seated in silence for some minutes.

"I would rather hear your opinion first," returned his friend. "You
must still continue to act as captain, for it is fitting that age should
sit at the helm, while I will act the part of guide and forester, seeing
that I am somewhat accustomed to woodcraft."

"And the remainder of our band," said little Maikar, wiping his mouth
after finishing the last morsel, "will sit in judgment on your
deliberations."

"Be it so," returned Bladud. "Wisdom, it is said, lies in small
compass, so we should find it in you."

Captain Arkal, whose knitted brows and downcast eyes showed that his
thoughts were busy, looked up suddenly.

"It is not likely," he said, "that any ships will come near this coast,
for the gale has driven us far out of the usual track of trading ships,
and there are no towns here, large or small, that I know of. It would
be useless, therefore, to remain where we are in the hope of being
picked up by a passing vessel. To walk back to our home in the east is
next to impossible, for it is not only far distant, but there lie
between us and Hellas far-reaching gulfs and bays, besides great
mountain ranges, which have never yet been crossed, for their tops are
in the clouds and covered, summer and winter, with eternal snow."

"Then no hope remains to us," said Maikar, with a sigh, "except to join
ourselves to the wild people of the land--if there be any people at all
in it--and live and die like savages."

"Patience, Maikar, I have not yet finished."

"Besides," interpolated Bladud, "a wise judge never delivers an opinion
until he has heard both sides of a question."

"Now, from my knowledge of the lie of coast-lands, I feel sure that the
Isles of the Cassiterides must lie there," continued the captain,
pointing westward, "and if we travel diligently, it is not unlikely that
we shall come down upon the coast of this land almost opposite to them.
There we may find, or perhaps make, a boat in which we could cross
over--for the sea at that part is narrow, and the white cliffs of the
land will be easily distinguished. Once there, I have no doubt that we
shall find a ship belonging to one of my countrymen which will take
Maikar and me back to our homes, while you, prince, will doubtless be
able to return to your father's court on foot."

It will be seen from this speech that the Phoenician captain included
the southern shore of England in his idea of the Cassiterides. His