"They are neither Norse, nor Frisian, nor Danish, but better than all three put together." "I have sailed in ships, and talked of ships, and dreamed of them moreover, since I could stand alone," said Thord, "but I never so much as thought of the like of these.

If they belong to some new kind of viking, there are hard times in store for some of us." "Faith," said I, "I believe they have swept up and made prizes of all that medley astern of them." So we held on for half an hour, and all that time they gained steadily on us; and we neared them quickly at last, for we tried to hold across their bows and weather on them.

That was no good, for they were as weatherly as we.
Now we could see that their decks were covered with armed men, and it seemed certain that they meant to make prize of us.

The leading ship was maybe half a mile ahead of the other, and that a mile from us--all three close-hauled as we strove to gain a weather berth.
Then the leading ship put her helm up and stood across our course, and the second followed her.
"We must out oars now if we are to weather on them," said Kolgrim at last.
Then the men shouted; and I looked at the second ship, to which they were pointing.

Her great sail was overboard, for the halliards had gone--chafed through maybe, or snapped with the strain as she paid off quickly.