charged, and selecting a place where the defenders seemed
thinnest, struck down a couple of men with two swinging blows of
his axe, and sprang on to the deck. Three or four men had already
followed him, a cry of victory rose from the Orkney Vikings, and
for a moment the fate of the battle seemed decided, when a huge
stone hurtled through the air, and falling on Liot's shield forced
it down on his helmet and him to his knees. It was the work of
Ulf, captain of the forecastle; and roaring like a bull, the old
Viking followed his stone. Estein sprang from the poop and clove
one man to the shoulders. Another fell to Ulf's sword. The half-
stunned Liot was seized by one of his followers, and bundled back
on board his ship; and for the time the day was saved.

"After them! after them, Ulf!" shouted Estein, and twenty bold
Norwegians followed their leader in the wake of Liot's retreating
boarding party. Their foes gave way right and left, the gangways
round the sides were cleared, and, despite the threats of Liot,
his men began to spring from forecastle and quarter-deck into the
ships behind.

"Forward, king's men! forward, men of Estein!" roared Ulf.

"Wait for me, Liot!" cried Estein, charging the poop with his red
shield before him." A bairn is after thee!"

Helgi, who had kept at his shoulder throughout, seized his arm.

"They are giving way on Thorkel's ship. Osmund is on board. If we
return not, the ship is cleared."