There were no tears in that grim leave-taking.

Hightown had faced the like before with a heavy heart, but with dry eyes and a proud head.

Leif, though a cripple, went with the Wickings, for he had great skill of the sea.
There was not a breath of wind for three days and three nights, as they coasted southward, with the peaks of the Norland on their port, and to starboard the skerries that kept guard on the firths.

Through the haze they could now and then see to landward trees and cliffs, but never a human face.

Once there was an alarm of another fleet, and the shields were slung outboard, but it proved to be only a wedding-party passing from wick to wick, and they gave it greeting and sailed on.