oughts that they blurt them out, without reason, apparently to
get rid of them."

"Just so, Maikar, therefore blurt out no more, but hold thy tongue and
go to sleep. Good-night."

CHAPTER SEVEN.

CONVERSE AND ADVENTURES BY THE WAY.

Day was just beginning to break in the east when the prince raised his
head from the bundle of leaves that had formed his pillow, and looked
sleepily around him.

His companions lay still, sound asleep and sprawling, in all the
_abandon_ characteristic of the heroes of antiquity.

Some of these characteristics were wonderfully similar to those of
modern heroes. For instance, the captain lay flat on his back with his
mouth wide open, and a musical solo proceeding from his nose; while
Maikar lay on his side with his knees doubled up, his arms extended at
full length in front of him, and his hands tightly clasped as if, while
pleading with some one for mercy, he was suddenly petrified and had
fallen over on his side.

Rising softly, Bladud took up his bow and quiver, and, buckling on his
sword, left the encampment without disturbing the sleepers. He had not
proceeded more than a mile when he startled several wild turkeys or
birds of that species from their rest. One of these he instantly
brought down. Following them up he soon shot another, and returned to
camp, where he found his comrades as he had left them--the musical nose
being if anything more emphatic than before.

Although naturally a grave man, Bladud was by no means destitute of a
sense of humour, or disinclined on occasion to perpetrate a practical
joke. After contemplating the sleepers for a moment he retired a few
paces and concealed himself in the long grass, from which position he
pitched one of the huge birds into the air, so that it fell on the
captain's upturned visage. The snore changed at once into a yell of
alarm, as the mariner sprang up and grasped his sword, which, of course,
lay handy beside him.

Electrified by the yell, Maikar also leaped to his feet, sword in hand.

"What d'ye mean by that?" cried the captain, turning on him fiercely.

"What mean _you_ by it?" replied Maikar with equal ferocity.

He had barely uttered the words, when the second turkey hit him full in
the face and tumbled him over the ashes of the fortunately extinguished
fire.

"Come, come!" interposed the prince, stepping forward with a deprecating
smile; "there should be no quarrelling among friends, especially at the
beginn