A council was held and it was resolved to make a camp by the stream and defend it against all comers,till such time as under Leif's guidance new ships could be built.
"Axes will never ring on them," said Leif under his breath. He walked now like a man who was fey and his face was that of another world.
He spoke truth, for as they moved towards the riverbank, just before the darkening, in a glade between two forests Fate met them. There was barely time to form the Shield-ring ere their enemies were upon them—a mass of wild men in wolves' skins and at their head mounted warriors in byrnies, with long swords that flashed and fell.