have my way (which I should have had otherwise if it had
not been given peacefully), and on the third day after our talk he
put the ship inshore again for re-victualling. We lurched into a
river-mouth, half swamped over a roaring bar, and ran up against the
bank and made fast there to trees, but booming ourselves a safe distance
off with oars and poles, so that no beast could leap on board out of the
thicket.

Fish-spearing and meat-hunting were set about with promptitude, and
on the second day we were happy enough to slay a yearling river-horse,
which gave provisions in all sufficiency. A space was cleared on the
bank, fires were lit, and the meat hung over the smoke in strips, and
when as much was cured as the ship would carry, the shipmen made a final
gorge on what remained, filled up a great stack of hollow reeds with
drinking water, and were ready to continue the voyage.

With sturdy generosity did Tob again attempt to make me sail on with
them as their future king, and as steadfastly did I make refusal; and
at last stood alone on the bank amongst the gnawed bones of their feast,
with my weapons to bear me company, and he, and his men, and the women
stood in the little old ship, ready to drop down river with the current.

"At least," said Tob, "we'll carry your memory with us, and make it big
in the Tin Islands for everlasting."

"Forget me," I said, "I am nothing. I am merely an incident that has
come in your way. But if you want to carry some memory with you that
shall endure, preserve the cult of the most High Gods as it was taught
to you when you were children here in Atlantis. And afterwards, when
your colony grows in power, and has come to sufficient magnificence, you
may send to the old country for a priest."

"We want no priest, except one we shall make ourselves, and that will
be me. And as for the old Gods--well, I have laid my ideas before the
fellows here, and they agree to this: We are done with those old Gods
for always. They seem worn out, if one may judge from Their present lack
of usefulness in Atlantis, and, anyway, there will be no room for Them
on the Tin Islands.--Let go those warps there aft, and shove her head
out.--We are under weigh now, my lord, and beyond recall, and so I am
free to tell you what we have decided upon for our religious exercises.
We shall set up the memory of a living Hero on earth, and worship that.
And when in years to come the picture of his face grows dim, we shall