ships crept on together down the wind.

But when all was told, save of the matter of Havelok, and who the lost
lady was, the Viking laughed shortly, and said, "Pleasant gossip, Grim,
but not business. What will you give us to go away in peace? I do not
forget that you all but ran us down just now, and that one or two of us
have arrows sticking in us which came from your ship. But that first was
a good bit of seamanship, and there is not much harm from the last."

"Well," said my father, "it seems to me that you owe me a ship, for it
is certain that I once had that one, and gave her back to you."

The Viking laughed.

"True enough, and therefore I give you back your ship now, and we are
quits. But I am coming on board to see what property I can lift."

My father shrugged his shoulders, and turned away, and at once the
Vikings hauled on the chain until their dragon head was against our
quarter, when the chief and some twenty of his men came on board. The
way in which they took off the hatches without staying to question where
they should begin told a tale of many a like plundering.

Then, I do not know how it was rightly, for I was aft with my father,
there began a quarrel between the Vikings and our men; and though both
Grim and the chief tried to stop it, five of our few were slain
outright, and three more badly hurt before it was ended. The rest of our
crew took refuge on the fore deck, and there bided after that. The whole
fray was over in a few minutes, and it seemed that the Vikings half
expected somewhat of the sort.

Then they took all the linen and woollen goods, and our spare sails, and
all the arms and armour from the men and from the chests to their own
ship. Only they left my father and Arngeir their war gear, saying that
it were a shame to disarm two brave men.

Then the chief said, "Little cargo have you, friend Grim, and therefore
I am the more sure that you have store of money with you. Even flight
from Hodulf would not prevent you from taking that wherewith to trade.
So I must have it; and it rests with you whether we tear your ship to
splinters in hunting for your hiding place or not."

"I suppose there is no help for it, but I will say that the most of what
I have is not mine," said my father.

"Why, what matter? When one gives gold into the hands of a seafarer, one
has to reckon with such chances as this. You must needs hand it over."

So, as there was naught else to do, Grim brought out th