made one end fast to a knob of rock--and this was difficult, for his
hands were stiff with cold--and the other end he passed through his
leathern girdle. Then Eric looked again, and his heart sank within him.
How might he give himself to this boiling flood and not be shattered?
But as he looked, lo! a rainbow grew upon the face of the water, and one
end of it lit upon him, and the other, like a glory from the Gods, fell
full upon Gudruda as she stood a little way apart, watching at the foot
of Golden Falls.

"Seest thou that," said Asmund to Groa, who was at his side, "the Gods
build their Bifrost bridge between these two. Who now shall keep them
asunder?"

"Read the portent thus," she answered: "they shall be united, but not
here. Yon is a Spirit bridge, and, see: the waters of Death foam and
fall between them!"

Eric, too, saw the omen and it seemed good to him, and all fear left his
heart. Round about him the waters thundered, but amidst their roar he
dreamed that he heard a voice calling:

"Be of good cheer, Eric Brighteyes; for thou shalt live to do mightier
deeds than this, and in guerdon thou shalt win Gudruda."

So he paused no longer, but, shortening up the rope, pulled on it with
all his strength, and then leapt out upon the arch of waters. They
struck him and he was dashed out like a stone from a sling; again he
fell against them and again was dashed away, so that his girdle burst.
Eric felt it go and clung wildly to the rope and lo! with the inward
swing, he fell on Wolf's Fang, where never a man has stood before and