side. There, I see it on the snow! I lie by thee, sleeping, and one
comes with hands outstretched and sleep falls from them like a mist--by
Freya, it is Swanhild's self! Oh! it is gone."

[*] The Northern Fates.

"It was nothing, Gudruda, but a vision of the snow--an untimely dream
that comes before the sleep. I grow cold and my eyes are heavy; kiss me
once again."

"It was no dream, Eric, and ever I doubt me of Swanhild, for I think she
loves thee also, and she is fair and my enemy," says Gudruda, laying her
snow-cold lips on his lips. "Oh, Eric, awake! awake! See, the snow is
done."

He stumbled to his feet and looked forth. Lo! out across the sky flared
the wild Northern fires, throwing light upon the darkness.

"Now it seems that I know the land," said Eric. "Look: yonder are Golden
Falls, though we did not hear them because of the snow; and there, out
at sea, loom the Westmans; and that dark thing is the Temple Hof, and
behind it stands the stead. We are saved, Gudruda, and thus far indeed
thou wast fey. Now rise, ere thy limbs stiffen, and I will set thee on
the horse, if he still can run, and lead thee down to Middalhof before
the witchlights fail us."

"So it shall be, Eric."

Now he led Gudruda to the horse--that, seeing its master, snorted and
shook the snow from its coat, for it was not frozen--and set her on the