The Danish ship was afloat when we reached the waterside, for the
tide had risen swiftly in these upper waters, and the Irish had
helped to get her off, after plundering her. There were a dozen or
more of Hakon's men on board at this time, making her decks
shipshape again. But below the bend rose a black cloud of smoke,
for the other ship was on fire, and Hakon had sent a boat to see
that all was well with the ship he had left there.
There was no surprise at the message from Dalfin. Thoralf only
laughed, and Hakon said he would wait for half an hour in case the
supplies came. As for the men, he would take them willingly. There
was no need to arm them, and they would take their spell at the
oars.
Presently Irish came to the beach holding up spoils--helms and mail
shirts, and the Danish swords they did not know how to use. Hakon
bought them for silver pennies easily, and the folk thought
themselves well paid. So an hour passed, and then the hapless Danes
were driven down in a string to the water's edge, and we sent a
boat for them. One had a hasty message from Dalfin to say that in
no wise were we to wait for aught else. The Dane told me that there
was strife up at the camp, and the young prince had had difficulty
in getting them away.
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