le
ballast had been taken out when she was drawn up for the last time
on shore, and in the hurry it had been needless to replace it.

So the two pirate longships overhauled us fast, and presently their
low, black hulls were plain to us. It was time we did somewhat if
we were not to be taken without an effort to escape.

"See here," said Bertric suddenly, "I know somewhat too well how
those ships can sail; but I think that this ship would beat them in
a reach to windward. That, of course, would run us in toward the
Norway shore, and I have ever heard that it is as dangerous as any.
I do not know it, but the Lady Gerda may do so. If the worst came
to the worst, it is in my mind that we might take to the boat and
let the ship go her own way, if she is beyond our handling when we
make the shore."

"If we can sight land, it is possible that we may be sighted also,"
said I. "It seems our only chance. I will call Gerda."

Bertric nodded, and I went forward and called her accordingly,
rousing Dalfin, who slumbered in the sun under the lee of the boats
amidships, as I passed him.

Gerda came quickly from her awning as she heard me, and saw the two
ships at once. They were then some eight miles astern of us, and
she looked at me with an unspoken question.

"They are Heidrek's ships," I said. "We have to try one last chance
of outsailing them."

"Anything rather than that we should fall into such hands," she
said at once.

Now Bertric told her what seemed to be our one plan, and she
answered that she was well content to be guided by us. Neither she
nor we knew rightly where we were, nor how far it might be to the
coast. But she did know that everywhere that shore was belted by
rocky islands, and sea-washed skerries.

"You may be able to steer into safety between them," she said. "You
may split the ship on some half-sunk rock not far from the land,
and so we ourselves may be saved in the boat. I think that is the
best--for so may come a sea grave for my grandfather--and no
enemy's hand shall touch him or his."

Then said Bertric, with set teeth, "If we may not outsail Heidrek,
it will be my part to sink one of his ships with our own, if it may
be done."

"Aye," she said. "Do so."

Therein I was altogether with them, and Dalfin smiled a strange
smile in assent.

"You would steer this ship against the other?" he asked. "Then I
suppose that over the bows here might go on board that other a man
with an axe, and smit