"Suddenly the storm ceased; sky and sea quieted down, the ship ran unharmed past the threatening rocky shore, and reached its homeward destination in safety.
"The little prince looked round for the stranger steersman, whom no one on board knew; but he, with a laugh, said:
"'You will not find the better land before you get to love me, eh?'
"And the little king's son, looking still more closely, recognized in him the man with the green eyes; but he disappeared as if the sea had swallowed him up.
"And now the little prince began to be very angry.
"'Can there be no road for me to the better land? Oh yes, there is. I have heard that many a hero has found it on the battle-field.'
"So he commanded his Grand Vizier, then and there, to declare war against the King of the Tartars.
"And the Grand Vizier, with his army, invaded Tartary; but its king was very powerful. He let the little prince's army go farther and farther into the heart of his country, then surrounded them on all sides.
"The Grand Vizier was frightened.
"'We are lost, little king's son! The Tartar knows no mercy; he will either kill us or make us slaves. His army is countless as an army of locusts.'