ed it, crying out that I was the very man."

"If so, it is marvellous," I said. "But what shall we do?"

"The Master can do one of two things. He can stop here, where these
simple people will make him their king and give him wives and all that
he desires, and so live out his life, since of return to the land whence
he came there is no hope."

"And if there were I would not go," I interrupted.

"Or," went on Kari, "he can try to travel to my country. But that is
very far away. Something of the journey which I made when I was mad
comes back and tells me that it is very, very far away. First, yonder
mountains must be crossed till another sea is reached, which is no
great journey, though rough. Then the coast of that sea must be followed
southward, for I know not how far, but, as I think, for months or years
of journeying, till at length the country of my people is reached.
Moreover, that journeying is hard and terrible, since the road runs
through forests and deserts where dwell savage tribes and huge snakes
and wild beasts, like those planted on the flag of your country, and
where famine and sicknesses are common. Therefore my counsel to the
Master is that he should leave it unattempted."

Now I thought awhile, and asked what he meant to do if I took this
counsel of his. To which he replied:

"I shall wait here awhile till I see the Master made a king among these
people and established in his rule. Then I shall start on that journey
alone, hoping that what I could do when I was mad I shall be able to do
again when I am not mad."

"I thought it," I said. "But tell me, Kari, if we were to make this
journey and perchance live to reach your people, how would they welcome
us?"

"I do not know, Master; but I think that of the master they would make
a god, as will all the other people of this country. Perhaps, too, they
will sacrifice this god that his strength and beauty may enter into
them. As for me, some of them will try to kill me and others will cling
to me. Who will conquer I do not know, and to me it matters little. I
go to take my own and to be avenged, and if in seeking vengeance I
die--well, I die in honour."

"I understand," I said. "And now, Kari, let us start as soon as possible
before I become as mad from staring at those trees and flowers and those
big-eyed natives, that you say would make me a king, as you tell me you
were when you left your country. Whether we shall ever find that country
I cannot sa