Nor, your Majesty, do I think that such knowledge, could I impart it, would be a blessing to the land; on the contrary, the battles would be far more terrible and bloody than they now are.
Vast numbers would be slain, and valor and bravery would avail but little, against these terrible missiles." "No," the king said, thoughtfully: "you would take few prisoners, if you fought with such weapons as these.

You take some prisoners, I suppose ?" "Yes, your Majesty; we always take as prisoners those who ask for mercy." "And what do you do with them ?" "We treat them honorably and well, as is befitting men who have fought bravely.

We exchange them for men of our own side who have been taken prisoners by the enemy, or if they are knights or nobles they pay a ransom according to their rank to their captor, and so return home." "That is good," the young king said, with animation; "though it differs altogether from our usages; but then, how are their altars of the gods to be served ?" "I believe," Roger said, "that your Majesty's grandfather erected a temple here to the Unknown God.

It is the Unknown God--unknown to you, but known to us--that the white peoples across the sea worship.

He is a good and gentle and loving God, and would abhor sacrifices of blood." The king did not reply for a minute.