Now Bertric told her what seemed to be our one plan, and she answered that she was well content to be guided by us.  Neither she nor we knew rightly where we were, nor how far it might be to the coast.  But she did know that everywhere that shore was belted by rocky islands, and sea-washed skerries.

“You may be able to steer into safety between them,” she said.  “You may split the ship on some half-sunk rock not far from the land, and so we ourselves may be saved in the boat.  I think that is the best—­for so may come a sea grave for my grandfather—­and no enemy’s hand shall touch him or his.”

Then said Bertric, with set teeth, “If we may not outsail Heidrek, it will be my part to sink one of his ships with our own, if it may be done.”

“Aye,” she said.  “Do so.”

Therein I was altogether with them, and Dalfin smiled a strange smile in assent.

“You would steer this ship against the other?” he asked.  “Then I suppose that over the bows here might go on board that other a man with an axe, and smite one blow or two before he is ended.  It will be well enough if so.”

“You shall have your chance,” said I.  “Maybe I will help.”

Now we said no more.  Bertric luffed, and we flattened in the sheet, Gerda hauling with us, laughing, and saying that it was not for the first time.  Then Bertric’s face cleared, for the ship went to windward like a swallow, her length helping her in spite of her lightness.  We had to cut adrift our boat at this time, as she would hinder us.  We had no more need of her.

Heidrek altered his course at once, sailing a point or two more free than we, either, as Bertric thought, because he could lie no closer to the wind, or else meaning to edge down on us.  And, he being so far to windward, for a time it seemed as if he neared us fast.

In two hours we knew that we outsailed him, close hauled.  Little by little we gained to windward, until he was three miles astern of us and losing still more rapidly, as he went to leeward.  He could not look up to the wind any closer.  One of his ships, indeed, was astern and to leeward of the other, so that if that one only had had to be counted with, we were safe.

Then he took to his oars, and Bertric and I knew that the worst was yet to come, as we saw the sun flash from the long row of rising and falling blades across the miles of sea.

“Some of them will be mighty tired yet before they overhaul us,” I said.  “A stern chase is a long chase.”

Now I began to look restlessly for some sign of the high land of the Norway shore, but there was naught to be seen.  Only to eastward the sky was dull and grayish, as it were with the loss of light in the sky over hill and forest.  And Heidrek was gaining on us steadily if very slowly.  We were very silent at this time.

Presently Gerda broke the silence.

“Friend Bertric,” she said in a still voice, “how long have we?”