ther way, to
open me out a little; there's no room in me left to breathe--scarcely
room to think."

"Oh! your battles are not yet over, I see," said the mate, going off to
the stern of the vessel, where he found Bladud just recovering
consciousness and smiling at the remarks of the captain, who busied
himself in stanching the wound, just over his frontal bone, from which
blood was flowing freely.

"H'm! this comes of sheer recklessness. I told you to take off your
helmet, but I did not tell you to keep it off. Man, you launched that
javelin well!--better than I could have done it myself. Indeed, I doubt
if my old grandfather could have done it with such telling effect--
straight through and through. I saw full a hand-breadth come out at the
villain's back. What say you, mate? Little Maikar wounded?"

"No, not wounded, but nearly burst, as he says himself; and no wonder,
for Bladud fell upon him."

"Didn't I tell you, mate," said the captain, looking up with a grin,
"that nothing will kill little Maikar? Go to, man, you pretend to be a
judge of men; yet you grumbled at me for engaging him as one of our
crew. Do you feel better now, prince?"

"Ay, greatly better, thank you," replied Bladud, putting his hand gently
on the bandages with which the captain had skilfully bound his head.

"That is well. I think, now, that food will do you service. What say
you?"

"Nay, with your leave, I prefer sleep," said the prince, stretching
himself out on the deck. "A little rest will suffice, for my head is
noted for its thickness, and my brain for its solidity--at least so my
good father was wont to say; and I've always had great respect for his
opinion."

"Ah, save when it ran counter to your own," suggested Arkal; "and
especially that time when you ran away from home and came out here in
the long ship of my trading friend."

"I have regretted that many a time since then, and I am now returning
home to offer submission."

"D'you think that he'll forgive you?"

"I am sure he will, for he is a kind man; and I know he loves me, though
he has never said so."

"I should like to know that father of yours. I like your description of
him--so stern of face, yet so kind of heart, and with such an
unchangeable will when he sees what is right. But what _is_ right, and
what is wrong?"

"Ay--what is--who can tell? Some people believe that the gods make
their will known to man through the Delphic Oracle."

"Boh!" exc