He sat thinking for some time longer. "Has thought of any woman in
special, Strokor?" said he.

I had not. The idea was too new to me. "The best in the world shall be
mine, of course," I told him. "But as for which one--hast any notion
thyself?"

"Aye," he quoth. "'Tis my own niece I have in mind. Perchance ye
remember her; a pretty child, who was with me when thou didst save my
life up there on the mountainside."

I recalled the chit fairly well. "But she were not a vigorous woman,
Maka. Think you she is fit for me?"

"Aye, if any be," he replied earnestly. "Ave is not robust, true, but
her muscles are as wires. It is because of what lies in her head,
however, that I commend her. I have taught her all I know."

"So!" I exclaimed, much pleased. "Then she is indeed fit to be the
empress. And as I recall her, she were exceedingly good to look at."

"Say no more. Ave shall be the wife of Strokor!" And so it was arranged.

Well, and there ye have the story of Strokor, the mightiest man in the
world, and the wisest. More than this I shall not tell with my own lips;
I shall have singers recite my deeds until half the compartments in the
House of Words is filled with the records thereof. But it were well that
I should tell this much in mine own way.

My ambition is fulfilled. Let the hand of Jon descend upon our world, if