The Northmen answered with a shout of triumph and derision, and dashed alongside.
Sweyn's own galley was slightly in advance of the others.

Edmund ordered the oars to be pulled in as the Northmen came up, so as to allow them to come alongside.

Not a word was spoken on board the Dragon till the Danes, leaving their oars, swarmed up the side headed by Sweyn himself.

Then Edmund gave a shout, the Saxons leaped to their feet, and raising their battle-cry fell upon the astonished Danes.
Those who had climbed up were instantly cut down or hurled back into their own galley, and the Saxons leaping down, a tremendous fight ensued.

Edmund with Siegbert and half his crew boarded the Dane close to the poop, and so cut the Northmen off from that part of the vessel, while Egbert with the rest boarded farther forward.