of a wedding party that is to
cross and are waiting for us. Otherwise it seems impossible that
they will face us and the Dane as well."

Now Eric was back on his old tack, and passing astern of us. I saw
the glint of his oar blades, which had been run out from their
ports ready to take the water if need was presently.

And then we knew that his help would be wanted. Suddenly the
strange ship's head flew up into the wind and she was round on the
other tack, paying off wonderfully quickly; and as she did so, from
under her gunwale, where they could be hidden no longer, rose the
armed men, seeming to crowd her deck in a moment. She was full of
them from stem to stern, and our men shouted. She had won well to
windward of us.

But Thorgils had known what was coming, and had kept his quick eye
on the helmsman of the stranger. Even as her helm went down for the
luff his went up and the men sprang to the sheets, and we were
tearing across her bows even as her sail filled on the new tack,
and heading away lift by lift toward Eric. And Eric hove to to meet
us, and his sail fell and his oars flashed out and took the water,
and he made for us like the sea dragon his ship seemed.

"Down with you men under cover!" roared Thorgils. "Arrows,
comrade!--Down with you!"

The strange ship was only a bow shot from us, if a long one yet,
but she was overhauling us apace.

I saw her men forward bending their bows, and the Norsemen of our
crew came aft with my men under the break of the deck on which we
stood, where they were in cover. Evan ran to me with his shield up.

"Evan," I cried, "shield Thorgils." And I set myself before Owen
with my own shield raised to cover him, and he laughed at me
grimly.

He set his own alongside mine, and we three stood covering
Thorgils. The Norseman's face was set and watchful, but his blue
eyes danced under the knit brows, and I do believe that he was
enjoying the sport.

Ay, and so would I but for her who was so close to me. It was the
first time I had known aught but joy in battle, and what all my
strange new thoughts were I cannot say. I would not pass through
that time again for worlds.

Then the first arrow fled from the enemy toward us, falling short
by a yard or two, and at that there came one who looked like a
chief, and stood on the high bows and hailed us in Welsh.

At sight of him Evan cried out, and Owen started.

"Daffyd of Carnbre, Morfed's kinsman," Owen said to me quietly.
"