The Danes would have been speedily overpowered had not the second galley arrived upon the spot; and these, seeing the combat which was raging, at once leaped upon Sweyn's galley.

With this accession of force, although numbers of the Danes had fallen in the first attack, they still outnumbered the Saxons.
Sweyn, heading his men, made a desperate effort to drive back Edmund's party.

His men, however, fought less bravely than usual.

Their astonishment at finding the ship which they had regarded as an easy prize manned by Saxons was overwhelming, and the sight of Siegbert, whom many of them knew, in the front rank of their enemies added to their confusion.
Sweyn himself, as he recognized Edmund, at once made at him, and, wielding a heavy axe in his left hand, strove to cut him down; and Edmund, strong and skilful as he was, had great difficulty in parrying the blows which the Northman rained upon him.

The combat, however, was decided by Siegbert, who hurled his javelin at Sweyn, the weapon passing completely through his body.
Sweyn fell on the deck with a crash.
The Northmen, dispirited at the fall of their leader, hesitated, and as the Saxons sprang upon them turned and fled into the other galley.