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t 5 9 • HOW THOSE WHO ESCAPED FROM THE STORM ,MARCO POLO
FB of turning back to their companions to save and help them. And in truth they do so, for I FB tell you that they sail so far that they come back to their land.' Now you must know that that island where they were escaped was uninhabited, for there was no creature but FB FB them. Now let us leave telling you of these who are gone off with all their ships safe and sound, and we will return for you to those of the island who held themselves for dead. -
160 • OW THE PEOPLE OF THE GREAT KAAN ESCAPED FROM [72d] THE STORM FB OF THE SEA AND AFTERWARDS TOOK THE CITY OF THEIR ENEMIES.2 Now
you may know that when those thirty thousand men were escaped on FB to the island they all held themselves for more than dead because they do not see in any way how they could escape. They had great anger and great grief and did z z not know what they ought to do. But while in such a way as I tell you those who z escaped to the said island, as is said before, stayed on the island without hope of departing thence, what happened? And when the lord and the people of the large island saw that PB Z FB the rest of the army of the enemy was so scattered and routed and fled and knew of those FB V who were escaped front the storm • and landed upon the island, they have great joy at it and great gladness; and as soon as the sea was calmed and quiet they enter into VB many ships which they had about the island3 made ready with all things necessary to VB them, and set sail & go off quite straight to the island with a vast number of ships well VB armed, with a great multitude of men, and with little order and less wisdom all climb down z VA immediately on to the land to take those who were remaining on the island. And when the thirty thousand saw their enemies come upon them, they went into a wood which was near the harbour. And when those thirty thousand saw that all their enemies were FB FA come down to land like those who feared nothing. and knew little of such work, and see z z that no people were left on the ships to watch, they acted like wise people; for the z island was very lofty in the middle, and when their enemies came hastily to them to take FB Z them they made a pretence of flight and • set out towards one side and turn themselves z V round it from the other side of the island so that they were not seen, and hasten themselves | | |
| 1 FB here adds: "And this was the reason why they did so. Because the two barons who were captains of all the host hated one another and did not love one the other, for they bore great hatred between them. For he who escaped never made any show of returning to his companion and to those who remained on that island, as you have heard. For he was well able to return quite safely if he had wished, when the tempest was past, and it lasted not long. But he did not so, but went off quite straight towards his country." F and Z make both barons escape. 2 la cite de lore lore is an easy corruption of lore (Ft), from which nnemis has somehow been cut off. FB: de leurs anemis 3 por lisle V,VB: per lixola FB: et assembler toutes les nauies qui estoient par les isles |
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