The Hot Swamp | Page 6

the Penelope crashed into
the side of their vessel and stove it in, for the trader, like some of the
war-vessels of the period, was provided with a ram for this very
purpose.
As the Penelope recoiled from the shock, a yell of rage burst from the
pirates, and a volley of javelins and stones followed, but, owing to the
confusion resulting from the shock, these were ill-directed, and such of
them as found their mark were caught on the shields. Before another
discharge could be made, the pirate vessel heeled over and sank,
leaving her crew of miscreants struggling in the sea. Some of
them--being, strange to say, unable to swim--were drowned. Others
were killed in the water, while a few, taking their swords in their teeth,
swam to the trader and made desperate attempts to climb on board. Of
course they failed, and in a few minutes nothing remained of the pirate
vessel to tell of the tragedy that had been enacted, except an oar or two
and a few spars left floating on the sea.
"Would that all the sea-robbers in these parts could be as easily and
thoroughly disposed of," remarked the captain, as he gave orders to
re-hoist the sail. "Ho! Bladud, my worthy prince, come aft here. What
detains you?"
But Bladud did not answer to the call. A stone from the enemy had
fallen on his defenceless head and knocked him down insensible.
Four of the men now raised him up. As they did so, one of the men--the
small seaman, Maikar--was found underneath him in a state of
semi-consciousness. While they carried Bladud aft, the little sailor
began to gasp and sneeze.
"Not killed, I see," remarked the mate, looking into his face with some
anxiety.

"No, not quite," sighed Maikar, drawing a long breath, and raising
himself on one elbow, with a slightly dazed look, "but I never was so
nearly burst in all my life. If an ox had fallen on me he could not have
squeezed me flatter. Do, two of you, squeeze me the other way, to open
me out a little; there's no room in me left to breathe--scarcely room to
think."
"Oh! your battles are not yet over, I see," said the mate, going off to the
stern of the vessel, where he found Bladud just recovering
consciousness and smiling at the remarks of the captain, who busied
himself in stanching the wound, just over his frontal bone, from which
blood was flowing freely.
"H'm! this comes of sheer recklessness. I told you to take off your
helmet, but I did not tell you to keep it off. Man, you launched that
javelin well!--better than I could have done it myself. Indeed, I doubt if
my old grandfather could have done it with such telling effect-- straight
through and through. I saw full a hand-breadth come out at the villain's
back. What say you, mate? Little Maikar wounded?"
"No, not wounded, but nearly burst, as he says himself; and no wonder,
for Bladud fell upon him."
"Didn't I tell you, mate," said the captain, looking up with a grin, "that
nothing will kill little Maikar? Go to, man, you pretend to be a judge of
men; yet you grumbled at me for engaging him as one of our crew. Do
you feel better now, prince?"
"Ay, greatly better, thank you," replied Bladud, putting his hand gently
on the bandages with which the captain had skilfully bound his head.
"That is well. I think, now, that food will do you service. What say
you?"
"Nay, with your leave, I prefer sleep," said the prince, stretching
himself out on the deck. "A little rest will suffice, for my head is noted
for its thickness, and my brain for its solidity--at least so my good
father was wont to say; and I've always had great respect for his

opinion."
"Ah, save when it ran counter to your own," suggested Arkal; "and
especially that time when you ran away from home and came out here
in the long ship of my trading friend."
"I have regretted that many a time since then, and I am now returning
home to offer submission."
"D'you think that he'll forgive you?"
"I am sure he will, for he is a kind man; and I know he loves me,
though he has never said so."
"I should like to know that father of yours. I like your description of
him--so stern of face, yet so kind of heart, and with such an
unchangeable will when he sees what is right. But what is right, and
what is wrong?"
"Ay--what is--who can tell? Some people believe that the gods make
their will known to man through the Delphic Oracle."
"Boh!" exclaimed the captain with a look of supreme