"
In half an hour or so he did tell me. They were undoubtedly
Heidrek's, and were in chase of us. This ship was not to be
mistaken even from a long distance.
"Heidrek has followed in the track this vessel must needs have
taken, and now supposes that some stray fishers have picked her up
and are trying to get away with her and the treasure. Well, that is
near enough to the truth, too," said Bertric, laughing a short
laugh. "No, let Dalfin and the lady rest in peace until we know if
they outsail us. This is a wonderful little craft, but she needs
her crew on board."
Chapter 6: A Sea Queen's Champions.
We were sailing with the easterly wind on our beam, and making
maybe six knots on it, with the two reefs down. The full crew of
such a ship as this for such a cruise without any warlike ending to
it would be about twenty, or perhaps a few less. She pulled sixteen
oars a side, and with a war crew on board would muster ninety-six
men--three to an oar--with a few extra hands, as the helmsman and
the chiefs, to make a total of a hundred. Her decks would be
crowded, of course, but she would be down to her bearings, being
built for war cruises, and in a breeze all her men would be sitting
up to windward as shifting ballast, so to speak.
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