So I appoint you captain general of this expedition, and promise to obey all orders, unquestioningly." "Well, my first order is," Ned said, laughing, "that we each make a good pike.

The wood we made our bows from will do capitally, and we can harden the points in the fire.

We may meet some wild beasts, and a good, strong six-foot pike would be better than our swords." Two hours' work completed the new weapons, and with their bows slung at their backs, and using their pikes as walking staves, they again set out on their journey across the continent..