“Perchance it may be a great land some day,” observed Karlsefin.
“Who knows?” murmured Thorward in a contemplative tone.
“Ay, who knows?” echoed Biarne; “time and luck can work wonders.”
“God’s blessing can work wonders,” said Karlsefin, impressively; “may He grant it to us while we sojourn here!”
With that he gave orders to prepare to let go the anchor, but the sound, over which they were gliding slowly before a light wind, was very shallow, and he had scarcely ceased speaking when the ship struck with considerable violence, and remained fast upon the sand.
Chapter Eight.
A Chapter of Incidents and Exploration, in which a Bear and a Whale Play Prominent Parts.
Although arrested thus suddenly and unexpectedly in their progress toward the shore, these resolute Norsemen were not to be balked in their intention of reaching the land that forenoon—for it was morning when the vessel stuck fast on the shallows.