away about the time of
harvest, and still sailing north, and being east of the mainland, the
country appeared to grow more open, the trees were sparse, and they
could see hills to the far west of them. So presently, when there
opened out to them the mouth of a great frith, Thorwald sailed up it
some distance till he came to a place where there were bluffs standing
up sheer in the water, and beyond a headland a broad bay. Thereabouts,
standing close inshore he berthed his ship, and was able to run out
gangways and walk from ship to land. He himself with a party went into
the country to look about them. It was fine open land, with a good
deal of wood growing on it, but well-watered and with pasture of fine
quality. "This country suits me," Thorwald said. "I shall stay here
and make a homestead in it." As it turned out he spoke more truly than
he thought for.

On their way back to the ship they struck the frith nearer to the mouth
than where the anchorage was. They jumped down the cliffs to the
beach, and in the very act to jump Thorwald saw something move between
two hummocks of sand. He collected his men together and advanced
quietly. There behind the hummocks they saw men. Three hide-boats lay
at the water's edge. There were three men to each.

Thorwald said, "We must rush upon them suddenly. Let each of us make
sure of one man." There were twelve men with Thorwald, counting
himself.

The men, who were short and very dark, with black hair, in which were
feathers, had bows with them; but Thorwald gave them no chance of using
them. At a signal his party sprang with cries from behind the
hummocks, and fell upon them. Three fell at once; the others took to
the water and were slain there, all but one. He, as he went, slid out
a boat, and scrambling in, made off at a great pace, and was soon out
of sight behind the cliffs. Thorwald took the hide-boats and the
weapons, but left the dead men where they lay. Then he went back to
the ship, uneasy, thinking what he had better do.

It was everybody's advice that they should seek an anchorage further
from the shore--and that they did. Setting a watch, they went to bed.
Nothing disturbed them until the grey hour of the morning; but then the
watchman called loudly to Thorwald: "Thorwald, Thorwald, arm yourself,
and come up!" Thorwald leapt to his feet and ran out to look. The
water was very smooth and still, but listening intently, he could hear
countless p