they saw that, but Bertric and I never ceased
pulling.

And suddenly Gerda's face lit up with a new hope, and she pointed
to the ships and cried to us to look.

"The leading ship is heading for us," she said breathlessly. "She
has just paid off from the wind and is coming swiftly."

Another moment and she cried that they had run up somewhat red to
the masthead, and at that Bertric called to me, and he ceased
pulling. He turned on the thwart and looked, and his eyes gleamed
in his pale face. Then he rose up and set his hands to his mouth,
and sent a great hail to the ship:

"Ahoy! Hakon Haraldsson, ahoy! Hakon! Hakon!"

The ship was near enough for her men to hear that. I saw a man on
her high bows lift his hand in the silent answer of the seaman who
hears and understands a hail, and I saw a red shield, blazoned with
a golden lion, at the masthead. Then Bertric sat down and laughed
as if he could not cease.

"It is Hakon, Athelstane's foster son, on the way to win Norway for
himself. Alfred taught us how to build ships like that."

Chapter 13: Athelstane's Foster Son.

We laid in the oars now and watched the pursuers. They had not the
least chance of overhauling us before we were picked up by the
ship, and they knew it. Still they were pulling after us, and one
of the men in the stern hailed once or twice, making signs that we
were to be taken by the ships. I thought that the figure seemed
like that of Asbiorn, as I had seen him on the stern after I went
overboard, but I could not be sure. Our boat slipped along fast,
and his crew were not hurrying so much at this time.

I looked back at the ships, and they were worth a second glance. I
had never seen such splendid vessels, for they were higher and
longer than any which sailed our northern waters, while their lines
were clean cut and graceful as those of the little ship which had
brought us hither so well--Thorwald's favourite cutter.

Now Bertric lifted up his head, for he had been finding his breath
again after that last despairing pull, and he looked to the
westward and pointed without a word. Round a great point which
barred the view beyond the island came two ships, and their sails
were brown. They were Heidrek's, and no doubt were looking for
their boat. The men left on the island saw them at about the same
time, and lit a fire to show where they were. They had not gone
from the sand hills yet.

"Heidrek is running into danger," Bertric said gr