ashore, and get a crop of grain grown and threshed before
setting sail again. It is the usual custom in these voyages. And I shall
do it still, subject to my lord's better opinion."

So here, having by this time completed a two months' leisurely journey
from the city, I saw my opportunity to speak what I had always carried
in my mind. "Tob," I said, "I am a poor, weak, defenceless man, and I am
quite at your mercy, but what if I do not voyage all the way to the Tin
Islands, and oust you of this kingship?"

He brightened perceptibly. "Aye," he grunted, "you are very weak, my
lord, and mighty defenceless. We know all about that. But what's
else? You must tell all your meaning plain. I'm a common mariner, and
understand little of your fancy talk."

"Why, this. That it is not my wish to leave the continent of Atlantis.
If you will put me down on any part of this side that faces Europe, I
will commend you strongly to the Gods. I would I could give you
money, or (better still) articles that would be useful to you in your
colonising; but as it is, you see me destitute."

"As to that, you owe me nothing, having done vastly more than your share
each time we have put in shore for the hunting. But it will not do, this
plan of yours. I will shamedly confess that the sound of that kingship
in my Tin Islands sounds sweet to me. But no, my lord, it will not do.
You are no mariner yet, and understand little of geography, but I must
tell you that the part of Atlantis there"--he jerked his thumb towards
the line of trees, and the mountains which lay beyond the fringe
of surf--"is called the Dangerous Lands, and a man must needs be a
salamander and be learned in magic (so I am told) before he can live
there."

I laughed. "We of the Priests' Clan have some education, Tob, though
it may not be on the same lines as your own. In fact, I may say I was
taught in the colleges concerning the boundaries and the contents of
our continent with a nicety that would surprise you. And once ashore, my
fate will still be under the control of the most High Gods."

He muttered something in his profane seaman's way about preferring to
keep his own fate under control of his own most strong right arm, but
saying that he would keep the matter in his thoughts, he excused himself
hurriedly to go and see to somewhat concerning the working of the ship,
and there left me.

But I think the sweets of kingly rule were a strong argument in favour
of letting me