a moving thing loomed upon the snowy darkness. Then Gudruda leapt to her
feet and called. A man's voice answered:

"Who passes there?"

"I, Gudruda, Asmund's daughter."

The form came nearer; now Swanhild could hear the snorting of a horse,
and now a man leapt from it, and that man was Eric Brighteyes.

"Is it thou indeed, Gudruda!" he said with a laugh, and his great shape
showed darkly on the snow mist.

"Oh, is it thou, Eric?" she answered. "I was never more joyed to see
thee; for of a truth thou dost come in a good hour. A little while and I
had seen thee no more, for my eyes grow heavy with the death-sleep."

"Nay, say not so. Art lost, then? Why, so am I. I came out to seek three
horses that are strayed, and was overtaken by the snow. May they
dwell in Odin's stables, for they have led me to thee. Art thou cold,
Gudruda?"

"But a little, Eric. Yea, there is place for thee here on the rock."

So he sat down by her on the stone, and Swanhild crept nearer; for now
all weariness had left her. But still the snow fell thick.

"It comes into my mind that we two shall die here," said Gudruda
presently.