Also I minded how Bertric had laughed when I said that most likely
Vikings had taken these vessels, and understood why.
Heidrek saw that he had no chance if there was to be a fight, and
acted accordingly. Had he been an honest Viking, cruising for
ransom from coast towns, and toll from cargo ships as he met them,
or ready to do some fair fighting for any chief who had a quarrel
on hand, and needed a little more help toward the ending of it, no
doubt he would have borne down on us and spoken with Hakon. Being
what he was, with the smoke of the burning village of the harmless
fishers rising black against the hills to prove the ways of his
men; or else, being in no wise willing to let us hear of the
treasure he had found at last, he did but take a fair look at the
great ships, put his helm over, and fled down the coast westward
whence he had come.
Asbiorn sat below the break of the foredeck, paying no heed to what
went on. He had taken off his mail, and was drying it carefully
with some cloths which Hakon's men had given him. I called down to
him and told him what had happened.
"Best thing my father could have done," he growled, without looking
up. "He does not take foolish risks, as a rule."
Hakon came down the short ladder which led to the maindeck and
heard, and laughed.
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