d landed, for
they knew that the same current which had carried their hapless comrades
to the westward must have borne the remains of the wreck in the same
direction. Descending, therefore, to the foam-covered bay before
referred to, they searched its margin carefully, but for some time found
nothing--not even a scrap of wreck.

At last, just as they were about to give up in despair, and turn to some
other method of obtaining food, they observed a portion of the wreck
that had been driven high up on the beach into a cleft of rock. Running
eagerly towards it, they found that it was only a plank.

Bladud and the captain looked at it for a moment or two in silence, and
Maikar gave vent to a groan of disappointment.

"Never mind," said the prince, lifting the plank and laying it on his
shoulder, in the quiet thoughtful way that was peculiar to him, "it will
serve to make a fire and keep us warm."

"But we need not to be kept warm, for the weather is fine and hot," said
Maikar, with a rueful expression. "Moreover, we need food, and we
cannot eat a plank!"

The prince did not reply, but led the way towards a neighbouring cliff.

"Don't you think we had better make our fire in the woods, Bladud?"
asked the captain.

"That would oblige one of us to watch in case natives or wolves should
attack us, and none of us are in a fit state to watch. We must sleep."

"But I can't sleep without first eating," said Maikar in a remonstrative
tone. "Should we not go to the woods first and try to catch something?"

"Can you on foot run down the hare, the deer, the bear, the wild-boar,
or even the rabbit?"

"Not I. My legs are swift enough, though short, but they are not equal
to that."

"Well, then, as we have neither bow nor shaft, and my good sword would
be of little use against such game, why waste our time and strength in
the woods?"

"But we might find honey," suggested Maikar.

"And if we did not find honey, what then?"

"Berries," answered the little man.

"Berries are not nearly ripe yet."

"True, I forgot that."

"Say you did not know it, man," interposed the captain with a laugh;
"never be ashamed of confessing ignorance in regard to things that
you're not bound to know. Lead on, Bladud, we will follow. You know
more of woodcraft than either of us. If it were the sea we had to do
battle with I would claim to lead. On land, being only a babe, I freely
resign the helm to one who knows how to steer."