him was the Ship-stead and Rollers of his kindred, whereon lay the three long-ships, the Seamew, and the Osprey and the Erne. Heavy and huge they

little to the west of it lay a skiff, which the low wave of the tide lifted and let fall from time to time. It had a mast, and a black sail hoisted thereon and flapping with slackened sheet. A man sat in the boat clad in black raiment, and the sun s

in thy voice along with wrath. Cast not till thou hast heard

"art thou not a robber of the sea, a ha

carrying off the daughters of folk, so that we may have a

e said wr

thine hands. Come and fight with me; and then he of us who is vanquished, if he be unslai

he boat and stood on his feet swaying from side to side as he laughed. He was passing big, long-armed and big-headed, a

is said; and if by some chance stroke thou slayest me, then is thine only helper in this matter gone from thee. Now to be short, I bid thee come aboard to me if thou wouldst ever hear another word of thy damsel betrothed. And moreover this need

o hear a word of his beloved; so he said: "Big man, I will come aboard. But look

tell. Come aboard and loiter not." Then Hallblithe waded the surf and lightly strode over the gunwale of the ski

thou have me row, for I wo

lt." So Hallblithe took the oars and rowed mightily, while the alien steere