I owned my own ship, and was thane by right therefore, according to the old laws.

Last year I fared to Flanders, where I had done well before, in the summer.

In September I was homeward bound, and met this Heidrek outside the Scheldt mouth.

He took my goods, and burned my ship, and kept me, because I was likely to be able to pilot him, knowing all that coast.

Oh, aye, we fought him; but he had two ships to my one, and four to one in men.