Hakon, who is a friend of the queen's, is bound for Norway."

There that talk ended, for Hakon came forward to watch the enemy,
and called us to go to the raised foredeck with him. But he spoke
to the hermits in passing, and though they could not understand
him, yet they might see that his words were kindly.

We were going to windward of Heidrek fast. His ships had tried to
weather on us, but had failed. Neither side had taken to the oars,
for he saw that we had the advantage, and we had no need to do so,
therefore. It was a fair sailing match.

But now Heidrek saw what sort of ships he had to deal with, and he
did not like the look of them, being near enough to note their
height of side and strength of build. It is likely that, like
myself, he saw at last what manner of shipbuilder that Alfred was
of whom we had heard such tales. I had ever been told, when shipmen
gathered in our hall, that the ships of the west Saxons were framed
with all the best points of the best ships yet built, with added
size and power, and now I knew that all I had heard was but truth.
Also I minded how Bertric had laughed when I said that most likely
Vikings had taken these vessels, and understood why.

Heidrek saw that he had no chance if there was to be a fight, and
acted accordingly. Had he been an honest Viking, cruising for
ransom from coast towns, and toll from cargo ships as he met them,
or ready to do some fair fighting for any chief who had a quarrel
on hand, and needed a little more help toward the ending of it, no
doubt he would have borne down on us and spoken with Hakon. Being
what he was, with the smoke of the burning village of the harmless
fishers rising black against the hills to prove the ways of his
men; or else, being in no wise willing to let us hear of the
treasure he had found at last, he did but take a fair look at the
great ships, put his helm over, and fled down the coast westward
whence he had come.

Asbiorn sat below the break of the foredeck, paying no heed to what
went on. He had taken off his mail, and was drying it carefully
with some cloths which Hakon's men had given him. I called down to
him and told him what had happened.

"Best thing my father could have done," he growled, without looking
up. "He does not take foolish risks, as a rule."

Hakon came down the short ladder which led to the maindeck and
heard, and laughed. Then he went aft, and Asbiorn looked after him.
Some order passed, and the men r