No situation was so strong that the mere protection of nature was enough for it without human effort.

Moreover they must take great care that the warning of his slumbers was not followed by a yet more gloomy and disastrous fulfilment.

So they all sallied forth from the stronghold, and narrowly scanned the whole circuit of the island; and finding the horse they surmised that Fridleif had been drowned in the waters of the river.

They received the horse within the gates with rejoicing, supposing that it had flung off its rider and swum over.

But Biorn, still scared with the memory of the visions of the night, advised them to keep watch, since it was not safe for them yet to put aside suspicion of danger.