Rapidly we transferred all of the small arms of the _Sovong_ to the _Sofal_, leaving only sufficient to equip the officers of the ill-starred vessel. This work was intrusted to Kiron and was carried out by our own men, while Gamfor, with a contingent of our new-made prisoners, carried all of the _Sovong_’s surplus provisions aboard our own ship. This done, I ordered all the _Sovong_’s guns thrown overboard—by that much at least I would cripple the power of Thora. The last act in this drama of the sea was to march our one hundred imprisoned malcontents from the _Sofal_ to the _Sovong_ and present them to the latters’ new commander with my compliments. He did not seem greatly pleased, however, nor could I blame him. Neither were the prisoners pleased. Many of them begged me to take them back aboard the _Sofal_; but I already had more men than I felt were needed to navigate and defend the ship; and each of the prisoners had been reported as having expressed disapproval of some part or all of our plan; so that I, who must have absolute loyalty and coöperation, considered them valueless to me. Kodj, strange to say, was the most persistent. He almost went on his knees as he pleaded with me to permit him to remain with the _Sofal_, and he promised me such loyalty as man had never known before; but I had had enough of Kodj and told him so. Then, when he found that I could not be moved, he turned upon me, swearing by all his ancestors that he would get even with me yet, even though it took a thousand years. Returning to the deck of the _Sofal_, I ordered the grappling hooks cast off; and presently the two ships were under way again, the _Sovong_ proceeding toward the Thoran port that was her destination, the _Sofal_ back toward Vepaja. Now, for the first time, I had opportunity to inquire into our losses and found that we had suffered four killed and twenty-one wounded, the casualties among the crew of the _Sovong_ having been much higher. For the greater part of the remainder of the day I was busy with my officers organizing the personnel of the _Sofal_ and systematizing the activities of this new and unfamiliar venture, in which work Kiron and Gamfor were of inestimable value; and it was not until late in the afternoon that I had an opportunity to inquire into the welfare of the rescued Vepajan captives. When I asked Kamlot about them, he said that they were none the worse for their captivity aboard the _Sovong_. “You see, these raiding parties have orders to bring the women to Thora unharmed and in good condition,” he explained. “They are destined for more important persons than ships’ officers, and that is their safeguard. “However, Duare said that notwithstanding this, the captain made advances to her. I wish I might have known it while I was still aboard the _Sovong_, that I might have killed him for his presumption.” Kamlot’s tone was bitter and he showed signs of unusual excitement.