Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-08-10
:. ..silasl silas p exclaimed the maid

silasl silas p exclaimed the maid
en-. ~
"Actee p' exclaimed the youth; as he
fastened towards her.
"Silas, have pity on me !" exclaimed
Actee. g Soon as observed you hope
sprang up in my breast. You are coura-
geous and strong; Injured to combats with
the inhabitants of the forests and hordes
of the desert. Peradyenture, if you fight
you may save us BOTH"
"And the martyrdom ?" interrupted
Silas.
And the pain said Actee, letting
fall her head upon her breast. "Alas
l am not like thee, born in holy city, /
am a maiden of Corinth. have never
heard the words of life from the mouth oi
Him, for whom we are about to die
Brought up in the religion of my ances,
tors, my faith and creed are new. The
word martyrdom was unknown to me
until yesterday. Perhaps 1 might have
courage for myself, but, Silas, if 1 were
forced to see you die this slow and cruel
death"
Enough ! will fight !'' exclaimed
Silas. 81 am sure to find, though late,
the joy with which you charm me this
day" Then making sign of command
to the slayes-"My horse, sword and ia
velins,' said he with the voice and GESTURE
of an emperor.
The multitude clapped their hands with
Joy, perceiving that they were soon to
witness one of those Herculean struggles
which could not fail to arouse sensations
rendered obtuse by the ordinary COM
bats.
Silas quickly approached the horse
1t was, like him. son of Arabia. The
two compatriots recognized each other
The man addressed the courser in a
strange language, but as if the animal
understood the language, he neighed an
answer. Silas took from the back and
mouth of his companion the saddle and
bride, which the Romans had imposed as
badges of slavery, aud the child of the
desert bounded joyously around his libe-
rator.
Meanwhile, Silas, in his turn, freed
himself from every incumbrance, and
wrapping his red cloak about his left arm,
stood in his tunic and turban; girded on
his sword. seized his iavelins, called his
charger. who obeyed with the docility of
a gazelle, and. vaulting upon his back,
he made, while bending over his neck,
and without any help for directing him
than his knees and his voice, three cir
cults around the post where Actee was
bound, in the manner of Perseus, when
defending Andromeda, the pride of the
Arab outriyalling the humility of the
Christian.
A. ,b;s roo-oant ~ f,1J;,o. Joo, o,o,oJ
below the Podium, and a bull of Cordo-
va, goaded by slaves. entered, believing
into the circus; but he had hardly taken
two steps. ere by reason of the strong
light, terrified at the view of the specta-
tors, and shouts of the multitude, he bent
his forelegs, laid his head upon the ground
and, directing upon Silas his ferocious
eyes, began to throw up the sand under
his belly, to tear up the ground with his
horns, and to issue volumes of smoke
through his nostrils.
Presently one of the keepers threw
him a manakin, stuffed with straw, in re-
semblance of a man. The bull instant
ly hurled it down, trampled it under his
feet, but at that moment, when his rage
was at its height, a javelin came whizzing
from the hand of Silas and imbedded it
selfin his flank. The bull gave forth a
roar of pain, and instantly abandoning the
fictitious enemy for his real adversary,
advanced rapidly towards the Syrian. his
head down, and tracing on the sand a
furrow of blood. But Silas quietly suf-
fered him to come on. when. having made
few steps towards him, he managed, By
the aid of his voice and knees 20 effect a
spring from the side of his nimble steed.
and whilst the bull was hurrying on his
course. second javelin went to hide it.
self full six inches in his flank. The ami
NAL stopped, trembling, as if about to
fall; but instantly recovering, rushed up
on the horse and cavalier; but the horse
and his rider fed before him as if borne
by whirlwind.
They thus went twice around the am
phitheatre, the bull becoming weaker at
each time, and losing ground with the
horse and cavalier. Finally, at the third
round, he fell to his knees, but immedi-
ately raising himself, he uttered terri
BILE roar, and, as if he had lost all hope of
overtaking Silas, he stared at all around
him, to see if he could not find another
victim to vent his rage. 1t was then he
discovered Actee. He seemed for mo-
ment to doubt whether she was an inanima-
ted being, such was her immobility and
palor, giving her the appearance of a
statue but very soon stretching out his
neck and nose, he snuffed the air which
came from her place eofconfnement. In
stantly gathering strength. he rushed di-
rectly at her. The maiden saw him CO.
ming, and shrisked with horror; but ST.
las was watching over her. 1t was now
his turn to rush upon the bull. which
made ready for flight, but by few leaps
of the faithful Numidian, he was overta-
Silas spranp from the back of his horse