A Victor of Salamis

ear sign that he was a Thracian. His eyes twinkled keenly, uneasily, as in token of an almost sinister i

ave all my friends with me to-night, to fill me with fai

ucon the Alcm?onid commands me

re his

me," cried Simo

rve a most beautiful, high-b

mented Glaucon. "But off with you, s

u to faithful guardians. Last night I dreamed of a garlan

rest; and Democrates left th

be disposed of at the Isthmia. Democrates idled along, now glancing at the huckster who displayed his painted clay dolls and urged the sightseers to remember the little ones at home. A wine-seller thrust a sample cup of a choice vintage under the Athenian's nose, a

ent voice Alc?us's hymn to Apollo. And more willingly the orator stopped on the edge of a throng

"He reads choruses of certain tragedies he

, walking away, to be held a moment by the crowd around Lamprus the master-harpist. But now, feeling that he had dallied long enough, the orator turned his back on the two female acrobats who were s

s waiting at

he temple of Bellerophon, just

ask the way. Now catc

e flying coin and g

are of the torches, then halted to slip

s accidents," was his reflection, as he

traversing a long avenue lined by spreading cypresses, with a shimmer of white from some tall, sepulchral monument. Then thr

nian. "Zeus grant it have no more

-washed room, an earthen floor, two clay lamps on a low table, a few stools,-but a tall, lean man in Oriental

ke the orator, no wise amaze

dark that Democrates had not seen the couch wher

Democ

l, L

n ordered the Oriental to "fetch the n

in me?" urge

rridge till after the victory to-morrow; but then, by Castor

sure of vict

tricked you into believing yo

n min? stake

sence of your friends; h

m was dark. "I am not here to quarrel ab

." The Spartan's huge paws closed significantly: "Here's t

Scarred and brutish, indeed, was his face, one ear missing, the other beaten flat by boxing gloves; but Democrates had a distinct feeling that under his battered visage and wiry bl

ood, Democrate

elle

ged your wagers to-morrow

do you know

s made himself a brother to all the betting masters. I understand you have ar

an set dow

udgment is no reason why you should seek this interview, Lycon," he rejoined t

are the friend of Glaucon. Since Aristeides has been banished, only Themistocles exceeds you in influence over the Athenians. Therefore, as a loyal Athenian you must support your champion. Likewise, as a man of judgment you must see

ckly to b

ume Themistocles to-day

present

hemistocles will t

wed his beard,

Themistocles distrusts

e your quest

ght to call to your mind the advantage of two such men as you

e, but where's you

ving toward Hellas. We cannot halt it. Then le

he started. "No 'Medizing' talk befo

ll seem valiant fools after X

ver tra

the most patriotic Hellene will be he who has made the P

be over

e Great King assembles millions of soldiers, thousands of ships: Median cavalry, Assyrian archers, Egyptian battle-axeme

Mara

est! If Datis, the Persian gene

smile, "for a taciturn Laconian to become thus eloquent for

wer my a

e love of gain and naught else shall

oesn't halt Xer

becoming angry,-"I know the Persian's power

the Athenian disagreeably of a huge cat just consider

cause I wished you

o mood to

lding the fate of Hellas will not be a

ust I p

that he was making a decision on which might hinge half his future. In the after days he looked back on this instant with unspeakable regret.

not to bet

is n

I pr

en by your n

-lifted his right hand and swore by Athena

he manner of a vision. And as in a vision Democrates saw a stranger stepping through the inner portal, as at Lycon's summons-a man of no huge stature, but masterful in eye and mien. Another Oriental, but not as the obsequious Hiram. Here was a lord to command and be obeyed. Gems flashed from the scarlet turban, the green jacket was embroidered with pearls-and was not half t

a prince-

come to visit the Isthmian Games, and later your Athens. It is for thi

faced lie. Why he did not cry out as much that instant he hardly himself knew. But the gaze of the "Cyprian" pierced through him, fa

e orator's face. The accent was Oriental, but the Greek was fluent. The prince-for prince he was, whatever his nation-pressed his hand [pg 29]closer. Almost involuntarily Democrates's hand respo

ndred. The latch clicked. Democrates gazed blankl

. What have I done? By Zeus of Olympus-I hav

Cyprus'-did y

seen Cyprus. No Cyprian is so blo

y day we grow old, and day by day we grow w

ngrily. "I know my duty; I'l

a pledge

r crime to keep t

ut I do trust to Hiram's pretty story about your bets, and still mo

her with rage or with fear w

So be it. If I keep my pledge, at least suffer me

"Why so hot? I'll do you a service to-morrow.

thank the murde

at friend has

What do

plight Democrates could se

rse-Her

s! Who are you, Cyclops, for

hlon will be merely a pleasant flute-playing before the gre

r in foulest treason. Duty to friend, duty to country,-oath or no oath,-should have sent him to Leonidas. What evil god had tricked him into that interview? Yet he did not denounce the traitor.

g