Now by the wharves lay two ships, and I thought little of that, but on seeing them, Thormod, by whose side I was as he steered, seemed to wonder.
"Ingvar has got another ship from somewhere," he said, "or has built one this winter, for he sailed home with one only."
Then, too, the men began to say the like, for the second ship was strange to them also, and, as seamen will, they puzzled over her until we were close at hand. But I leaned on the gunwale and dreamed dreams of my own, paying no heed to their talk.
Out of those dreams I was roused by Thormod's voice.
"Yon ship is no Dane," he said sharply. "Clear the decks and get to arms, men. Here is somewhat amiss."
Then was a growl of wrath from our crew, yet no delay, and in a moment every man was in his place. Down came the sail, and the mast was lowered and hoisted on its stanchions overhead, and in five minutes or less the oars were out, and the men who were arming themselves ran to take them as they were ready, while those who had rowed should get to arms also. Not for the first time saw I that ship cleared for action, but never had I seen it done so swiftly, though we had but half our fighting crew, sixty men instead of a hundred and thirty or so.
I armed myself swiftly as any, and Thormod bade me take Halfden's place on the fore deck, where the men were already looking to bowstrings and bringing up sheaves of arrows and darts.
Then when I came they shouted, and one gray-headed warrior cried:
"Now you have a good fight on hand, axeman."
Then I asked: