nce. Then,
seeing Tob, he nodded as one meets an acquaintance. "Old pot-mate," he
said, "your woman waits for you up by the quay-side in Atlantis yonder,
with four youngsters at her heels. I saw her not half a month ago."

"You didn't come out here to tell me home news," said Tob; "that I'll be
sworn. I've drunk enough pots with you, Dason, to know your pleasantries
thoroughly."

"I wanted to point out to you that your home is still there, with your
wife and children ready to welcome you."

"I am not a man that ever forgets it," said Tob grimly; "and because
I've got them always at the back of my mind, I've sailed this ship over
the top of more than one pirate, when, if I'd been a single man, I might
have been e'en content to take the hap of slavery."

"Oh, I know you're a desperate enough fellow," said Dason, "and I'm free
to confess that if it does come to blows we are like to lose a few
men before we get you and your cripples here, and your crazy ships
comfortably sunk. Our navy has its orders to carry out, and the cause of
my embassage is this: we wish to see if you will act the sensible part
and give us what we want, and so be permitted to go on your way home,
with a skin that is unslit and dry?"

"You have come to the wrong bird here for a plucking," said Tob with a
heavy laugh. "We took no treasure or merchandise on board in Yucatan. We
stayed in harbour long enough to cure our sea victual and fill with food
and water, and no longer. We sail back as we sailed out, barren ships.
You will not believe me, of course; I would not have believed you had
our places been changed; but you may go into the holds and search if
you choose. You will find there nothing but a few poor sailormen half in
pieces with the scurvy. No, you can steal nothing here but blows, Dason,
and we will give you those with but little asking."

"I am glad to see that you state your cargo at such slender value," said
the envoy, "for it is the cargo I must take back with me on the galley,
if you are to earn your safe conduct to home."

Tob knit his brows. "You had better speak more plain," he said. "I am a
common sailor, and do not understand fancy talk."

"It is clear to see," said Dason, "that you have been set to bring
Deucalion back to Atlantis as a prop for Phorenice. Well, we others find
Phorenice hard enough to fight against without further reinforcements,
and so we want Deucalion in our own custody to deal with after our own
fashion.