They were not more than a quarter of a mile from us, and had been hidden under the near shore.
One of the men in her stern pointed to us, and the rowers stopped and turned to look.

Then a great hail came over the water, bidding us hold on and wait.

She was full of men, pulling five oars a side, with six or eight in the bows and stern.
We said nothing, but held on quickly.

Bertric never hastened the long stroke he was setting us, but we put more power into it without need of bidding.

Heidrek's men watched us for a short space, and then made up their minds to chase us, no doubt seeing that this could only be one of the wrecked ship's boats, and making sure that we had the treasure on board.
They ran the boat ashore hastily, and some of the men landed, hurrying across the narrow head of the island toward the wreck, while the rest put off again.