with tapestries, and seated him by his side on the high seat. And
Ospakar's thralls brought good gifts for Asmund, who thanked the giver
well.

Now it was supper time, and Gudruda came in, and after her walked
Swanhild. Ospakar gazed hard at Gudruda and a great desire entered into
him to make her his wife. But she passed coldly by, nor looked on him at
all.

"This, then, is that maid of thine of whom I have heard tell, Asmund? I
will say this: fairer was never born of woman."

Then men ate and Ospakar drank much ale, but all the while he stared at
Gudruda and listened for her voice. But as yet he said nothing of what
he came to seek, though all knew his errand. And his two sons, Gizur
and Mord, stared also at Gudruda, for they thought her most wonderfully
fair. But Gizur found Swanhild also fair.

And so the night wore on till it was time to sleep.



On this same day Eric rode up from his farm on Ran River and took his
road along the brow of Coldback till he came to Stonefell. Now all along
Coldback and Stonefell is a steep cliff facing to the south, that grows
ever higher till it comes to that point where Golden River falls over
it and, parting its waters below, runs east and west--the branch to the
east being called Ran River and that to the west Laxà--for these two
streams girdle round the rich plain of Middalhof, till at length they
reach the sea. But in the midst of Golden River, on the edge of the