Presently Perry stuck his head up through the hatch and hailed me.

"Have the scoundrels departed?" he asked. "Have you killed them

all?"

"Those whom I failed to kill have departed, Perry," I replied.

He came out on deck and, peering over the side, descried the lone

canoe floating a short distance astern with its grim and grisly

freight. Farther his eyes wan-dered to the retreating boats.

"David," said he at last, "this is a notable occasion. It is a great

day in the annals of Pellucidar. We have won a glorious victory.

"Your majesty's navy has routed a fleet of the enemy thrice its

own size, manned by ten times as many men. Let us give thanks."

I could scarce restrain a smile at Perry's use of the pronoun "we,"

yet I was glad to share the rejoicing with him as I shall always

be glad to share everything with the dear old fellow.

Perry is the only male coward I have ever known whom I could respect

and love. He was not created for fighting; but I think that if

the occasion should ever arise where it became necessary he would

give his life cheer-fully for me--yes, I KNOW it.

It took us a long time to work around the islands and draw in close

to Anoroc. In the leisure afforded we took turns working on our

map, and by means of the compass and a little guesswork we set down

the shoreline we had left and the three islands with fair accuracy.

Crossed sabers marked the spot where the first great naval engagement

of a world had taken place. In a note-book we jotted down, as had

been our custom, details that would be of historical value later.

<<BackPagesTo menuNext>>