The wind blew ever harder, till at
length, when the rain had passed and the clouds lifted, there was much
water in the hold and the bailers could hardly stand at their work.
Men murmured, and Hall the mate murmured most of all; but still Eric
held on, for there, not two furlongs ahead of them, rode the dragon of
Ospakar. But now, being afraid of the wind and sea, she had lowered
her sail somewhat, and made as though she would put about and run for
Iceland.
"That she may not do," called Eric to Skallagrim, "if once she rolls
side on to those seas Ran has her, for she must fill and sink."
"So they hold, lord," answered Skallagrim; "see, once more she runs!"
"Ay, but we run faster--she is outsailed. Up, men, up: for presently the
fight begins."
"It is bad to join battle in such a sea," quoth Hall.
"Good or bad," growled Skallagrim, "do thou thy lord's bidding," and he
half lifted up his axe.
The mate said no more, for he misdoubted him of Skallagrim Lambstail and
his axe.
Then men made ready for the fray as best they might, and stood, sword in
hand and drenched with foam, clinging to the bulwarks of the Gudruda as
she wallowed through the seas.
Eric went aft to the helm and seized it. Now but a length ahead
Ospakar's ship laboured on beneath her small sail, but the Gudruda
rushed towards her with all canvas set and at every leap plunged her
golden dragon beneath the surf and shook the water from her foredeck.
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