So great was the joy of the poor Princess at the sight of the gallant vessel that she almost swooned; but recovering herself, like the Princess that she was, she ran down into the courtyard and told the news to her people. Immediately those who were weak or fretful from hunger began to take heart, and all who could crowded to the barred windows. The Master Mariner's vessel came riding into the port; the watchers saw her drop anchor, saw the boats being lowered, and the sailors coming ashore. Soon the pirates and the sailors were at it hammer and tongs; a ceaseless clack clack of steel beating upon steel rose to the turrets of the palace; there were dreadful duels in the alleyways and battles in the public squares. Alas! just as the sailors were carrying the day, the Master Mariner received a blow on the head which knocked him insensible, and the mariners, disorganized by the loss of their chief, were soon surrounded and taken prisoners. Then, taking heart, the pirates rushed the palace, and burst open the doors. When the rogues had taken everything on which they could lay their hands, they brought the prisoners and the plunder to the marketplace. "Shall we bind all these people and take them aboard?" asked a pirate. "No!" roared the one-eyed pirate chief. "Take only the Princess and that rogue of a Master Mariner." The people now began to cry, "Oh, don't take the Princess, our dear Princess!" But all their prayers were useless. Now, because the Master Mariner's ship was far more swift and beautiful than the pirate ship, the pirates, after setting fire to their own vessel, abandoned her, and put their plunder on board the Master Mariner's vessel. The following morning, leaving the people of Silk Land robbed and mourning, the pirates sailed away. Within a few hours, all signs of land had disappeared. The sea was as black as ink. Against the horizon's edge, the great waves were leaping and breaking into foam. "Bring me the list of booty!" cried the pirate captain, roaring the last word. So the pirate treasurer came on deck, and read a long list beginning,-- "Fifty-three scarf-pins." "Hooray!" shouted the pirate crew. "A hundred and eighty-five sterling silver berry-spoons," next announced the treasurer. "Hooray!" cried the crew again. "One thousand clocks!" cried the treasurer. "How many with alarms?" asked an old pirate anxiously. There was a strained silence. The treasurer consulted his list. "Seven hundred and forty-nine," he answered. "Hooray!" yelled the pirate crew. When the list had been read (it took very nearly half an hour to do it) the one-eyed captain cried, "Bring forth the Master Mariner!"