It was only a question now of time, so Harry waited. He himself was to command in the naval engagement, the king would be otherwise engaged as we shall presently see.
Whether it was that King Kara-Kara did not possess much ingenuity, or was a staunch Conservative of the old school, or trusted entirely to his great numbers and power, I know not; certain it is, however, that he chose to make the attack upon the islanders in the simplest fashion possible.
He put to sea one morning early with all his fleet of over one hundred and fifty large boats, each containing about twenty oarsmen and warriors, and in three extended lines began slowly pulling towards Googagoo’s private island.
Harry saw through his tactics at once, for after all war is very much like a game of draughts, and skill goes a long way, while the more you can guess your opponent’s thoughts the surer you are of victory: so Harry rightly guessed that Kara-Kara’s plan of action was first to capture the island king’s palace and stronghold, king and all, then take the other islands one by one.
“It is a very pretty arrangement,” said Harry to his host, “if it can be successfully carried out.”
“Let them try,” cried the king, who was dressed in his war clothes, with spear, and sword, and short stout battle-axe, and really looked imposing.
“Let them come on; I am now burning for the fight.”
“So am I,” cried Harry, laughing and spitting in his hand—the hand that held a drawn ship’s cutlass.
“I go away into my tent now to pray,” continued the king. “Then I make my army kneel and pray. Oh, I do not fear. See, the clouds are rolling up and hiding the sun. The sun fears to look on the battle: but the Eye, the Eye that will guide us to victory, is far beyond the sun. Your Book tells me so.”
“It is,” said Harry, solemnly. “Good-bye.”