The Story of the Odyssey

t which is now known as the South Foreland. The leader of the four, all of which, indeed, lay so close together as to be within easy hailing distance,

itain and Northern Gaul from the pirate swarms that issued from the harbours of the North Sea and the Baltic. The Count himself was on board, coming south fro

lt and leather scabbard, was evidently meant for use rather than show. His whole appearance and bearing, indeed, were those of a man of action and energy. His eyes were bright and piercing; his nose showed, strongly pronounced, the curve which has always been associated with the ability to command; the contour of his chin and lips, as far as could be see

, a weather-beaten old sailor, whose dark Southern complexion had been deepened by

s practised eye, familiar with [pg 23]every yard of the coast, perceived

here is a deal of west in the wind-more, I think, than there was an hour since. Castor and Pollu

"I verily believe that you will be half disappointed

t act of devotion. "Heaven bring us safe to our journey's end! Of course it is your lordship's business to give orders, and ours to go to the bottom, if it is to be so. But I must say, sav

t your ke

Pleiades

your kee

rown is in

is fathers before him, for I do not know how many

would almost as soon go into a lion's den as venture out of sight of

he last word even with so great a personage as the Count; "but there is a proverb, 'M

, the Panther-for that was the name of the flagship-still slightly leading the way, with her consorts in close company. In this order they made abo

erself and her nearest follower. [pg 25]The short waves, which just broke in sparkling foam, the brilliant sunshine, almost bringing back summer with its noonday heat, and the sea with a blue which recalled, though but

en sight, in the south-western horizon, the sunlight fell on what was evidently a sail. But the distance was too great to let even the keenest sight distinguish what kind of craft it migh

, or even coming our way-but it does not matter which. If she has anything to tell us, we [pg 26]shall be sure to hear it sooner or later. But it will never do to let a pirate escape if we can help it. Any

nd Britain, where no river or creek, if it gave as much as three or four feet of water, was safe from their attack. In short, they were Saxon pirates, and were now moving eastward with all the speed that sails and oars could give them. The question that every one on board the Panther was putting to himself with intense interest was, "Shal

, as he paced impatiently up and down the after deck. "If it would only come on to blow in real earnest we shoul

sail, so large as to be quite out of proportion to her size. The wind struck her nearly sideways, and she heeled over till her keel could almost be seen. For a moment it was doubtful whether she would not capsize. Then the mast gave. The vessel righted at once, but only to lie utterly helpless on the water, with all her starboard oars hopelessly entangled with the canvas and rigging. What the Count would have done had his ship been entirely in hand it is difficult to say. No speedier or more effective way of dealing with the enemy than running her down could have been practised. The Panther had three or four times the tonnage of her adversary, whose lightness and low bulwarks made her easily accessible to this kind of attack. Nor would the pirates have a chance of showing the desperate valour which the Roman boarding-parties had learnt to respect and almost to fear. The only argument on the other side would have been that prisoners and booty would probably be lost. But, as a matter of fact, the Count had no opportunity of weighing the pros and cons in the matter. T

and the Sa

o my own cab

e, "it is idle; this arrow has sped me. But let me die here, where I can see the waves and the sky. I have known them, man and boy, threescore years-aye, a

ped, and [pg 30]asked whether there w

well as I could have wished. But mark, my lord, I was right about sailing in

he was past spea

, we must remember,

t that they could make no effort to save themselves. They would not, however, have made it if they could. Those that had escaped uninjured evidently preferred drowning to a Roman prison. With grim resolution they straightened their arms to

brother, moved by that passionate love so often found between twins, had sacrificed himself-that is, the honour which he counted dearer than life-to save him. Had he ha

adron set their sails for Lemanis, which, thanks to a further change

g