CHAPTER XXIX
The Chasing Of Bardi.
Now must it be told what tidings Bardi and his folk see. He rideth the first of them, and somewhat the hardest, so that a gate's space was betwixt him and them; but they rode after him somewhat leisurely, and said that he was wondrous fearful.
Now see they the faring of men who chase them, and that flock was not much less than they themselves had. Then were Bardi's fellows glad, and thought it good that there would be a chance of some tale to tell of their journey.
Then spake Bardi: "Fare we away yet a while, for it is not to be looked for that they will spur on the chase any the less."
Then sang Eric Wide-sight a stave:
"Now gather together the warriors renowned,
Each one of them eager-fain after the fray.
Now draweth together a folk that is fight-famed,
Apace on the heathways from out of the Southland;
But Bardi in nowise hard-counselled is bidding
The warriors fare fast and be eager in fleeing
The blast of the spear-storm that hitherward setteth,
The storm of the feeders of fight from the South."
"Now sayest thou not sooth," said Bardi; "that spake I, that each should fare as he might, till we be come to the fighting-stead in the northernmost mire, which my fosterer told me we should make the most of."
Nevertheless, Bardi could not get that matter brought on the road, and they said that they had been chased enow when they came to the fight-stead in the southern mire; and Bardi sees that so it will have to be; so now he turneth to meet his folk. He says that he was no eagerer to ride away than they, "and this plot of yours shall ye pay for, whereas I may not let you now, that we shall not run this evening before ye think it high time; and ye, or anyone else, shall first speak the word of not abiding, or ever I do."
Now deem they right well thereover. They left their horses out on the ness away from them, and set Kollgris to heed them; for he was no fighting-man, and was on the downhill road of life.
Now sang Eric a stave:
"Fast hold we the field now, let each man be moving
Forth on to the battle that bideth us here.
Let us the fell reddeners, the well-proven falcons,
The shield-tearers, sniff in the wounds of the men.
I know how to bide in my place of the battle,
Though harder and harder the sword-storm be growing
That gathereth against us from fields of the South.
Here up on the Heath let us harden the helm-rod."
That same day withal folk went to Whitewatermeads to fetch Hermund, who was wending home again, and the messengers met him up from Thingness. There he leaveth behind all his train, and biddeth every man fare with him who might get away, and calleth all folk out, and rideth after them.