"It was not altogether luck," returned the other. "See you that spot on
the bark of yonder tree--about the size of Maikar's mouth as it now
gapes in astonishment?"

"I see it, clear enough--just over the--"

He stopped abruptly, for while he was yet speaking an arrow quivered in
the centre of the spot referred to.

After that the captain talked no more about "luck," and Maikar, shutting
his mouth with a snap, as if he felt that no words could do justice to
his feelings, sprang up and hastened to commence the operation of
flaying and cutting up the fawn.

Having thus provided themselves with food, they spent the rest of the
day in preparing it for the journey by drying it in the sun; in making
tough and serviceable bowstrings out of the sinews of the fawn, fitting
on arrow-heads and feathers, and otherwise arranging for a prolonged
march through a country which was entirely unknown to them, both as to
its character and its inhabitants.

"It comes into my head," said the captain, "that Maikar and I must
provide ourselves with shields and spears of some sort, for if the
people of the land are warlike, we may have to defend ourselves."

"That is as you say," returned the prince, rising as he spoke and going
towards a long straight bough of a neighbouring tree, on which he had
fixed a critical gaze.

With one sweep of his heavy sword he severed it from the stem and
returned to his companions.

"Have you taken an ill-will at that tree, or were you only testing the
strength of your arm?" asked Maikar.

"Neither, my friend; but I must have a javelin to make my equipment
complete, and I would advise you and the captain to provide yourselves
with like weapons, for we may meet with four-footed as well as
two-legged foes in these parts. I will show you how to point the things
with flint."

"That is well said," returned the seaman, rising and going into the
woods in search of a suitable branch, followed by the captain.

It was late that night before the weapons were shaped and pointed with
flint and all ready for a start on the following morning--the only thing
wanting to complete their armament being a couple of shields.

"We are sure to meet with a wild boar or a bull before long, or it may
be a bear," said Maikar, "and the hides of any of these will serve our
purpose well."

"That is, if we use them well," remarked the captain.

"No one said otherwise," retorted Maikar. "Some people are so full of
wise th