be steered by a dexterous
rower; but this mode of descent was attended with the imminent risk of
being swept over the fall and dashed to pieces, so that none except the
daring young spirits of the glen ever attempted it, while all the rest
were content to cross the ridge by the longer and more laborious, but
safe, path which we have just described. To descend this rapid by
swimming was one of the feats which the youths of the place delighted to
venture, and often had Erling and Glumm dared it together, while not a
few of their companions had lost their lives in the attempt.

A few words from Erling gave the men to understand what was expected of
them. It was arranged that while he, Ulf, Glumm, and the hermit should
put the girls into the little boat and guide them down the rapid, the
men were to leap into the water and swim down. All were to land in the
little bay, and then make for the cave on the coast in a body, and fight
their way thither, if need be; but it was believed there would be no
occasion for that, because before the plan was carried out most of the
King's men would probably be assembled above the Crow Cliff at the
stede. A few who could not swim were sent off at once by the track to
warn Haldor. All these well-laid plans, however, were suddenly
frustrated, for, while Erling was still consulting with Ulf and Glumm as
to details, and peeping through the underwood, they beheld a sight which
caused their hearts almost to stand still.

From the elevated spot where they lay they could see the hermit
advancing rapidly towards them in a crouching attitude, closely followed
by the maidens, while at the same time there advanced from the stede a
large band of men under a chief, who was evidently commissioned to
execute some order of the King. Erling and his friends could clearly
see these two parties unwittingly approaching each other, at right
angles, each making for a point where the two paths crossed, and where
they were certain to meet. They could see their friends quietly but
swiftly gliding towards the very fate they sought to avoid, and
experienced all the agony of being unable to give a shout of warning, or
to prevent the foe from capturing them; for, even if there had been time
to rush upon them before the meeting, which there was not, Erling by so
doing would have been obliged to place the whole of Harald's host
between him and the boat at Crow Cliff. This consideration, however,
would not have de