"I can do it myself, little Mitsos," he said. "Come in, you two; there is work forward." Yanni sprang up and stepped into his shoe, forgetting the blister. "A journey," he said, "for Mitsos and me? Oh, Mitsos, it is good." "Yanni cannot walk," said Mitsos; "he has a blister, and must needs be carried like a scented woman." "A blister?" asked Nicholas. "Don't think about it." "So said I," answered Mitsos, "but he has no thought for aught else in God's world." "Well, come in," answered Nicholas, "and hear what you will hear." The business was soon explained. The ship which had been seen at Kalamata had gone back to Nauplia, so it was reported, and was to transport thence to Athens several wealthy Turkish families who were fearful for their safety. From Athens it would come back, bringing arms and ammunition, to Nauplia. The time for the fire-ship had come. "And Nicholas says, little Mitsos," continued Petrobey, "that you know the bay of Nauplia like your own hand, and can take your boat about it as a man carries food to his mouth." Mitsos flushed with pleasure. "And in truth I am no stranger to it," he said. "When do I start?" "To-morrow morning. The ship arrived there three days ago, but will wait another five days. The business is to be done when she is well out to sea, so that there is no time for her to get back. You will want some one with you. Whom would you like?" Mitsos looked at Yanni. "Whom but the fat little cousin?" he said. "The little cousin doesn't mind," said Yanni, with his eyes dancing, and gave Mitsos a great poke in the ribs. "Ugh, Turkish pig," quoth Mitsos, "we will settle that account together." "Be quiet, lads," said Petrobey, "and listen to me"; and he gave them the details of their mission. "Big butchers we shall be," said the blood-thirsty Mitsos when Petrobey had finished. "Eh, but the fishes will give thanks for us." Yanni and he tumbled out of the hut again, sparring at each other for sheer delight at a new adventure, and sat talking over the fire, smoking the best tobacco from Turkish shops at Kalamata, till Nicholas, coming out late to go the round of the sentries, packed them off to bed. All the apparatus they would require, and also the caique to serve as the fire-ship, were at Nauplia; and they started off next morning unencumbered with baggage, with only one horse, which the "scented woman" was to ride if his blister should tease him. A detachment of the clan who were not on duty, as well as Nicholas and Mitsos' father, saw them to the top of the pass, which they were to follow till they got onto the main road at Sparta, and then go across country, giving Tripoli a very wide berth, and taking a boat across the bay of Nauplia so as to avoid Argos. At Nauplia they were to put up at Mitsos' house, but keep very quiet, and remain there as little time as might be. The caique would be lying at anchor opposite; Lelas, the café-keeper, had charge of it.