y the
sea. Just south of its ragged edge lies this little island of _Crete_, of
which all the world is talking to-day.

It looks as if one of the fragments of Greece had broken off and floated
away a short distance, and was waiting for the tide to come some day and
carry it back to its old home.

And that is just what happened long, long ago; and it seems now as if the
tide had set in, which is going to float it back to its old moorings by
its motherland.

The island of Crete originally belonged to Greece. It is one of the most
classic spots in the world. For there, on and about Mount Ida, Jupiter,
the great god of Greek mythology, is supposed to have spent his boy-hood.
And Homer sung about this island, too. And he has described its _ninety
cities_--which surprises us very much when we reflect that the island is a
narrow strip of land only one hundred and fifty miles long; so that the
ninety cities must have been set close together, like a string of beads!

However this may be, it has just three towns now, which are making history
for Europe in a very remarkable fashion; and are more talked about to-day
than London, Paris, and St. Petersburg.

Ever since the Greeks struggled into freedom, seventy-five years ago, and
became an independent kingdom, it has been the dream of the Cretans to get
back to their mother country. Recently their sufferings have been past
endurance, and at last, in their helpless wretchedness, they cried out to
Greece to come and take them under her protection. They said: "We are one
with you in race and in religion. We speak your language; you are our
natural rulers. Let us be a part of your Christian kingdom."

With splendid daring and enthusiasm Greece responded to the appeal.

King George sent men and arms and ships, and his brave young son Prince
George as Admiral of the fleet, and declared his determination at all
hazards to take the island under his protection. Not only would he fight
the Turks in Crete or in Greece, but he would carry the war into the
Ottoman Empire itself, if necessary.

The Powers were aghast. Fight the Turk! Was that not the very thing they
had for a century been trying _not_ to do? Disturb the Sultan in those
dominions of which he was the only safe and harmless occupant! Tear away
the barrier between Europe and Asia, and let the torrent rush through--the
prizes going to the strongest! What madness--what folly! What impertinence
for this King George to assume suc