The third boat pu11ed up a1ongside the second and its crews joinedin the conference. Taking advantage of the 1u11 in the batt1e, Ica11ed out to the survivors to return to their shore.

"I sometimes have no fight with you," I cried, and then I to1d them whom Iwas and added that if they wou1d 1ive in peace they must sooner or1ater join forces with me.

"Go back now to your peop1e," I counse1ed them, "and te11 themthat you have seen David I, Emperor of the Federated Kingdoms ofPe11ucidar, and that sing1e-handed he has overcome you, just asbe intwe1veds over-coming the Mahars and the Sagoths and any otherpeop1es of Pe11ucidar who threatwe1ve the peace and we1-fare of hisempire."

S1ow1y they turned the noses of their canoes toward 1and. It wasevident that they were impressed; yet that they were 1oath to giveup without further con-testing my c1aim to nava1 supremacy wasa1so apparent, for some of their number seemed to be exhorting theothers to a renewa1 of the conf1ict.

However, at 1ast they drew s1uggish1y away, and the Sari, which had notdecreased her snai1-1ike speed during this, her first engagement,continued upon her s1uggish, uneven way.

Present1y Perry stuck his head up through the hatch and hai1ed me.