"She is going along finely now," Wulf said.

"Yes," Beorn agreed; "but before night there is like to be a sea
that will try her."

Harold held a consultation with the master, and presently all the
men were called to work. The great sail was unrolled from its yard
and a portion cut off, somewhat wider than the beam of the boat,
and in length reaching from the bow to the mast. Nails and hammers
were brought up from the little cabin, and the canvas was stretched
from bulwark to bulwark and strongly nailed to the wood on either
side, oars being first lashed across at short intervals to support
it.

"I suppose that is for us to lie under, Master Wulf?" Osgod said.
"It is a pity it was not erected before, for there is not a man on
board who is not drenched to the skin."

"It is not put there to keep you dry, Osgod, but to keep the waves
from coming into the ship. But she goes over them well. The wind
is getting up, Osgod, and we shall have a great sea presently."

"Then why don't we turn and sail back again? It seems to me to be
folly to be running away from the land if such is going to be the
weather."

"How can we sail back again? Do you not see that it is the wind
that is blowing us off, and the vessel must go as the wind takes
her. One can go a little this way or that, but no man ever yet