Tell her that it is better so, for that so soft a flower would soon droop, and pine away, in my cold country." Roger took his seat in the canoe, Bathalda seized the paddle, and the little boat shot out from the shore.

For some distance they kept close in under the shadow of the land, Bathalda saying that two or three royal canoes were rowing up and down, opposite the town, and that every canoe putting off had been stopped and questioned.

Several times, when the sound of a paddle was heard out on the lake, Bathalda stopped rowing for a time; but after keeping close to the shore for an hour, he struck out more boldly and, after two hours' further rowing, approached the shore again.
"This is the point where we must land," he said.

"Four hours' walking will take us among the hills; but before we leave the canoe we will half fill it with stones, then knock a hole in her bottom and push her out into the lake to sink.

Were she found here in the morning, it might afford a clue as to the way we had taken." This was done, and then they started for the hills.