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by Robert E. Howard
Originally published in Weird Tales, for October, by Robert E. Howard, Popular
Fiction Publishing Co. (1933)
Reprinted in The Sword of Conan, by Robert E.
Howard, Gnome Press, Inc., NY (1952)
Current source: Conan the Adventurer, by Robert E. Howard and L. Sprague de Camp,
Ace Books New York, NY (August 1981)
| Conan makes his way across the southern grasslands of the
black kingdoms. Here he is known of old, and Amra the Lion has no difficulty in making his
way to the coast, which he had ravaged in his days with Belit. But Belit is now only a
memory on the Black Coast. The ship that eventually heaves in sight off the headland where
Conan sits whetting his sword is manned by pirates of the Baracha Isles, off the
coast of Zingara. They, too, have heard of Conan and welcome his sword and expereince. He
is in his middle thirties when he joins the Barachan Pirates, with whom he remains for a
considerable time. To Conan, however, accustomed as he is to the tightly organized armies
of the Hyborian kings, the organization of the Baracha bands appeares so loose that there
is small opportunity to rise to leadership and its rewards. Slipping out of an unusually
tight spot in the pirate rendezvous at Tortage, he finds that the alternative to a
slit throat lies in an attempt to swim the Western Ocean. This he does with
complete confidence and perfect aplomb. Into the west, unknown of man, Ships have sailed since the world began. Read, if you dare, what Skelos wrote, With dead hands fumbling his silken coat, And follow the ships through the wind-blown wrack- Follw the ships that come not back- |
Chapters:
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
