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his own country； to which he believed that we were drawing near。
On the fourth morning； however； our troubles began； since the friendly
wind from the north grew steadily stronger； till at length it rose to
a gale。 Soon our little rag of canvas was torn away； but still we
rushed on before the following seas at a very great speed。
Now I thought of trying to make the land； but found that we could not
do so with the oars； because of the current that set out towards the
ocean against which it was impossible to urge our clumsy craft。
Therefore we must content ourselves with trying to keep her head
straight with the steering oar； but even then we were often whirled
round and round。
About two hours after noon the sky clouded over； and there burst upon
us a great thunder…storm with torrents of rain； also the wind grew
stronger and stronger。
Now we could no longer steer or do anything except lie flat upon the
bottom of the /balsa/； gripping the cords with which it was tied
together； to save ourselves from being washed overboard； since often
the foaming crests of the waves broke upon us。 Indeed； it was
marvellous that this frail craft should hang together at all； but
owing to the lightness of the reeds and the blown…up skins that were
tied in them； still she floated and； whirling round and round； sped
upon her southward path。 Yet I knew that this could not endure for
very long； and committed my soul to God as well as I was able in my
half…drowned state； wishing that my miseries were ended。
The darkness came down； but still the thunder roared and the lightning
blazed； and by the flare of it I caught sight of snow…capped mountains
far away upon the coast； also of Kari clinging to the reeds of the
/balsa/ at my side； and from time to time kissing the golden image of
Pachacamac which hung about his neck。 Presently he set his lips
against my ear and shouted：
〃Be bold！ Our gods are still with us in storm。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered； 〃and soon we shall be with our godsin peace。〃
After this I heard no more of him； and fell to thinking with such wits
as were left to me of how many perils we had passed since we saw the
shores of Thames； and that it seemed sad that all should have been for
nothing； since it would have been better to die at the beginning than
now at the end； after so much misery。 Then the glare of the lightning
shone upon the handle of the sword Wave…Flame； which was still
strapped about me； and I remembered the rune written upon it which my
mother had rendered to me upon the morning of the fight against the
Frenchmen。 How did it run？
He who lifts Wave…Flame on high
In love shall live and in battle die。
Storm…tossed o'er wide seas shall roam
And in strange lands shall make his home。
Conquering； conquered shall he be
And far away shall sleep with me。
It fitted well； though of the love I had known little and that most
unhappy； and the battle in which I must die was one with water。 Also；
I had conquered nothing who myself was conquered by Fate。 In short；
the thing could be read two ways； like all prophecies； and only one
line of it was true beyond a doubtnamely； that Wave…Flame and I
should sleep together。
Awhile later the lightning shone awesomely； like to the swords of a
whole army of destroying angels； so that the sky became alive with
fire。 In its light for an instant I saw ahead of us great breakers；
and beyond them what looked like a dark mass of land。 Now we were in
them； for the first of those hungry； curling waves got a hold of the
/balsa/ and tossed it up dizzily； then flung it down into a deep
valley of water。 Another came and another； till my senses reeled and
went。 I cried to St。 Hubert； but he was a land saint and could not
help me； so I cried to Another greater than he。
My last vision was of myself riding a huge breaker as though it were a
horse。 Then there came a crash and darkness。
Lo！ it seemed to me as though one were calling me back from the depths
of sleep。 With trouble I opened my eyes only to shut them again
because of the glare of the light。 Then after a while I sat up； which
gave me pain； for I felt as if I had been beaten all over； and looked
once more。 Above me shone the sun in a sky of deepest blue； before me
was the sea almost calm； while around were rocks and sand； among which
crawled great reptiles that I knew for turtles； as I had seen many of
them in our wanderings。 Moreover； kneeling at my side； with the sword
that he had taken from the body of Deleroy still strapped about him；
was Kari； who bled from some wound and was almost white with encrusted
salt； but otherwise seemed unharmed。 I stared at him； unable to open
my mouth from amazement； so it was he who spoke the first； saying； in
a voice that had a note of triumph in it：
〃Did I not tell you that the gods were with us？ Where is your faith； O
White Man！ Look！ They have brought me back to the land of which I am
Prince。〃
Now there was that in Kari's tone which in my weak state angered me。
Why did he scold me about faith？ Why did he address me as 〃White Man〃
instead of 〃Master〃？ Was it because he had reached a country where he
was great and I was nothing？ I supposed so； and answered；
〃And are these your subjects； O noble Kari？〃 and I pointed to the
crawling turtles。 〃And is this the rich and wondrous land where gold
and silver are as mud？〃 and I pointed to the barren rocks and sand
around。
He smiled at my jest； and answered more humbly：
〃Nay； Master； yonder is my land。〃
Then I looked； following his glance； and saw many leagues way across
the water two snowclad peaks rising above a bank of clouds。
〃I know those mountains；〃 he went on； 〃without doubt they are one of
the gateways of my land。〃
〃Then we might as well be in London for all the hope we have of
passing that gate； Kari。 But tell me what has chanced。〃
〃This； I think。 A very great wave caught us and threw us right over
those rocks on to the shore。 Lookthere is the /balsa/；〃 and he
pointed to a broken heap of reeds and pierced skins。
With his help I rose and went to it。 Now none could know that it had
been a boat。 Still； the /balsa/ it was and nothing else； and tied in
its tangled mass still remained those things which we had brought with
us； such as my black bow and armour； though all the jars were broken。
〃It has borne us well； but will never bear us again；〃 I said。
〃That is so； Master。 But if we were in my own country yonder I would
set its fragments in a case of gold and place them in the Temple of
the Sun as a memorial。〃
Then we went to a pool of rainwater that lay in a hollow rock near by；
and drank our fill； for we were very thirsty。 Also among the ruins of
the /balsa/ we found some of the dried fish that was left to us； and
having washed it； filled ourselves。 After this we limped to the crest
of the land behind and perceived that we were on a little island；
perhaps two hundred English acres in extent； whereon nothing grew
except some coarse grass。 This island； however； was the haunt of great
numbers of seafowl which nested there； also of the turtles that I have
mentioned； and of certain beasts like seals or otters。
〃At l