Scarcely were they through the straits than the wind, veering to the south-east, prevented them from making the course they had fixed upon, but they were able to coast along by the shore of Spain.

They put into several small ports as they cruised up, but could obtain no intelligence of the Danes, being unable to converse except by signs.
When they reached Marseilles they were pleased to meet with Franks, with whom they could converse, and hired a pilot acquainted with the coasts of the Mediterranean.

They learned that Hasting and his fleet had harried the coasts of Provence and Italy; that the Genoese galleys had had several engagements with them, but had been worsted.
The Danish fleet was now off the coast of Sicily, and the Northmen were ravaging that rich and fertile island.

They were reported to have even threatened to ascend the Tiber and to burn Rome.

Having obtained the services of a man who spoke both the Italian and Frankish tongues, Edmund started again.