Any booty that might be obtained without severe fighting he would have been glad enough to gather in; but with a long sea-voyage before him he cared not to burden his galleys, and his principal desire was to obtain a sufficient supply of provisions for the voyage.

For several days the galleys proceeded down the river.

The villages were all deserted, and the towns prepared for defence.
When he arrived within a day's journey of the sea he was forced to halt.

Half the crews were left in charge of the ships, and with the others he led a foray far inland, and after some sharp fighting with the natives succeeded in driving down a number of cattle to the ships and in bringing in a store of flour.
Edmund had kept ahead of the galleys, stopping at every town and village and warning the people of the approach of the marauders.

He reached the mouth of the river two days before them, but to his deep disappointment saw that the Dragon had not arrived at the rendezvous.
On the following afternoon, however, a distant sail was seen, and as it approached Edmund and his followers gave a shout of joy as they recognized the Dragon, which was using her oars as well as sails and was approaching at full speed.