord down, and Skallagrim, as they deemed, dead athwart him, they madeso fierce a rush that the foemen fell before them like leaves beforea winter gale, and the end of it was that the vikings prayed peace ofEric. Skallagrim lay sick for many days, but he was hard to kill, andEric nursed him back to life. After this these two loved each other asbrother loves twin brother, and they could scarcely bear to be apart.But other people did not love Skallagrim, nor he them.

  Eric sailed on up the Thames to London, bringing the viking ships withhim, and he delivered their captains bound to Edmund, Edward's son,the king who was called Edmund the Magnificent. These captains the Kinghung, for they had wrought damage to his ships.

  Eric found much favour with the King, and, indeed, his fame hadgone before him. So when he came into the court, bravely clad, withSkallagrim at his back, who was now almost recovered of his wound, theKing called out to him to draw near, saying that he desired to look onthe bravest viking and most beauteous man who sailed the seas, and onthat fierce Baresark whom men called "Eric's Death-shadow."

  So Eric came forward up the long hall that was adorned with things moresplendid than ever his eyes had seen, and stood before the King. Withhim came Skallagrim, driving the two captive viking chiefs before himwith his axe, as a flesher drives lambs. Now, during these many monthsBrighteyes had grown yet more great in girth and glorious to look onthan he was before. Moreover, his hair was now so long that it flowedlike a flood of gold down towards his girdle, for since Gudruda trimmedit no shears had come near his head, and his locks grew fast as awoman's. The King looked at him and was astonished.

  "Of a truth," he said, "men have not lied about thee, Icelander, norconcerning that great wolf-hound
of thine," and he pointed at Skallagrimwith his sword of state. "Never saw I such a man;" and he bade all themightiest men of his body-guard stand forward that he might measure themagainst Eric. But Brighteyes was an inch taller than the tallest, andmeasured half a span more round the chest than the biggest.

  "What wouldest thou of me, Icelander?" asked the King.

  "This, lord," said Eric: "to serve thee a while, and all my men withme."

  "That is an offer that few would turn from," answered the King. "Thoushalt go into my body-guard, and, if I have my will, thou shalt be nearme in battle, and thy wolf-dog also."

  Eric said that he asked no better, and thereafter he went up with Edmundthe King to make war on the Danes of Mercia, and he and Skallagrim didgreat deeds before the eyes of the Englishmen.

  That winter Eric and his company came back to London, and abode withthe King in much state and honour. Now, there was a certain lady ofthe court named Elfrida. She was both fair and wealthy, the sweetest ofwomen, and of royal blood by her mother's side. So soon as her eyes fellon Eric she loved him, and no one thing did she desire more than tobe his wife. But Brighteyes kept aloof from her, for he loved Gudrudaalone; and so the winter wore away, and in the spring he went awaywarring, nor did he come back till autumn was at hand.

  The Lady Elfrida sat at a window when Eric rode through London Townin the King's following, and as he passed she threw him a wreath offlowers. The King saw it and laughed.

  "My cold kinswoman seems to melt before those bright eyes of thine,Icelander," he said, "as my foes melt before Whitefire's flame. Well, Icould wish her a worse mate," and he looked on him strangely.