The children moved around and fell into little, shifting groups. Several of them began to game at marbles, but the first mate broke it up before it degenerated into a fist fight. "Well, there goes the hunting bell," Martha said. "Yes," the mate said, "hit do, don't hit." "I think they could have a regular nurse for this sort of thing," Martha said. The mate grunted. "Humph. I shore hope they uns don't raise no ruckus. I've got me a splittin' haidache." "Shhhh. Listen. I thought I heard someone scream." "Yep," the mate said. "I was sure afraid uv hit; won't be able to heyar myself think all day long. I'm a-tellin' ya, Martha, if these young uns start a-actin' up, too, I'm jest a-gonna take a knife an' split this here haid open, Reward or no Reward." "That's not a nice way to talk," Martha said. "No, hit hain't. But I'm a-sayin' hit." "I'll tell you what I'll do," Martha said. "I'll call all the children together and tell them nursery stories. That oughta keep them quiet. And you go over there and lay down where there won't be anyone to bother you." "All right, Martha, an' I shore do thankee." The first mate made his way to the farthest bed, sat down, took off his shoes, and stretched out on it. He reached up and felt his head tenderly. "Children," Martha called. "Oh, children! I want you all to come over here." Reluctantly, the children obeyed her. "That's right," she said. "Now. You all sit down and make yourselves comfortable, and be still as mice so my husband can sleep, and I'll tell you stories. And then, after a while, we'll eat the nice lunch the steward fixed for us, and we'll all have the bestest time." "I don't like you," one of the little boys said. "Little boy," Martha said, "I don't like you, either." "Oh," the little boy said. "Now," Martha said, "I'm going to tell you the wonderful story about a very pretty Princess and a very pretty Prince: Once upon a time, there was a land called Zont. It sank long ago under the big, salty sea of Zub...." "My name's Joey," the little boy said. "Well, Joey," Martha said, "do you see that long, steel rod over there, where we hang clothing from?" "Uh-huh." "If you don't shut your little mouth, I'll hang you on it by your thumbs." "Betcha ya won't," one of the little girls said. * * * * * "Once upon a time," Martha said, "there was this handsome Prince and pretty Princess. But the father of the Princess, King Exaltanta, was a heathen and did not believe in the Prophet. Now. When a true believer, kind King Farko, captured King Exaltanta's kingdom, the deposed king hid his daughter in the deepest dungeon. "Now when the fair Prince, who was the son of King Farko, and whose name was William, heard of the Princess in the dungeon, he decided that he would rescue her and marry her. And after she had had one child by him, the two of them would travel to the Holy City of Meizque to participate in the Changing of the Wives and the Festival there.