On, one by one, came the Norse ships, sweeping proudly by, and at length Sigvalde's eleven ships came in sight. These, signalled from the shore, suddenly turned inward round the island, to the surprise of Thorkill Dyrdill, captain of the Crane, which followed in their wake. Seeing this fine ship, Sweyn grew eager for the fight and ordered his men on board in spite of Erik's warning that the time had not yet arrived. "Are you afraid of them?" sneered the Dane. "Have you lost all desire to avenge your father?" "Wait and you will see," retorted Erik. "Before the sun sets you will find who is most eager for battle, I, or you and your men." When Thorkill saw the treacherous act of Sigvalde and caught sight of the ambushed fleet, he let fall the sails of the Crane and awaited the coming of the king. Soon the Short Serpent came up, its gilded dragon-head shining brightly in the sunlight. Not long after the Long Serpent appeared, its golden prow glittering brilliantly as the sunbeams fell upon it. Those who saw it marvelled at its size and beauty and many beheld with dread the glittering array of swords and shields as it came sweeping onward. But the great body of King Olaf's ships had gone on without thought of a foeman and were now out of sight. Only eleven of them remained, and some of his captains advised him not to fight against such odds. "Down with the sails," he cried cheerily. "Bind the ships together. Never yet have I fled from battle and I will not do so now. God is my shield and I will flee from no foe. He is no king who lets fear put him to flight before his enemies." Yet his peril was deadly, as was evident when the fleet of more than sixty ships rowed out from its ambush against Olaf's eleven. "Who is the leader here before us?" he asked. "That is King Sweyn with his Danes," said one of the men. "Let them come on. Danes have never yet beaten Norsemen, and they will not to-day. But whose standards are those on the right?" "They are those of Olaf of Sweden." "The heathen Swedes had better have stayed at home to lick their sacrificial bowls. We need not fear these horse-eaters. Yonder to the left; whose ships are those?" "They belong to Earl Erik, the son of Earl Haakon." "Then we may look for hard blows from them. Erik and his men are Norsemen like ourselves, and he has reason not to love me and mine." While he spoke Queen Thyra, who was with him, came on deck. When she saw the desperate odds she burst into tears. "Do not weep," said Olaf. "You have got what was due in Wendland; and to-day I will do my best to win your rights from your brother Sweyn."