Then Bertric's face cleared, for the ship went to windward like a swallow, her length helping her in spite of her lightness.

We had to cut adrift our boat at this time, as she would hinder us.

We had no more need of her.
Heidrek altered his course at once, sailing a point or two more free than we, either, as Bertric thought, because he could lie no closer to the wind, or else meaning to edge down on us.

And, he being so far to windward, for a time it seemed as if he neared us fast.
In two hours we knew that we outsailed him, close hauled.

Little by little we gained to windward, until he was three miles astern of us and losing still more rapidly, as he went to leeward.