ied in it, not knowing where they were.
They lost men, tackle, stores; there was not a dry rag on the ship;
every day Thorstan expected the snow. Instead of that, after a few
days of sunny weather, the wind dropped in a clear sky; it began to
freeze, and then came the white blanket to cling about sheets and
spars, and hold them close, a blur drifting upon a sea like oil.
Gudrid sat like a ghost in the after deckhouse, nursing her baby and
trying to keep it warm. It did not thrive and could not be expected to
thrive. She was sure it would die. And so it did--died in its sleep
while she was suckling it. She felt the cold upon its legs; and then
it grew heavy. She looked down--its eyelids were blue. But she did
not move.

Thorstan came down to see her. He knew at once. He went to her and
covered her breast in the blanket. He said nothing, but was very
gentle.

"Oh, husband, speak to me! Our little baby----"

"Hush, my dear one--it is better. She is not cold now." He made her
lie down, with a hot stone for her feet and another for her arms to
hold instead of her Walgerd. When she was asleep he said a prayer over
the child and sank it in the sea. Then he comforted her as only he
could have done it.

There was a good deal of sickness on board and plenty for Gudrid to do.
The wind blew gaps in the fog, and as it stiffened tore it into flying
shreds and rags. The ship heaved and lurched in water now inky-black.
They got steerage way, and ran before a gale which they judged came
from the south-west; they held this course for many days, hoping to get
a sight of land. And land was nearer than they thought, for one
morning Thorstan saw a darkening in the fog, a kind of shape, and then,
quick as the thought, he put the ship about. She came round slowly,
and at that moment the spars and rigging seemed alive with sea-birds.
As the ship went round a huge black wall reared itself a-starboard, and
he heard the waves at its foot. As nearly as might be he had broken up
his ship on the rocks.

Thorstan ran out to sea for half a mile or more and stood off until the
weather cleared a little. When it did they all saw the crags and
headlands of an iron coast. The only thing to do was to keep within
hail of it until they found some sort of haven. Thorstan said he would
spend the winter there, whatever country it might be. Already it was
cold, and wherever the land stooped low enough there was snow to be
seen lying.