"That is a good plan," exclaimed Vagn. "Do you not think so, Fairhair?"
Sigurd assented, though he disliked to part with his cousin; but there was no help for it, and so it was decided.
Early the next morning the Jomsborg men and Sigurd ran out three small boats and said farewell to Vagn. Eirik armed them all well, and made them many presents; and as they pushed off Vagn stood on the shore, waving farewell.
"I'll see you at Jomsborg next month," called Sigurd. "Farewell!"
Under a fair wind the three boats ran quickly down the bay, rounded the end of Hod Island, and arrived in an hour at the Herey Islands. Steering in between the largest and smallest, they reached into the bay, and there before them lay the "Otter."
A shout of greeting came to them, and as they pulled up to the side Ulf Ringsson sprang on the rail.
"What news of the battle? Who won?"
Sigurd pointed to his men, all of them wounded. "These are all left of the Jomsvikings," he replied. A cry of horror went up, and Ulf staggered back.
"Impossible! Where is your father Bui, Jarl Sigvald, Vagn Akison, Aslak Holmskalle? They cannot be dead!"
"Some are even worse off," said Sigurd, climbing the rail wearily. "Vagn is safe, my father is dead with Aslak, and Sigvald and his men have fled home again."