eric brighteyes-第28部分

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from　the　dead　men；　and　placed　ballast　stones　upon　them；　then　clambered

on　to　the　deck　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　he

pointed　ahead。　〃What　land　is　that？〃



〃It　must　be　the　Fareys；〃　answered　Eric；　〃now；　if　we　can　but　keep

afloat　for　three　hours　more；　we　may　yet　die　ashore。〃



After　this　the　wind　began　to　fall；　but　still　there　was　enough　to　drive

the　Raven　on　swiftly。



And　ever　the　water　gained　in　the　hold。



Now　they　were　not　far　from　land；　for　ahead　of　them　the　bleak　hills

towered　up；　shining　in　the　faint　midnight　light；　and　between　the　hills

was　a　cleft　that　seemed　to　be　a　fjord。　Another　hour　passed；　and　they

were　no　more　than　ten　furlongs　from　the　mouth　of　the　fjord；　when

suddenly　the　wind　fell；　and　they　were　in　calm　water　under　shelter　of

the　land。　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

saved　if　the　boat　is　not　broken。〃



Now　aft；　near　the　tiller；　a　small　boat　was　bound　on　the　half　deck　of

the　Raven。　They　went　to　it　and　looked；　it　was　whole；　with　oars　lashed

in　it；　but　half　full　of　water；　which　they　must　bail　out。　This　they　did

as　swiftly　as　they　might；　then　they　cut　the　little　boat　loose；　and；

having　made　it　fast　with　a　rope；　lifted　it　over　the　side…rail　and　let

it　fall　into　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　and　called　to　Skallagrim　to　follow。



〃Bide　a　while；　lord；〃　he　answered；　〃there　is　that　which　I　would　bring

with　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

and　byrnies；　and　red　rings　of　gold　that　he　had　found　time　to　gather

from　the　dead　and　out　of　the　cabin。



〃Throw　all　aside　and　come；〃　said　Eric；　laying　on　to　the　oars；　for　the

Raven　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

the　Raven　sank　to　her　bulwarks。　Then　Skallagrim　stepped　from　the

sinking　deck　into　the　boat；　and　cut　the　cord；　not　too　soon。



Eric　gave　way　with　all　his　strength；　and；　as　he　pulled；　when　he　was　no

more　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　water

trickled　over　her　gunwale；　and　for　a　moment　they　knew　not　if　they　were

lost　or　saved。　Eric　held　his　breath　and　watched；　then　slowly　the　boat

lifted　her　nose；　and　they　were　safe　from　the　whirlpool　of　the　lost

dragon。



〃Greed　is　many　a　man's　bane；〃　said　Eric；　〃and　it　was　nearly　thine　and

mine；　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　two　hours　they　rowed　down　a　gulf；　as　it　were；　and　on　either　side

of　them　were　barren　hills。　At　length　the　water…way　opened　out　into　a

great　basin；　and　there；　on　the　further　side　of　the　basin；　they　saw

green　slopes　running　down　to　the　water's　edge；　strewn　with　white

stock…fish　set　to　dry　in　the　wind　and　sun；　and　above　the　slopes　a

large　hall；　and　about　it　booths。　Moreover；　they　saw　a　long　dragon　of

war　at　anchor　near　the　shore。　For　a　while　they　rowed　on；　easing　now

and　again。　Then　Eric　spoke　to　Skallagrim。



〃What　thinkest　thou　of　yonder　ship；　Lambstail？〃



〃I　think　this；　lord：　that　she　is　fashioned　wondrous　like　to　the

Gudruda。〃



〃That　is　in　my　mind　also；〃　said　Eric；　〃and　our　fortune　is　good　if　it

is　she。〃



They　rowed　on　again；　and　presently　a　ray　from　the　sun　came　over　the

hillsfor　now　it　was　three　hours　past　midnightand；　the　ship　having

swung　a　little　with　the　tide；　lit　upon　her　prow；　and　lo！　there　gleamed

the　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　the

mate；〃　and　the　Baresark　smiled　grimly。



〃Thou　shalt　do　no　hurt　to　Hall；〃　said　Eric。　〃I　am　lord　here；　and　I

must　judge。〃



〃Thy　will　is　my　will；〃　said　Skallagrim；　〃but　if　my　will　were　thine；　he

would　hang　on　the　mast　till　sea…birds　nested　amidst　his　bones。〃



Now　they　were　close　to　the　ship；　but　they　could　see　no　man。　Skallagrim

would　have　called　aloud；　but　Eric　bade　him　hold　his　peace。



〃Either　they　are　dead；　and　thy　calling　cannot　wake　them；　or　perchance

they　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　Gudruda

had　not　been　handled　gently　by　the　winds　and　waves；　for　her　shield

rail　was　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　there　and　ate　of　the　food；　of　which　they　had　great　need。　Then

they　took　two　cloaks　that　lay　on　the　deck；　and；　throwing　them　about

them；　warmed　themselves　over　the　fire：　for　they　were　cold　and　wet；　ay；

and　utterly　outworn。



As　they　sat　thus　warming　themselves；　a　man　of　the　crew　awoke　and　saw

them；　and　being　amazed；　at　once　called　to　his　fellows；　saying　that　two

giants　were　aboard；　warming　themselves　at　the　fire。　Now　men　sprang　up；

and；　seizing　their　weapons；　ran　towards　them；　and　among　them　was　Hall

the　mate。



Then　suddenly　Eric　Brighteyes　and　Skallagrim　Lambstail　threw　aside　the

cloaks　and　stood　up。　They　were　gaunt　and　grim　to　see。　Their　cheeks

were　hollow　and　their　eyes　stared　wide　with　want　of　sleep。　Thick　was

their　harness　with　brine；　and　open　wounds　gaped　upon　their　faces　and

their　hands。　Men　saw　and　fell　back　in　fear；　for　they　held　them　to　be

wizards　risen　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　Eric

and　Skallagrim　come　up　alive　from　the　sea；　and　that　they　knew　his

baseness。



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　them；　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　cannot

carry。　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

cut　loose　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　parted

beneath　the　straining　of　the　ship；　and　afterwards　we　could　not　put

about　because　of　the　great　sea。〃



〃Thou　art　false！〃　roared　Skallagrim。　〃With　my　eyes　I　saw　thee　let

thine　axe　fall　upon　the　cable。　Liar　art　thou　and　dastard！　Thou　art

jealous　also　of　Brighteyes　thy　lord；　and　this　was　in　thy　mind：　to　let

him　die　upon　the　Raven　and　then　to　bind　his　shoes　upon　thy　cowardly

feet。　Though　none　else　saw；　I　saw；　and　I　say　this：　that　if　I　may　have

my　will；　I　will　string　thee；　living；　to　the　prow　in　that　same　cable

till　gulls　tear　out　thy　fox…heart！〃



Now　Hall　grew　very　white　and　his　knees　trembled　beneath　him。　〃It　is

true；〃　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　and

together　to　falltogether　to　fare　and；　if　need　be；　together　to　cease

from　faring；　and　dost　thou　read　the　oath　thus？　Say；　mates；　what　reward

shall　be　paid　to　this　man　for　his　good　fellowship　to　us　and　his

tenderness　for　your　lives？〃



As　with　one　voice　the　men　answered　〃/Death！/〃



〃Thou　hearest；　Hall？〃　said　Eric。　〃Yet　I　would　deal　more　gently　with

one　to　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　I　repent　of　my　mercy。〃



Then　amidst　a　loud　hooting；　Hall　took　his　weapons　and　without　a　word

slunk　into　the　boat　of　the　Raven　that　lay　astern；　and　rowed　ashore；

nor　did　Eric　see　his　face　for　many　months。



〃Thou　hast　done　foolishly；　lord；　to　let　that　weasel　go；〃　said

Skallagrim；　〃for　he　will　live　to　nip　thy　hand。〃



〃For　good　or　evil；　he　is　gone；〃　said　Eric；　〃and　now　I　am　worn　out　and

desire　to　sleep。〃







After　this　Eric　and　Sk