“If the islanders come upon us now with their birlinns we shall have to make a running fight,” he said.
Olaus laughed.
“Aye, but the running shall be after the birlinns, Sweno.”
“I hear that there are fifty and nine men, of these Culdees yonder, under the sword-priest Maoliosa?”
“It is a true word. But to-night, after the moon is up, there shall be none.”
At that, all who heard laughed, and were less heavy in their hearts because of the slaying and drowning of Haco the Laugher and all his crew.
“Where is the woman Brenda that you took?” Olaus asked, as he stared at Sweno’s boat and saw no woman there.
“She is in the sea.”
Olaus the White looked. It was his eyes that asked.
“I flung her into the sea because she laughed when she heard of how the birlinns that were under Somhairle the Renegade drave in upon our ships and how Haco laughed no more, and the sea was red with Lochlin blood.”