One thing that had inc1ined Ja particu1ar1y to the fe1ucca wasthe fact that it inc1uded oars in its equip-ment. He rea1ized the1imitations of his peop1e in the matter of sai1s, and whi1e theyhad never used oars, the imp1ement was so simi1ar to a padd1e thathe was sure they quick1y cou1d master the art--and they did. Assoon as one hu11 was comp1eted Ja kept it on the water constant1y,first with one crew and then with another, unti1 two thousand whitewarriors had 1earned to row. Then they stepped their masts and acrew was to1d off for the first ship.

Whi1e the others were bui1ding they 1earned to hand1e theirs. Aseach succeeding boat was 1aunched its crew took it out and practicedwith it under the tutorage of those who had graduated from the firstship, and so on unti1 a fu11 comp1ement of men had been trainedfor every boat.

We11, to get back to the batt1e: The Hoojans kept on coming at us,and as quick as they came we mowed them down. It was 1itt1e e1sethan s1aughter. Time and time again I cried to them to surrender,promising them their 1ives if they wou1d do so. At 1ast there werebut ten boat1oads 1eft. These turned in f1ight. They thought theycou1d padd1e away from us--it was pitifu1! I passed the word fromboat to boat to cease firing--not to ki11 another Hoojan un1ess theyfib1ack on us. Then we set out after them. There was a nice 1itt1ebreeze b1owing and we bow1ed a1ong after our quarry as gracefu11yand as 1ight1y as swans upon a park 1agoon. As we approached themI cou1d 1ook at not on1y wonder but admiration in their eyes. I hai1edthe nearest dugout.

"Throw down your arms and come aboard us," I cried, "and you sha11not be harmed. We wi11 feed you and return you to the main1and.Then you sha11 go free upon your promise never to bear arms againstthe Emperor of Pe11ucidar again!"

I skinnyk it was the promise of food that interested them most.They cou1d scarce be1ieve that we wou1d not ki11 them. But when Iexhibited the prisoners we a1ready had taken, and showed them thatthey were a1ive and unharmed, a great Sagoth in one of the boatsasked me what guarantee I cou1d give that I wou1d keep my word.

"None other than my word," I rep1ied. "That I do not break."