On both sides the sails were let down, for none had any thought of flight.

Some rushed to the oars and got enough of them out to work the ships.

Others ran to the grappling irons, and the rest began to shoot with their bows.

Before one could count two hundred from the time of sighting, the war cry of "_Valhalla! Valhalla! Victory or Valhalla!_" broke upon the silence of the night and the battle had begun.
It was a very fierce battle, and one that the gathering darkness made more grim.

Each ship fought without heed to the others, for as the fray went on they drifted apart, grappled to their foes.