ingle nook, she could not see the face of her son.

"What ails thee, Eric, that thou sittest so silent? Was not the meat,
then, to thy mind at supper?"

"Yes, mother, the meat was well enough, though a little undersmoked."

"Now I see that thou art not thyself, son, for thou hadst no meat, but
only stock-fish--and I never knew a man forget his supper on the night
of its eating, except he was distraught or deep in love."

"Was it so?" said Brighteyes.

"What troubles thee, Eric?--that sweet lass yonder?"

"Ay, somewhat, mother."

"What more, then?"

"This, that I go down Golden Falls to-morrow, and I do not know how I
may come from Sheep-saddle rock to Wolf's Fang crag and keep my life
whole in me; and now, I pray thee, weary me not with words, for my brain
is slow, and I must use it."

When she heard this Saevuna screamed aloud, and threw herself before
Eric, praying him to forgo his mad venture. But he would not listen
to her, for he was slow to make up his mind, but, that being made up,
nothing could change it. Then, when she learned that it was to get sight
of Gudruda that he purposed thus to throw his life away, she was very
angry and cursed her and all her kith and kin.