A King of Tyre

r instruments pitched to a wailing key, and giving forth long and monotonous notes. They were followed by others, carrying the various articles that were to be offered. Then came the l

rne upon the shoulders of the most noted of the hierarchy; the neophyte Hanno being honored w

se to the line as the priestly attendants would permit, and there threw themselves upon the ground, kissing the spot their king's form had shadowed, and gathering up handfuls of the dust for sacred memorial. He was now their possession as they had never tho

the gaze of all, that in secrecy he might prepare himself for the final offering; that, as Egbalus had said, his soul might first pass into, and be absorbed by, the very being of deity, before his body should be given to the outward image of the Unknown. The high priest had declared that so thoroug

t last touched the outer earth. Together with the attendant priests, he then retired from the proximity of t

oppressive awe of what might be transpiring withi

god, which, being lowered, dropped them into the flames beneath. Next, the living animals of small size were laid bound in his hands. The horse and bull were first slain, their

on with closed eyes, guided and goaded by the attendants. Some sang, in half-crazy ecstasy, the wild refrain of temple hymns, swaying their babes in time with the rhythm, and, without assistance, ascended the steps and presented their sacrifice. As babe after babe disappeared through the smoke, new waves of excitement p

floated over the throng. It was repeated, with louder sound and more prolonged. Again it rang forth with full blast, and was answered by one borne over the water from the Temple of Melkarth in the island city. Then the hi

O thou acce

of spectators fell prone upon their faces. In the crowd every neck was stret

with his god that he had become oblivious to what was outward? Or did he flinch now at the fatal instant? Perhaps the g

on the curtain to note its first flutter. Again he struc

thou accept

as before. But still

of some mystery beyond his solution, or some ghostly power raised by his word, but not amenable to it, and that would not down at his bidding, he wit

he drew it aside. For a moment he stared into the shadows. He advanced a step, then suddenly retreated. He looked about him as one bewildered and uncertain how to act. He motioned to the nearest priests. They came reve

Place w

him!" said Egbalus, in half-

, and ran towards the crowd, wildly th

and fell in convulsions to the earth. Some of the people fainted with fright. Others

o trod upon one another in their haste to get away from the dread proximity. Many were maimed as they fell among the great stones of the old ruin that covered the ground, and some were crushed beneath the trampling feet, or smothered under the accumulated mass of helpless humanity piled above them. Only when they had reached a distance did

ecovered sufficient self-possession to raise his head and look;

cowering throng midway the open space

ld come to t

nives flashed in the hands of the demented priests about him,

, and he lay a heaving heap of unconscious devotion. Egbalus selected two attendants, and with them re-entered the Holy Place. Would the god have more? No; Baal was sati

osure, but betook themselves, some to Tyre or to their ships, some over the hills to the inland villages, others along the coast-

n obeisance to the god of day. Only the priests remained to watch until Astarte, smiling i