"We can choose our hour," said Estein; "and whatever plan we fall
on, it seems we must be in time."

Helgi laughed lightly.

"I thought you would leave us little say, Estein, when once you
were aroused," he said. "'Tis all the same to me. Fire, sword, or
water--choose what you will, you will always find me by your side;
and if you must go to Valhalla, why, I will blithely bear you
company."

"Fire were better," said Ketill, shaking his head.

The day was still young when the council of war came to an end,
and as they had more than sufficient time to reach the hall of
Liot before night, the bows were turned to the open sea, that they
might better escape observation. Once they had got some miles from
land they turned southwards, and striking the sail, to make as
little mark as they could, moved slowly under oars alone. All day
the long ship rolled in a great ground-swell, the western cliffs
of Orkney now hidden by a wall of water, and now glinting in the
sunshine as they rose from trough to crest, and right ahead the
distant Scottish coast drawing gradually nearer. As the afternoon
wore on they turned landwards again, and towards evening found
themselves coasting a mountainous island lying to the south of
Hrossey.

"What do men call this?" asked Helgi.

"They call it Haey, the high island, and it is on a bay to the