Presently it was plain that Gerda would have us speak to them, and we went and were made known to them, and after that we sat and told of our doings for half an hour.  Thoralf’s wife had naught but thanks to us for caring for Gerda, so that I was glad when Hakon joined us for a little while.

He went forward soon, taking us with him, and sought Asbiorn, who sat on the deck still scouring his wet arms and mail with the cloths the men had lent him.  Hakon asked if he could tell anything of a large Norse ship which should have gone west some days ago.  It was that which we had seen on the day of our wreck.

“I have heard of a ship which has gone to trade at Sligo,” said Asbiorn.  “It was in our minds to look for her ourselves presently.  That is far to the westward, and if you are in any hurry, you may as well let my folk go, and follow her.”

“No hurry at all,” answered Hakon.  “It seems that these ships of yours are too well known for me to overlook.  My men say that I am sure to have to settle with Heidrek at some time, and I may as well do so here as on the Norway shore next summer.  I shall be busy then, and Heidrek will have heard thereof.  I am not busy just now.”

“You will be when you overhaul the ships,” said Asbiorn.  “But they are of less draught than yours, and you may miss them yet.  Round yon point is the Bann River, whence we came this morning.”

Hakon turned away with a laugh, and watched the chase for a time.  Then he went aft and sat him down by the steersman, with Earl Osric and Thoralf the Tall.  Heidrek’s ships were swift when before the wind, and these great vessels might not overhaul them until they had reached some shallow waters in the river mouth which Heidrek had already entered.  But there waited Dalfin and the Irish levies, who would be gathered by this time in force.

Mayhap Heidrek would not chance being pent between two foes.

So that chase went on, and I wearied of watching it at last.  Then Bertric and I went to Asbiorn, for we would ask concerning some things which had happened.  Men were serving round the midday meal at the time, and we ate and talked.  The first thing I asked him was what he had done with our ship.

“Sold her to one Arnkel in Norway, so to speak,” he answered, with a grin.  “He was the man who had to do with this treasure ship you picked up.”

“Then you had some pact with Arnkel?”

“More or less,” he said; “but there was a deal of chance in the matter.  In the gale I was outsailed, for your ship is not speedy, as you know.  The other two took refuge among the islands on the Norse shore, and there heard of the great mound laying of Thorwald which was to be.  The ship had passed in the dawn of that morning, and had not far to go.  Whereon my father sent a message to Arnkel, whom he knew, to say that he was at hand, and landed and fell on him.  As it turned out, he had better have taken his ships, for Thorwald’s folk set the ship adrift to save her from pillage.  It seems that they meant her to burn, but blundered that part.  There was nothing to fight for then, so they ceased.  I came to the islands and there had news of my father, and followed him.  On the way I passed Thorwald’s ship at a distance, and was afraid of her, she seeming to be a fully-armed war vessel.  So I let her pass.”