There is no sign of a house." "That may lie in some hollow out of the wind," he said.

"I am sure of its being here." Then I said that if we were to get on shore safely, which by the look of the beach as we lifted on the waves seemed possible, it might be better that we were armed.
"Aye, and if not, and we are to be drowned, it were better," he said grimly.

"One would die as a warrior, anywise." Now, all this while Dalfin sat with Gerda under the shelter of the boats forward, having stayed there to watch the water in the hold after we had tried to weather the island.

Now and again Dalfin rose up and slipped into the bilge and baled fiercely, while Gerda watched the shore and the green hills, which looked so steady above the tumbling seas, wistfully.
I went to them and told them that we must needs face the end of the voyage in an hour or so, and that we would arm ourselves in case the shore folk gave trouble.
"They will do no harm," he said; "but it may be as well." "One cannot be too sure of that," I answered; but saying no more, as I would not alarm Gerda with talk of wreckers.
"Bad for them if they do," he said.

"We will not leave one alive to talk of it." I laughed, for he spoke as if he had a host at his heels.
"No laughing matter," he said, rising up; "but it is not to be thought of that a prince of Maghera should be harmed in his own land." "What is that?
Your own land ?" "Of course," he said, staring at me.