The smoke that still rose from the burnt houses went up straight as a pine tree.
Olaf looked up at the sky, and seemed anxious.
"There is a gale brewing," he said.

"I am glad Rani is with the ships." Then he walked away to a spur of the hill that looked down the valley towards the sea.

We could see all the tidal water, and almost to Pevensea, and there came a long murmur of the sea on the pebble beach, even to where we stood, so hushed were all things.
Surely there was a heavy sea setting in to make so loud a noise as that.

And all the hills and marshes seemed close at hand, so clear was the air.
Then came to us Olaf's ship master, and he was uneasy also.
"Tide is at its highest tonight," he said, "and if the wind gets up from the southwest, as seems likely, it will be higher yet than usual.

See how the clouds whirl over us." Then the king went back to the building and called to Wulfnoth, who came up the ladder asking what was amiss, for he heard that Olaf's voice was urgent.
"Here is a gale coming," the king said, "and we must be back with the ships." Wulfnoth came out into the open and looked round.
"Aye; and tide will be high at the causeway.