sailed in the teeth of the wind."

"This is the first time I have ever been to sea," Osgod said, "and
I trust it will be the last. The tossing of the ship makes me
strangely giddy, and many of the servants are downright ill with
it. Why men should go on the water when they can walk upon the land
is more than I can say. I think I will go and lie down under the
shelter of the sail, for indeed I feel as if I were about to die."

Wulf himself was feeling strangely uncomfortable. As long as they
had been at work he had not felt unwell, for the necessity of holding
on to the bulwarks or ropes, and the excitement of their strange
position, had saved him from experiencing many qualms; but both he
and Beorn were soon glad to follow Osgod's example, and to lie down
on the boards under the rowers' benches. Fiercer and fiercer blew
the wind, more and more violent became the motion of the ship;
masses of water fell on the canvas forward, as she plunged into the
waves, and would have soon beaten it in had it not been for the
support of the oars. By evening most of the men were lying under
the shelter, while Harold's brother and friends had retired to the
little cabin in the stern. The earl himself remained by the side
of the ship-master, who had taken his place close to the tiller,
which was worked by four men.

"Think you that she will weather it, Edred?"

"I have little fear about that, my lord. She is a staunch boat, and
I have been aboard her in seas as heavy as this. Besides, that
thought of yours of stretching the canvas across her bow has greatly
improved her chances. The water runs off as fast as it falls on it,