But at this time we had reason for getting into some quiet, unsought place where we should not be likely to be heard of, for the king had over-many ships and men for us to meet.

So after a week's cruising we put into that firth, and anchored in the shelter of its hills.
There is no man of all our following who will forget that day, because of what happened almost as soon as the anchor held.

It was very hot that morning, and what breeze had been out in the open sea was kept from us now by the hills, so that for some miles we had rowed the ships up the winding reaches of the firth; and then, as we laid in the oars and the anchorage was reached, there crept from inland a dim haze over the sun, dimming the light, and making all things look strange among the mountains.

Then the sounds of the ships seemed to echo loudly over the still water and when all the bustle of anchoring was over, the stillness seemed yet greater, for the men went to their meals, and for a while spoke little.
Einar and I sat on his after deck under the awning, and spoke in low voices, as if afraid to raise our tones.
"There is a thunderstorm about," I said.
"Ay--listen," the jarl answered.
Then I heard among the hills, far up the firth beyond us, a strange sound that seemed to draw nearer, like and yet unlike thunder, roaring and jarring ever closer to us, till it was all around us and beneath us everywhere, and our very hearts seemed to stop beating in wonder.
Then of a sudden the ship was smitten from under the keel with a heavy, soundless blow, and the waters of the firth ebbed and flowed fiercely about us; and then the sound passed on and down the firth swiftly and strangely as it had come, and left us rocking on the troubled waters that plashed and broke along the rocks of the shore, while the still, thick air seemed full of the screams of the terrified eagles and sea birds that had left them.
"Odin defend us!" the jarl said; "what is this ?" I shook my head, looking at him, and wondering if my face was white and scared as his and that of every man whom I could see.
Now we waited breathless for more to come, but all was quiet again.
The birds went back to their eyries, and the troubled water was still.

Then presently our fears passed enough to let us speak with one another; and then there were voices enough, for every man wished to hear his own again, that courage might return.
Then a man from the Orkneys who had been with Jarl Sigurd came aft to us, and stood at the break of the deck to speak with Einar.
"Jarl," he said, almost under his breath, "it is in my mind that Sigurd, your brother, is wroth because his mound has been untended since we made it." Then Einar said: "Was it so ill made that it needs tending ?" "It was well made, jarl; but rain and frost and sun on a new-made mound may have wrought harm to it.