slain two shiploads of his followers, and afterwards challenge him
to single combat. It is as if he should catch a thief who had
stolen half his goods, and then throw dice with him for the rest.
But all spells act most banefully at night, they say; doubtless in
the morning Estein will rest content with giving him a fitting
burial--if he catches him."

And at the thought he laughed aloud.

"May I die in bed like a woman," he said to himself, "if this be
not the strangest way of fishing for a Viking!"

Ketill was at first for stoutly refusing the adventure; but Helgi,
whose convictions sat lightly on him compared with his attachment
to Estein, persuaded him to consent.

"Are you afraid?" he asked, and that question left no room for the
proud Viking to hesitate.

It was about two hours after midnight when the long ship, stealing
under the shadow of the cliffs, turned into a small bay. It lay
open to the south, guarded on either side by a precipitous
headland, and withdrawn from the tideway and the swell of the
western ocean. In the weird grey light of that June night the men
could see a valley opening out of great inland hills on to a more
level strip of moorland at the head of the bay. On a spit of sandy
beach lay three warships, and on the slope of the hill to the left
stood a small township of low buildings, clustering round the
higher drinking-hall of Liot Skulison.