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Updated: June 20, 2025
"Ay, let us draw lots," echoed Maikar, "and so shove the matter off our shoulders on to the shoulders of chance." "There is, there can be, no such thing as chance," said Bladud in a soliloquising tone. "However, let it be as you wish. I recognise the justice of two voices overriding one." Lots were drawn accordingly, and the longest fell to the little seaman.
"What! not gone yet?" exclaimed the captain, turning to him. "I cannot swim," said the man. "But neither can these," returned the captain, pointing to the men who had left last. "My father used to say," rejoined Maikar, as if murmuring to himself, "that I was born to be drowned, and I'm inclined to think he was right." "Surely you are not afraid," said Arkal.
I told you to take off your helmet, but I did not tell you to keep it off. Man, you launched that javelin well! better than I could have done it myself. Indeed, I doubt if my old grandfather could have done it with such telling effect straight through and through. I saw full a hand-breadth come out at the villain's back. What say you, mate? Little Maikar wounded?"
Electrified by the yell, Maikar also leaped to his feet, sword in hand. "What d'ye mean by that?" cried the captain, turning on him fiercely. "What mean you by it?" replied Maikar with equal ferocity. He had barely uttered the words, when the second turkey hit him full in the face and tumbled him over the ashes of the fortunately extinguished fire.
Which to go for was the question. Like an experienced warrior it went for the "little one." Maikar had drawn his last weapon the short sword of bronze and, like a brave man as he was, "prepared to receive boarelry." Another instant and the enemy was upon him.
"Afraid!" exclaimed Maikar, with a sarcastic laugh. "No, captain, but I'm sorry to part with you, because you've been a good captain to me." "An' I bear no ill-will to you, Bladud, though you did squeeze most of the life out of me once. Farewell, both."
"Come, quick!" cried little Maikar, whose catlike activity and strength enabled him to outrun his more bulky companions. "We may be too late; and some of them can't swim I know."
The two sailors were alone, having obtained leave to range right and left in advance of the column to which they were attached, for the purpose of hunting. "We are not much to boast of in the way of shooting," remarked Arkal; "but the troops don't know that, and good luck may prevent them finding it out." "Just so," returned Maikar, "good luck may also bring us within arrow-shot of a wolf.
Dropping their bows, the men turned and made for the nearest trees. They separated in doing so, and the bear lost a moment or two in making up its mind which to follow. Fortunately it decided in favour of Maikar. Had it followed Arkal, it would have caught him, for the captain, not being as agile as might be wished, missed his first spring up his tree, and slid back to the bottom.
"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!"
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