oars; and before she reached us, the first Danish ships
were clear of the Swanage headlands, making for the offing. Then I
got my ships into line abreast, and Thord worked up Odda's five
alongside us to seaward; and all the while the Danish sails hove
into sight in no sort of order, and seeming so sure that none but
friends could be afloat that they paid no heed to us.

Soon there were full a hundred vessels of all sorts off Swanage
point, and the cutter brought word that there were but twenty more.
Then I ran up my fighting flag, and everywhere along our line rose
a great cheering as we hoisted sail and sped down on the foe. It
was long since the seas had borne a fleet whence the Saxon war cry
rang.

The leading Danes were ahead of us as we gathered way, and their
long line straggled right athwart our course. We should strike
their midmost ships; and at last they saw what was coming, and
heard the din of war horns and men's voices that came down wind to
them, and there were confusion and clamour on their decks, and
voices seemed to call for order that did not come.

Then one or two longships from among them struck sail and cleared
for action, and on these swooped Alfred's great ships. Odda's
crashed upon and sank the first she met, and plunged and shook
herself free from the wreck, and sought another. And beyond her the
same was being wrought; and cheers and cries were strangely mixed
where those high bows went forward unfaltering.

Now a ship crowded with men was before me. As we boarded, her crew
were yet half armed, and struggling to reach the weapon chests
through the press, even while our dragon head was splintering the
gunwale; and I leaped on board her, with my men after me and Harek
beside me.

Then sword Helmbiter was let loose for the first time since Sigurd
wielded her; and though a great and terrible cry came from over the
water as one of Alfred's ships sank another Dane, I could look no
more, for there was stern fighting before me.

What a sword that was! Hardly could my arm feel the weight of it as
it swung in perfect balance, and yet I knew the weight it had as it
fell. Helm and mail seemed as nought before the keen edge, and the
shields flew in twain as it touched them.

Forward I went, and aft went Harek the scald, and there was soon an
end. The Danes went overboard, swimming or sinking, as their fate
might be, and only the slain bided before us. The ship was ours,
and I looked round to see w