Presently a gleam lit on a small steady patch of white far astern of us, which did not toss with the nearer waves, and did not shift along the skyline.

It was the first sail we had seen since we had lost sight of Heidrek, and it, too, cheered us in a way, for the restless, gray and white sea was no longer so lonely.

Yet we could look for no help from her, even if she sighted us and was on the same course.

We could not heave to and wait her, and by the time she overhauled us, we were likely to be somewhat too near the shore for safety.
For the mountains hove up from the sea very fast now.

Some current had us in its grip, setting us shoreward swiftly.