The Taking of Helen by John Masefield — page 88: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

76 THE TAKING OF HELEN “What? what? what?” the general said. He went apart to talk with the officer, then returned to Nireus. “For the present,” he said, “‘no ship is to sail from this coast; those are the King’s orders. You will therefore stay here till you have a licence under the King’s seal to sail.” “T beg your pardon, my lord soldier,” the ship’s master said, “but is this King who gives the orders, King Menelaus?’’ OV eg) ?? “Then, my lord soldier, this ship is not in his terri- tory. King Menelaus’ border is that stream. The rocks on this side the stream are in King Mekisteus’ territory, and so are we.”’ “Ts that the fact?’’ the general asked. “Yes, lord,” his officer said. “Very good,” the general said. ‘‘As you were. In that case I will simply say to you, Nireus, that King Menelaus will resent very strongly any help given to these runaways of whom you have heard the story. Have you seen anything of them, by the way; do you know anything ?”’ “T passed my word of honour that I knew nothing of them, to your subordinate, in the wood this morn- ing,’ Nireus said. ‘‘ My word of honour as a prince must suffice. I have answered many questions to you and to your soldiers; I will now answer no more. But, none the less, you must let me offer you refresh- ECORNICOOKS».EO