"
"To-night will do as well as any," I replied.
"It will soon be night," said Xodar. "How may I aid in the
adventure?"
"Can you swim?" I asked him.
"No slimy silian that haunts the depths of Korus is more at home
in water than is Xodar," he replied.
"Good. The red one in all probability cannot swim," I said,
"since there is scarce enough water in all their domains to float
the tiniest craft. One of us therefore will have to support him
through the sea to the craft we select. I had hoped that we might
make the entire distance below the surface, but I fear that the
red youth could not thus perform the trip. Even the bravest of the
brave among them are terrorized at the mere thought of deep water,
for it has been ages since their forebears saw a lake, a river or
a sea."
"The red one is to accompany us?" asked Xodar.
"Yes."
"It is well. Three swords are better than two. Especially when
the third is as mighty as this fellow's. I have seen him battle
in the arena at the rites of Issus many times. Never, until I
saw you fight, had I seen one who seemed unconquerable even in the
face of great odds. One might think you two master and pupil, or
father and son. Come to recall his face there is a resemblance
between you. It is very marked when you fight--there is the same
grim smile, the same maddening contempt for your adversary apparent
in every movement of your bodies and in every changing expression
of your faces.
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