A Victor of Salamis Part 58

Slowly, slowly the moments crept for the three in the cabin. Even Lampaxo grew still. They heard Hiram pleading frantically, vainly, for another attempt, and raving strange things about Democrates, Lycon, and the Persian. Then behind the _Bozra_ sounded the rushing of foam around a ram, the b.u.mping of fifty oars plying on the thole-pins. Into their sight shot the penteconter, the bra.s.s glistening on her prow, the white blades leaping in rhythm. Marines in armour stood on the forecastle. A few arrows pattered on the plankings of the _Bozra_. Her abject crew obeyed the demand to surrender. Their helmsman pushed over the steering-paddle, and flung himself upon the deck. The sea-mouse went up into the wind. The grappling-irons rattled over the bulwark. Glaucon heard the Phnicians whining, "Mercy! mercy!" as they embraced the boarders' feet, then the _proreus_, in hearty Attic, calling, "Secure the prisoners and rummage the prize!"

Glaucon had suffered many things of late. He had faced intolerable captivity, immediate death. Now around his eyes swam hot mist. He fell upon a sea chest, and for a little cared not for anything around, whilst down his cheeks would flow the tears.

CHAPTER x.x.xVI

THE READING OF THE RIDDLE

A hard chase. The rowers of the penteconter were well winded before they caught the _Bozra_. A merchantman making for Asia was, however, undoubted prize; the luckless crew could be sold in the Agora, the cargo of oil, fish, and pottery was likewise of value. Cimon was standing on his p.o.o.p, listening to the report of his _proreus_.

"We're all a mina richer for the race, captain, and they've some jars of their good Numidian wine in the forecastle."

But here a seaman interrupted, staring blankly.

"_Kyrie_, here's a strange prize. Five men lie dead on the deck. The planks are b.l.o.o.d.y. In the cabin are two men and a woman. All three seem mad. They are Greeks. They keep us out, and bawl, 'The navarch! show us the navarch, or h.e.l.las is lost.' And one of them-as true as that I sucked my mother's milk-is Phormio-"

"Phormio the fishmonger,"-Cimon dropped his steering oar,-"on a Carthaginian ship? You're mad yourself, man."

"See with your own eyes, captain. They'll yield to none save you. The prisoners are howling that one of these men is a giant."

For the active son of Miltiades to leap from bulwark to bulwark took an instant. Only when he showed himself did the three in the cabin scramble up the ladder, covered with blood, the red lines of the fetters marked into wrist and ankle. Lampaxo had thrown her dress over her head and was screaming still, despite a.s.surances. The third h.e.l.lene's face was hid under a tangle of hair. But Cimon knew the fishmonger. Many a morning had he haggled with him merrily for a fine mackerel or tunny, and the navarch recoiled in horror at his fellow-citizen's plight.

"Infernal G.o.ds! You a prisoner here? Where is this cursed vessel from?"

"From Trzene," gasped the refugee; "if you love Athens and h.e.l.las-"

He turned just in time to fling an arm about Hiram, who-carelessly guarded-was gliding down the hatchway.

"Seize that viper, bind, torture; he knows all. Make him tell or h.e.l.las is lost!"

"Control yourself, friend," adjured Cimon, sorely perplexed, while Hiram struggled and began tugging out a crooked knife, before two brawny seamen nipped him fast and disarmed.

"Ah! you carrion meat," shouted Phormio, shaking his fists under the helpless creature's nose. "Honest men have their day at last. There's a gay hour coming before Zeus claps the lid over you in Tartarus."

"Peace," commanded the navarch, who betwixt Phormio's shouts, Lampaxo's howls, and Hiram's moans was at his wit's end. "Has no one on this ship kept aboard his senses?"

"If you will be so good, sir captain," the third h.e.l.lene at last broke his silence, "you will hearken to me."

"Who are you?"

"The _proreus_ of the _Alcyone_ of Melos. More of myself hereafter. But if you love the weal of h.e.l.las, demand of this Hiram where he concealed the treasonable despatches he received at Trzene and now has aboard."

"Hiram? O Lord Apollo, I recognize the snake! The one that was always gliding around Lycon at the Isthmus. If despatches he has, I know the way to get them. Now, black-hearted Cyclops,"-Cimon's tone was not gentle,-"where are your papers?"

Hiram had turned gray as a corpse, but his white teeth came together.

"Phormio is mistaken. Your slave has none."

"Bah!" threw out Cimon, "I can smell your lies like garlic. Silent still?

Good, see how I am better than Asclepius. I make the dumb talk by a miracle. A cord and belaying-pin, Naon."

The seaman addressed pa.s.sed a cord about the Phnician's forehead with a fearful dexterity, and put the iron pin at the back of the skull.

"Twist!" commanded Cimon. Two mariners gripped the victim's arms. Naon pressed the cord tighter, tighter. A beastlike groan came through the lips of the Phnician. His beady eyes started from his head, but he did not speak.

"Again," thundered the navarch, and as the cord stretched a howl of mortal agony escaped the prisoner.

"Pity! Mercy! My head bursts. I will tell!"

"Tell quick, or we'll squeeze your brains out. Relax a little, Naon."

"In the boat mast." Hiram spit the words out one by one. "In the cabin.

There is a peg. Pull it out. The mast is hollowed. You will find the papers. Woe! woe! cursed the day I was born. Cursed my mother for bearing me."

The miserable creature fell to the deck, pressing his hands to his temples and moaning in agony. No one heeded him now. Cimon himself ran below to the mast, and wrenched the peg from its socket. Papyrus sheets were there, rolled compactly, covered with writing and sealed. The navarch turned over the packet curiously, then to the amazement of the sailors seemed to stagger against the mast. He was as pale as Hiram. He thrust the packet into the hands of his _proreus_, who stood near.

"What make you of this seal? As you fear Athena, tell the truth."

"You need not adjure me so, captain. The device is simple: Theseus slaying the Minotaur."

"And who, in Zeus's name, do you know in Athens who uses a seal like that?"

Silence for a moment, then the _proreus_ himself was pale.

"Your Excellency does not mean-"

"Democrates!" cried the trembling navarch.

"And why not Democrates?" The words came from the released prisoner, who had been so silent, but who had glided down and stood at Cimon's elbow. He spoke in a changed voice now; again the navarch was startled.

"Is Themistocles on the _Nausicaa_?" asked the stranger, whilst Cimon gazed on him spellbound, asking if he himself were growing mad.

"Yes-but your voice, your face, your manner-my head is dizzy."

The stranger touched him gently on the hand.

"Have I so changed, you quite forget me, Cimon?"

The son of Miltiades was a strong man. He had looked on Hiram's tortures with a laugh. To his own death he would have gone with no eyelash trembling. But now the rest saw him blench; then with a cry, at once of wonder and inexpressible joy, his arms closed round the tattered outlaw's neck. Treason or no treason-what matter! He forgot all save that before him was his long-time comrade.

"My friend! My boyhood's friend!" and so for many times they kissed.

The _Nausicaa_ had followed the chase at easy distance, ready with aid in case the _Bozra_ resisted. Themistocles was in his cabin with Simonides, when Cimon and Glaucon came to him. The admiral heard his young navarch's report, then took the unopened packet and requested Cimon and the poet to withdraw. As their feet sounded on the ladder in the companionway, Themistocles turned on the outlaw, it seemed, fiercely.

"Tell your story."