noon
Then Erne laughed aloud and cried out in a big voice , `` What , lads ! ye ride early this morning ; are there foemen abroad in the Isle ? '' They shrank back before him , but a carle of those who was hindermost cried out : `` Art thou coming back to us , Erne , or have thy new friends bought thee to lead them in battle ? '' `` Fear it nought , '' quoth Erne , `` I shall be back before the shepherd 's noon . '' So they went their ways and came to the haven , and there lay the Flaming Sword , and beside her a trim bark , not right great , all ready for sea : and Hallblithe 's skiff was made fast to her for an after-boat . Then the Hostage and Hallblithe and the six damsels went aboard her , and when the Erne had bidden them farewell , they cast off the hawsers and thrust her out through the haven-mouth ; but ere they had got midmost of the haven , they saw the Erne , that he had turned about , and was riding up the dale with his house-carles , and each man 's weapon was shining in his hand : and they wondered if he were riding to battle with War-brand ; and Fox said : `` Meseemeth our brother-in-arms hath in his mind to give those waylayers an evil minute , and verily he is the man to do the same . '' So they gat them out of the haven , and the ebb-tide drave out seaward strongly , and the wind was fair for Cleveland by the Sea ; and they ran speedily past the black cliffs of the Isle of Ransom , and soon were they hull down behind them .