Maybe I saw more from the ships presently, for we were hurried on board, handed over to the ship guard and there left, while our captors rode away again.
I only hoped that when the first messengers reached Beaduheard the sheriff he would bring force enough with him.

But I doubted it.
The guard took our weapons from us, bound us afresh but not very tightly, and set us with our backs against the gunwale of the fore deck of the ship they had us on board, which was that with the raven flag.

Over us towered a wonderful carven dragon's head, painted green and gilded, and at the stern of the ship rose what was meant for its carven tail.

The other ships had somewhat the same adornment to their stems and stern posts, but they were not so high or so handsome.

Plainly this was the chief's own ship.
Now I suppose that the presence of a captive or two was no new thing to the men, for when they had secured us each to a ring bolt with a short line, they paid little heed to us, but stood and talked to one another with hardly a glance in our direction.