the
fight begins."

"It is bad to join battle in such a sea," quoth Hall.

"Good or bad," growled Skallagrim, "do thou thy lord's bidding," and he
half lifted up his axe.

The mate said no more, for he misdoubted him of Skallagrim Lambstail and
his axe.

Then men made ready for the fray as best they might, and stood, sword in
hand and drenched with foam, clinging to the bulwarks of the Gudruda as
she wallowed through the seas.

Eric went aft to the helm and seized it. Now but a length ahead
Ospakar's ship laboured on beneath her small sail, but the Gudruda
rushed towards her with all canvas set and at every leap plunged her
golden dragon beneath the surf and shook the water from her foredeck.

"Make ready the grapnel!" shouted Eric through the storm. Skallagrim
seized the iron and stood by. Now the Gudruda rushed alongside the
Raven, and Eric steered so skilfully that there was a fathom space, and
no more, between the ships.

Skallagrim cast the iron well and truly, so that it hooked and held. On
sped the Gudruda and the cable tautened--now her stern kissed the bow of
Ospakar's ship, as though she was towing her, and thus for a space they
travelled through the seas.

Eric's folk shouted and strove to cast spears; but they did this but
ill, because of the rocking of the vessel. As for Ospakar's men, they
clung to their bulwarks and did nothing, for all the heart was out of
them between fear of Eric and terror of the sea. Eric called to a man to
hold the helm, and Skallagrim crept aft to where he stood.

"What counsel shall we take now?" said Eric, and as he spoke a sea broke
over them--for the gale was strong.

"Board them and make an end," answered Skallagrim.

"Rough work; still, we will try it," said Eric, "for we may not lie thus
for long, and I am loath to leave them."

Then Eric called for men to follow him, and many answered, creeping as
best they might to where he stood.

"Thou art mad, Eric," said Hall the mate; "cut loose and let us drive,
else we shall both founder, and that is a poor tale to tell."

Eric took no heed, but, watching his chance, leapt on to the bows of the
Raven, and after him leapt Skallagrim. Even as he did so, a great sea
came and swept past and over them, so that half the ship was hid for
foam. Now, Hall the mate stood near to the grapnel cable, and, fearing
lest they should sink, out of the cowardice of his heart, he let his
axe fall upon the chain, and severed it so swi