Her commander shouted orders.

The rowers on one side backed while those on the other pulled, but she was not quite quick enough.

The Dragon struck her a few feet from the stern, cutting her in two.
The other galleys now closed in alongside.

The Saxons hastily fastened their oars as they had been rowing and then betook themselves to their posts, those with spears and swords to the sides to prevent the enemy from climbing up, the archers to the lofty castles at either end.

The Danes had the greatest difficulty in getting alongside, the oars keeping the galleys at a distance.