at you cannot despise me more than you have done all along for
my forwardness."

She ran back from me into the edge of the trees.

"But this is foolishness," I said. "I must take you through the dangers
that lie between here and some gate of the city, and then come back to
the ship."

"You need not fear for me. The unhappy are always safe. And, besides, I
have a way. It is my solace to know that you will remember me now. You
will never forget that kiss."

"Fare you well, Ylga," I cried. "May the High Gods keep you entirely in
their holy care."

But no reply came back. She had gone off into the forest. And so I
turned down to the beach, and splashed into the water, and climbed on
board the ship up the steering oars. Tob gave the word to haul-to the
anchor, and get her away from the beach.

"Greeting, my lord," said he, "but I'd have been pleased to see you
earlier. We've small enough force and slow enough heels in this vessel,
and it's my idea that the sooner we're away from here and beyond range
of pursuit, the safer it will be for my woman and brats who are in that
hutch of an after-castle. It's long enough since I sailed in such a
small old-fashioned ship as this. She's no machines, and she's not even
a steering mannikin. Look at the meanness of her furniture and (in your
ear) I've suspicions that there's rottenness in her bottom. But she's
the best I'd the means to buy, and if she reaches the place at the
farther end I've got my eye on, we shall have to make a home there, or
be content to die, for she'll never have strength to carry us farther
or back. She's been a ship in the Egypt trade, and you know what that is
for getting worm and rot in the wood."

"You'd enough hands for your scheme before I came?"

"Oh yes. I've fifty stout lads and eight women packed in the ship
somehow, and trouble enough I've had to get them away from the city.
That thief of a port-captain wellnigh skinned us clean before he could
see it lawful that so many useful fighting men might go out of harbour.
Times are not what they were, I tell you, and the sea trade's about
done. All sailor men of any skill have taken a woman or two and gone
out in companies to try their fortunes in other lands. Why, I'd trouble
enough to get half a score to help me work this ship. All my balance are
just landsmen raw and simple, and if I land half of them alive at the
other end, we shall be doing well."

"Still with luck and a few good winds it shoul