But before the village was a long sloping beach, on which lay two or three shapeless black skin boats, as if it was a good landing place with deep water up to the shore.

Above the village, on the shoulder of the near hill, was an earthwork, and some tents were pitched within its ring.

It was the gathering-place to which Dalfin had gone this morning, and no doubt his father, Myrkiartan the King, was there.
There came a hoarse roar across the water to us, which rose and fell, and shaped itself into a song, so terrible that I saw Hakon's men grow restless as they heard it.

The pirates were singing their war song for the last time.
Their ship swung round and headed for the village, and with all her oars going, and the white foam flying from her bows, and boiling round the oar blades, she charged the beach and hurled herself half out of the water as she reached it.
Over her bows went her men with a shout.

Before the Irish knew that anything had happened, the last of the Danes were halfway up the little beach, and were forming up into a close-locked wedge, which moved swiftly toward the village even as it grew into shape.
"What are they about ?" asked men of one another as they watched, breathless, from our decks.
"They will try to win to yonder camp," one said in answer, and that was likely, though what hope could lie in that none could say.
Now the wedge had reached the little green which was between the village and the shore.