Conan continues on his path through the southern plains of the black kingdoms. Here he has been known for a long time, and it is not difficult for Amre Lev to reach the shore, which he devastated in former days together with Belit. But Belit is now just a memory on the Black Coast. The ship that eventually comes into sight of the shore where Conan sits sharpening his sword is piloted by pirates from the Barah Islands, which lie southwest of Zingara. They, too, have heard of Conan and are ready to welcome his sword and experience. When Conan joins the Baraja pirates, he is already in his thirties. He stays with the pirates for a long time. However, to Conan, who is familiar with the well-organized armies of the Hyborean kings, the Barahian bands seem too loosely organized to achieve leadership and the benefits that come with it. Finding himself in an exceptionally difficult situation at a pirate meeting in Tortage, Conan finds that he has little choice: either his throat will be cut, or he will have to set sail on the Western Ocean. He accomplishes this last with amazing dexterity and self-confidence.