The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-11-10
ALARIC ;
OR,
Tho Tyrant's Vault.
A SIClLfAN STORY OF EARLY TIMES.
ClI APTER |.
AT,ARIC !;
CH APTEB |.

Tho Tyrant's Vault.
ASIClLfAN STORY OF EARLY TIMES.
APTER |.
ALARIC.
Not far from the city ofSyracuse, when
it was the metropolis of an Sicily, an object
Of longing to ambitious conquerors, and
one OF the finest cities in the world not
far from this place, upon the shore of the
sea, stood a man who had just landed from
a vessel that was now sailing away towards
the North. lie was quite young--not
over ive-an1-tw, nty--tal and well pro-
portioned; with muscular system finely
developed and possessing face not only
striking in its manly beauty, but remark
able, in one so young, for It's stern, reso-
lutte. and sef-reliant expression. His
dress was light and simple and evidently
Of Greek manufacture; the lower limbs
being clothed in close-ftting goat-skin
above which he wore shirt of white linen
confined at the waist by belt of fine mail.
Upon his head was a cap of woven stuff,
the top dropping over the tight ear; and
his feet were shielded by pair of sandals,
His only weapon wasa short, heavy sword
which hung, in leathern scabbard, from
his belt of mail He stood for awhile
gazing about, as though undecided what
course he should pursue but finally he
espied an old fisherman, not far off who
had Just come down upon the beach, and
towards him he made his way.
ga bright pleasant morning good sir"
said the youth.
The old man cast his net from his should
ers and gazed up. He carefully scanned
the features before him, and then replied:
"Aye, fair sir, it is pleasant morning
We have many such on this coast"
" And yet it storms sometime, | sup
pose," suggested the first speaker
" lie is a wise man who little heeds
the storms he cannot quell," said the fish
erman, with nod of the head which
seemed to give his words more meaning
than the circumstances under which they
were spoken would imply.
You are right there" responded the
other. But tell me-where can l find
Artabanus the hermit"
The fisherman took another careful look
into his interlocutor's face, and then an
swered
He lives upon yonder mountain,
which is called Catalano. Do you wish
to see him?"
YES"
Then follow the path that leads to
yonder cot, until it brings you to small
stream. Cross that, and then upon your
right hand you will see beaten track.
Fl lives in cave near the top of the
mountain, and this track will lead you di-
rectly thither.
The young man thanked his informant,
and was upon the point of turning away,
when the latter resumed:
81 mean no ofense. Your face looks
familiar. 1t has the cast off countenance
l fancied | had seen before"
You'll at least remember of having seen
such an one on this morning." said the
young man and as he thus spoke he turn
ed away.
Aye" muttered the old Sicilian to him
self, but yet loud enouge to reach other
ears "and call on Neptune to witness
that I have seen it before. Such faces
are not multiplied-they are not plenty
in Syrcuse these times. Alas more's the
pity"
The youth hesitated for moment, as
though he would turn back, but he over
came the disposition, and kept on. When
he had begun to ascend the mountain, he
stopped and looked behind him, and saw
that the fisherman was already upon the
water.
"Can it be-" he said, to himself that
my face is SO little changed? l think
| remember that old man, for he has
spread his nets long in these waters but
how should he remember me2 | pray
tho gods that there be not many in Syra
cuse that will yet be 80 observant."
With this the traveller kept on up the
mountain until he had reached broat
table oil rock. from whence he could SEE
he bay, and the city beyond. The great
metropolis was spread out before him, witt
its massive walls, its temples, and it
palaces, and Il tear started down his cheel
as he gazed upon the scene. He claspeC
his hands upon his bosom, and, with ;
few muttered words, he started on again
He crossed the stream, and took the patl
to which he had been directed but h
did not follow it as one who was a strange
to its windings. He pursued his way will
an ease and assurance, and, at times, will
an abstractedness which could have beel
indulged in only by one who knew wei
the way he was going. Up the steep
rocky hight he climbed, and when he final
ly stopped, it was before the entrance to
cave-a cave which Nature had fashione,
in the mountains side, and sheltered fror
the suns fervid heat, and the fury of tn
storm. At the mouth of the cavern sa
an old man, over whose head some foul
score years had rolled. His hair and bear
were white as the feety cloud that sailet
above the mount, and foated in silke
wavy masses over shoulders and breast
A mantle of grey cloth enveloped his fran
and his feet were shod with heavy sandal
He was engaged over an old manuscript
but as he heard the sound of approachin
footsteps he closed the volume and raise
his head.
: Good morning, my son." he said, wit
lock of simple welcome.