gon's deck within a yard of the King. It was a
tremendous leap, and so nearly beyond the compass of Kettle's powers
that he was scarcely able to retain his foothold, but stood for a moment
on the edge of the vessel with shield and sword upheaved, as he
staggered to regain his balance. Thus exposed, he might have easily
been slain; but the King, instead of using his sword, stepped forward,
and with his left hand pushed the Irishman overboard. The cheer which
greeted his daring leap had scarcely ceased to ring when he fell heavily
into the sea.

"A goodly man, and a bold attempt," said the King, with a smile, as he
turned to Jarl Rongvold. "'Twould have been a pity to slay him
outright. If he can swim he may yet live to fight another battle."

"True, sire," replied the jarl, who was looking over the side at the
place where Kettle fell; "but methinks he has struck his head on an oar,
and will never succeed in swimming towards a friendly hand."

This indeed seemed to be true; for Kettle lay with his arm over an oar,
and his head hanging down in the water, like a dead man. Yet there was
life in him, for his fingers moved. Ulf had witnessed all this, and was
on the point of attempting to leap across to Harald's ship when Kettle
fell. He paused, and, seeing that his comrade was apparently being
drowned, at once dropped sword and shield, and sprang into the sea after
him.

At that moment a number of the King's boldest and best armed men
observed that the two ships had drawn a little nearer to each other. In
a moment they leaped across the intervening space, took their opponents
by surprise, and quickly regained the ship.

While this had been going on at the poop, the fight on the forecastle
had raged with extreme fury, for Haldor the Fierce had gained a footing
on the Dragon's deck, and was engaged in mortal combat with Hake the
berserk, whom he was slowly but surely driving back. His son Erling the
Bold, who observed what was going on, had run his cutter along the stern
of his father's ship, and was hastening to his aid, when King Harald
became aware that his men were giving way, and rushed to their support.
He went forward raging with anger, and as he ran he picked up a huge
stone, which he hurled before him. Haldor was at the moment in the act
of fetching a deadly cut at Hake, whom he had disarmed. The stone
struck him full in the chest, and he fell backward just as Erling
reached his side.

A great cheer