We should strike their midmost ships; and at last they saw what was coming, and heard the din of war horns and men's voices that came down wind to them, and there were confusion and clamour on their decks, and voices seemed to call for order that did not come.
Then one or two longships from among them struck sail and cleared for action, and on these swooped Alfred's great ships.

Odda's crashed upon and sank the first she met, and plunged and shook herself free from the wreck, and sought another.

And beyond her the same was being wrought; and cheers and cries were strangely mixed where those high bows went forward unfaltering.
Now a ship crowded with men was before me.

As we boarded, her crew were yet half armed, and struggling to reach the weapon chests through the press, even while our dragon head was splintering the gunwale; and I leaped on board her, with my men after me and Harek beside me.
Then sword Helmbiter was let loose for the first time since Sigurd wielded her; and though a great and terrible cry came from over the water as one of Alfred's ships sank another Dane, I could look no more, for there was stern fighting before me.
What a sword that was! Hardly could my arm feel the weight of it as it swung in perfect balance, and yet I knew the weight it had as it fell.

Helm and mail seemed as nought before the keen edge, and the shields flew in twain as it touched them.
Forward I went, and aft went Harek the scald, and there was soon an end.