we are
afraid of them?"

"Forgive me, captain; if you had seen your own face, you would have
joined in the laugh. I will be more careful. But how do you mean to
proceed, and what do you wish me to do?"

Captain Arkal, who was restored to good-humour by this compliment to his
power of expression, as well as by the modesty with which the prince
received his rebuke, explained his intentions--in low, earnest tones,
however, for they were by that time drawing near to the piratical craft.

Having got well ahead of the _Penelope_, it had backed its sail and lay
still, awaiting her coming up.

"Creep to the bow, Bladud, with your helmet off, and show as little of
your bulk as may be. Show only your head above the bulwarks, and look
as miserable as I did just now--more so if you can. Take your sword,
javelin, and shield with you. I need say no more to a man of war. Use
them when you see your opportunity."

Bladud received his orders in silence, and obeyed them with that
unquestioning and unhesitating promptitude which is one of the surest
evidences of fitness to command. Meanwhile the mate, who was accustomed
to his captain's habits, and needed no instructions, had caused the
sailors to lay their shields and swords out of sight at their feet, so
that they might approach the pirates in the character of simple traders
who were completely cowed by the appearance of the foe. To increase
this aspect of fear, the sail was lowered as they drew near, and the
oars were used to complete the distance that yet intervened between the
two vessels.

This humble and submissive approach did not, however, throw the pirates
quite off their guard. They stood to their arms and prepared to spring
on board their victim when close enough. As the pirate vessel lay
motionless on the water she presented her broadside to the trader. The
captain took care to steer so that this relative position should be
maintained. The pirate chief, a huge man in rude armour, with a
breast-plate of thick bull-hide and a shield of the same on his left
arm, gave orders to pull the oars on one side of his vessel so that the
two might be brought alongside.

They were about fifty yards apart at the moment. Before the order could
be carried into effect, however, Arkal uttered a low hiss. Instantly
the double banks of oars bent almost to the breaking point, and the
_Penelope_ leaped forward like a sentient creature. Each man seized
sword and shield and spr