I will go down to the barracks and try them, if you choose' to-morrow.

I am a boon-companion with a good many of them already.

But after all, Prince Wulf--of course you are always right; we all know that--but what's the use of marrying this Hypatia to the Amal ?' 'Use ?' said Wulf, smiting down his goblet on the pavement.

'Use?
you purblind old hamster-rat, who think of nothing but filling your own cheek-pouches!--to give him a wife worthy of a hero, as he is, in spite of all--a wife who will make him sober instead of drunk, wise instead of a fool, daring instead of a sluggard--a wife who can command the rich people for us, and give us a hold here, which if once we get, let us see who will break it! Why, with those two ruling in Alexandria, we might be masters of Africa in three months.

We'd send to Spain for the Wendels, to move on Carthage; we'd send up the Adriatic for the Longbeards to land in Pentapolis; we'd sweep the whole coast without losing a man' now it is drained of troops by that fool Heraclian's Roman expedition; make the Wendels and Longbeards shake hands here in Alexandria; draw lots for their shares of the coast' and then--' 'And then what ?' 'Why, when we had settled Africa, I would call out a crew of picked heroes, and sail away south for Asgard--I'd try that Red Sea this time--and see Odin face to face, or die searching for him.' 'Oh!' groaned Smid.