"Now," grumbled Frodi, "vikings have we escaped, and baresarks, and the Scots, and all manner of dangers, and the sea, only to die here at last. What was that foolish tale of thine about a prophecy? I never heard of such a thing." "Free me of my bonds," answered Rolf, "and thou shalt learn why I made that pretence." Frodi strove against his bonds, but they were too strong for him; and so those cousins lay there for a while. But outside in the hall the women worked over Grani until at last he moved and groaned, and they saw that he would live. So for joy Einar knew not what to do; and he became talkative, and walked about, and so stumbled on those things (the bundle, and the clothes, and the arms, and the case) which had been brought there with Grani. When he examined them the arms pleased him right well, for in the case he found the marvellous bow of the viking. All admired the bow. But the old woman Thurid muttered to herself as she saw them handling the bow, and at last drew near and asked to see it. The bow she handled, and the arrows she looked on; then at last she shuddered and let the bow fall, and sang of it: "Enemy fierce To Einar's fame, Now lieth here. Ere thee it pierce, Or bringeth grame, Fire it should sear. Break it and burn! Thus shalt thou turn Ill from thy hall, Ruin from all. --This I discern." Einar looked with aversion on the bow where it lay, but Ondott raised it and held it aloft. "Now," asked he, "shall such a beautiful weapon be broken for a crone's rhymes?" All cried out that it should not be so; and Einar took the bow, and hung it on his high seat, vowing to keep it. Then he said to Thurid she should be gone ere morning, as she had promised. The old woman took her cloak, and went to the door, but on the threshold she sang: "Here got I One gray cloak, One winter's meat: These from Einar Here got I. --One gray cloak, One winter's meat, Be given Einar Ere he die!" So she went out into the storm. Now the moon had clouded again, and snow fell thickly, a blinding squall; so the old woman was bewildered, and very cold. She found herself a place by a rock, and sat there, singing verses, until at last she fell asleep. But while all were admiring the bow in the hall, Helga came to the door of the locked bed, and took away the brace that closed it, and cast in a knife, and shut up the door again. Rolf and Frodi saw; and they conceived this plan, that Rolf should hold the knife in his hands, and Frodi should rub his bonds thereagainst. Then that was done, and they freed themselves. "Yet we are not out of the hall," said Frodi, "and with helping Grani the place will be awake all night." "Now remember the prophecy which I coined," answered Rolf. "Look here and hold thy peace." And he showed Frodi how a panel in the wall might be taken out, so that the way was free. "Come then," Frodi said.