The brothers cast off their long, black robes now, and stowed them
in the bows of the boat with our gear. They had thick woollen
tunics, like those of the fishers, under them, and their arms were
bare, and sinewy with long toil with spade and hoe, for these two
were the working brothers in field and garden.
We helped Gerda into the stern sheets, and pushed off, splashing
knee deep into the water as we ran the boat out among the waves.
Then we took our places and headed straight out to sea, across the
broken water where the reef lay still well covered, and so into the
long, steady seaway of the offing. Then we turned eastward for the
long row which was before us, and settled down to the work, Bertric
rowing the stroke oar, with myself next him, and the brothers in
the bows.
The boat travelled swiftly and easily, so that Phelim praised her
as the best he had ever known. He had come from some burnt
monastery on Lough Neagh, where the boat was in constant use,
whether for fishing or travelling to the cells round the shores.
Soon we opened up the mouth of the strait, and looked anxiously for
Heidrek's boat along the shore, whence the smoke rose still thicker
and more black from the burning turf huts of the fishing village.
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