rose and fell at the work.

Phelim saw the men cross the island and groaned, fearing that when
they found nothing on the beach or in the sand hills they would
pass on to the village at once. But, like ourselves when we first
came ashore, they had no knowledge that a village was there, and it
was not to be seen as it nestled in its little valley. So they
bided on the shore and watched the chase as it began.

By the time that the big boat was after us in earnest, we had set a
full half mile between us and it, owing to the little delay in
landing the men. Then they hailed us again, but though we heard the
hail we paid no heed to it. So for a little while we held on, until
it was plain that the ten oars must needs wear down our four, and
then we stepped the mast and made sail, at least holding our own
under it and the oars. The northeast breeze was helping us, though
we must sail close-hauled, and my only fear was lest the pursuers
should do the same. But they had no sail with them.

Now we held on thus for a matter of two miles, and neither of the
boats seemed to gain much on the other. It began to come into my
mind that we should win after all, if only we did not tire too
soon. They had two fresh men, who could take their turn presently.
And then it came across me that even if we ran ashore before they
reached us, we should hardly have time to get away before they,
too, were on the beach. The fisher folk, if there were any huts at
the landing place, might all be away at the muster, and no aid
might be waiting us.

I know that all these things went through the mind of my comrade at
this time, and from the troubled look on the face of Gerda as she
steered, it was plain that she, too, had her doubts as to the end
of this race. Then Bertric spoke to me over his shoulder.

"We had better head seaward after all," he said. "What think you of
our chance of reaching yon ships before we are overhauled? We shall
be caught before we reach a landing, or else taken on the very
beach, as we go now."

I looked at the two strange ships. They were three miles from
shore, and perhaps at the same distance from us eastward, still
heading west and a little out to sea.

"It is our best plan," I answered. "We shall get the wind abeam,
and ought to sail away from that great boat. It may be a choice of
two evils, but one cannot well meet with another Heidrek."

"We must cut across their course and try to hail them," said
Bertric, somewh