himself is the father of a
large family."

"Which implies a wife," suggested one of the seamen.

"Not necessarily," objected an elderly seaman, who had once been to the
lands lying far to the north of Albion, and had acquired something of
that tendency to object to everything at all times which is said to
characterise the people of the far North. "Not necessarily," he
repeated, "for the serpent may be a bachelor with no family at all."

There was a short laugh at this, and an illogical man of the group made
some irrelevant observation which led the conversation into a totally
different channel, and relegated the great sea-serpent, for the time
being, to oblivion!

While the men were thus engaged philosophising in the bow, Bladud and
the captain were chatting in subdued voices in the stern.

"It is impossible," said the latter, in reply to a remark made by the
former, "it is impossible for me to visit your father's court this year,
though it would please me much to do so, but my cargo is intended for
the south-western Cassiterides. To get round to the river on the banks
of which your home stands would oblige me to run far towards the cold
regions, into waters which I have not yet visited--though I know them
pretty well by hearsay. On another voyage I may accomplish it, but not
on this one."

"I am sorry for that, Arkal, because things that are put off to another
time are often put off altogether. But the men of the Tin Isles often
visit my father's town in their boats with copper and tin, and there are
tracks through the forest which horses can traverse. Could you not
visit us overland? It would not be a journey of many weeks, and your
trusty mate might look after the ship in your absence. Besides, the
diggers may not have enough of the metal ready to fill your ship, so you
may be idle a long time. What say you?"

Captain Arkal frowned, as was his wont when considering a knotty
question, and shook his head.

"I doubt if I should be wise to venture so much," he said; "moreover, we
are not yet at the end of our voyage. It is of little use troubling
one's-self about the end of anything while we are only at the
beginning."

"Nevertheless," rejoined Bladud, "to consider the possible end while yet
at the beginning, seems not unreasonable, though, undoubtedly, we may
never reach the end. Many a fair ship sets sail and never returns."

"Ay, that is true, as I know to my cost," returned the captain, "for
t