his is not my first venture. A long time ago I loaded a ship about the
size of this one, and sent her under command of one of my best friends
to the Euxine sea for gold. I now think that that old story about Jason
and his ship _Argo_ sailing in search of the golden fleece was running
too strong in my youthful brain. Besides that, of course I had heard
the report that there is much gold in that direction, and my hopes were
strong, for you know all the world runs after gold. Anyhow, my ship
sailed and I never saw her or my friend again. Since then I have
contented myself with copper and tin."

A slight increase in the wind at that moment caused the captain to
dismiss his golden and other memories, and look inquiringly to windward.

"A squall, methinks?" said Bladud.

"No, only a puff," replied his friend, ordering the steersman to alter
the course a little.

The squall or puff was only strong enough to cause the _Penelope_ to
make a graceful bow to the controlling element and cleave the sparkling
water with her prow so swiftly that she left a gleaming wake as of
lambent fire astern. It was short-lived, however, and was followed by a
calm which obliged little Maikar and his comrades to cease their
story-telling and ply their fifty oars. Thus the pace was kept going,
though not quite so swiftly as if they were running before a stiff
breeze.

"The gods are propitious," said the captain; "we are going to have a
prosperous voyage."

"How many gods are propitious?" asked Bladud.

"That is a question much too deep for me to answer."

"But not too deep to think of--is it?"

"Of what use would be my thinking?" returned the captain, lightly. "I
leave such matters to the learned."

"Now, mate," he added, turning to his subordinate, "I'm going to rest a
while. See that you keep an open eye for squalls and pirates. Both are
apt to come down on you when you least expect them."

But neither squalls nor pirates were destined to interfere with the
_Penelope_ during the greater part of that voyage. Day after day the
skies were clear, the sea comparatively smooth, and the winds
favourable. Sometimes they put ashore, when the weather became stormy
and circumstances were favourable. On such occasions they lighted
camp-fires under the trees, the ruddy light of which glowed with a grand
effect on the picturesque sailors as they sat, stood, or reclined around
them.

At other times they were obliged to keep more in the