midnight
Say , Eric , shall we shorten sail ? '' `` Nay , '' answered Eric , `` keep her full and bail . Where yonder Raven flies , my Sea-stag must follow , '' and he pointed to the warship that rode the waves before them . After midnight clouds came up , with rain , and hid the face of the night-sun and the ship they sought . The wind blew ever harder , till at length , when the rain had passed and the clouds lifted , there was much water in the hold and the bailers could hardly stand at their work . Men murmured , and Hall the mate murmured most of all ; but still Eric held on , for there , not two furlongs ahead of them , rode the dragon of Ospakar . But now , being afraid of the wind and sea , she had lowered her sail somewhat , and made as though she would put about and run for Iceland .