I will stay but a week.

If in that time they come not we will enter this southern sea and seek the fleet of Hasting.

When we find that we shall find Sweyn; but I fear that the search will be a long one, for these people speak not our tongue, and we shall have hard work in gaining tidings of the whereabouts of the Northmen's fleet." Day and night a vigilant watch was kept up from the mast-head of the Dragon, but without success.

Each day they became more and more convinced that Sweyn must be ahead of them, and on the morning of the seventh they lifted their anchor and proceeded through the straits.
Many had been the consultations between Edmund and his friends, and it had been determined at last to sail direct for Rome.

Siegbert knew that by sailing somewhat to the north of east, after issuing from the passage, they would in time arrive at Italy.
At Rome there was a monastery of Saxon monks, and through them they would be able to obtain full information as to the doings and whereabouts of the squadron of Hasting.