Then we opened out a wide valley, down which ran a fair stream, and there we saw the Irish at last.

High up they were, crossing the valley in a column of black-garbed warriors which seemed endless.

There was no sparkle of mail among them, but here and there a speck of light flashed from an axe blade or spear point, to tell us that they were armed men.

They were keeping pace with Heidrek's ships by crossing from point to point, and how long they may have watched him and us from the forests I cannot say.
Now the river took a sharp bend, and I heard the pilot say to his mate that Heidrek had better have a care at this stage of tide, while Asbiorn, forward, was watching intently.

The tide was almost at its lowest by this time, and Heidrek's hindmost ship was about half a mile ahead of us.