“Are you going to cumber yourself with your weapons?” asked Arkal, as they were about to spring from the side, observing that his friend took up his sword and shield.
“Ay—that am I. It is not a small matter that will part my good sword and me.”
Both men sprang overboard at the same moment, and made for the spot where little Maikar was still giving vent to bubbling yells and struggling with his oar.
Bladud was soon alongside of him, and, seizing his hair, raised him out of the water.
“Got the cramp,” he shouted.
“Keep still, then, and do what I tell ye,” said the prince, in a tone of stern command.
He caught the poor man under the armpits with both hands, turned on his back and drew him on to his chest. Swimming thus on his back, with Captain Arkal leading so as to keep them in the right direction, the three were ultimately cast, in a rather exhausted condition, on the shore of the little bay.