Fortunately it was a short-lived gale. When it had passed away and the sea had returned to something like its former quiescent state, and the sun had burst through and dissipated the grey clouds, our female voyagers returned to the deck and to their wonted condition of health.
Soon after that they came in sight of land.
“Now, Biarne,” said Karlsefin, after the look-out on the forecastle had shouted “Land ho!” “come, give me your opinion of this new land that we have made.—Do you mind the helm, Thorward, while we go to the ship’s head.”
The two went forward, and on the forecastle they found Olaf; flushed with excitement, and looking as if something had annoyed him.
“Ho, Olaf! you’re not sorry to see land, are you?” said Biarne.
“Sorry! no, not I; but I’m sorry to be cheated of my due.”
“How so, boy?”
“Why, I discovered the land first, and that fellow there,” pointing to the man on look-out, “shouted before me.”
“But why did you not shout before him?” asked Karlsefin, as he and Biarne surveyed the distant land with keen interest.
“Just because he took me unawares,” replied the boy indignantly. “When I saw it I did not wish to be hasty. It might have turned out to be a cloud, or a fog-bank, and I might have given a false alarm; so I pointed it out to him, and asked what he thought; but instead of answering me he gaped with his ugly mouth and shouted ‘Land ho!’ I could have kicked him.”