Thomas County cat., 1890-01-16
Coutiu,,.d from 9Th pageD


times will come and see that thou needest
uaught''
Sc she went, and thenceforwa-d was I
npursed, and that skillfully, by the physician
anu two women slaves: and as my wound
healed so my strength came back to me,
slowly at first, then most swiftly. In four
days from that time left my couch, and in
three more could walk an hour in the pal
ace gardens; another week and l could
read and think, though went no more to
Court. And at length one afternoon Cnar-
mion came and bade me make ready, for in
two days would the fleet sail, first for the
coast of Syria, and thence to the gulf of
Issus and Cilicia.
Thereon, with all formality, and in writ
ing, crayed leave of Cleopatra that might
be left, urging that my health was even
now so feeble that l could not travel. But
in answer message was sent to me that
must come. And so on the appointed day
was carried on a litter down to the boat,
and together with that very soldier who had
cut me down, the Captain Brennus, and
others of his troop (Who, indeed. were sent
to guard me), we rowed aboard the vessel
where she lay at anchor with the rest Of the
great feet. For Cleopatra was vOyaSing as
though to war in much ponp, and escorted
by mighty feet of ships, whereof her
galley, built like house and lined through
out with cedar and silken nangings, was the
fnost beautiful and costly that the world
has ever seen. But on this vessel went
not, and, therefore, It chanced that saw
not Cleopatra nor CharmIon till we landed
at the mouth of the River Cydnus. The
signal being made, the feet set SAL; and
the wind being fair, on the evening of the
second day we came to Joppa. Thence we
sailed slowly with contrary winds up the
coast of Syria, making Csesarea and Ptol-
emals and Tyrus and Berytus and past
Lebanons white brow crowned with
: his crest of cedars, on to Heraclea
snd across the Gulf of Issus TO the mouth
Aif Cydnus. And ever as we journC ed
j he strong breath of the sea brought back
gny health. till at length, save for line Of
white II my head, where the sword had
fallen, '. , almost as had been. And
one night, as we drew near Cydnus, while
Brennus and sat alone together on the
deck, his eye fell upon the white mark his
sword had made, and he swore a great
oath by his heather gods. ''An' thou hadst
died, lad he said ..methinks | could
never again have held up my head, Ahl
that was coward stroke, and shamed am
to think that should have struck 1t, and
thou on the ground and with thy back to
me! Knowest thou that when thou didst
lie 'twixt life and death, every day came
), to ask tidings of thee! and / swore by
Taranis that if thou dldst die I'd turn my
back upon that soft palace life and then
away for the Morrill,
''Nay, trouble not, Brennus," answered;
sit was thy duty"
"Mayhap! but there are duties that
brave man should not do-nay, not at the
bidding of any Queen who ever ruled in
Egypt Thy blow had dazed me or had
not struck What is it, ads-art in trouble
with this Queen of oursa Why art thou
dragged prisoner upon this pleasure
partyi Knowest thou that we are strictly
charged that if thou dost escape our lives
shall pay the prlce?'
SAY, in sore trouble, FRIEND" / an
swered; 'ask me no more
'Then, being of the age thou art-there's
woman in it, that swear land, per-
chance, though l am rough and foolish, l
might make guess Look thou, lad, what
sayest thou! l am a-weary of the service
of Cleopatra and this hot land of deserts
and of luxury, that sap mans strength
and drain his pocket; and so are others
whom l wot of. What sayest thou; lets
tai. one of these unwieldy vessels and
AWAY to the North! I'll lead thee to bet
tekland than EgHpt-a land Of lake and
mSuntain and great forests of sweet
scented pine: ay, and find thee Il girl fit
to mate with, mine own mecca strong
girl, and tall, with wide blue eyes. and
long, fair hair, and arms that would crack
thy ribs were she to hug thocl Come,
what saycst thou! Put away the past, and
away for the boany North, and be Z son to
me-"
For moment | thought, and then sadly
shook my head: for though sorely was l
tempted to be gone, knew that in Egypt
lay my fate, and my fate might not fly.
at may not be, Brennus," | answered.
"Fain would | that it might be, but am
bound by a chain of destiny which l can not
break, and in the land of Egypt must live
and die.'
'.As thou wilt, lad said the old warrior
'tDearly should have loved to marry thee
among my people and make son OF thee
At the least, remember that while l am
here thou hast Brennus for friend. And
one thing more: beware of that beauteous
Queen of thine, for, by Taranis, perchance
an hour may come when she will hold that
thou knowest too much, and then" and
he drew his hand across his throat. And
now good night; a cIp of wine, then to
sleep, for tomorrow the foolery-'
Here several lengths Of tie second roll Of
pcpyr,Gs are so broken to be indeciphcrdble
They seem TO hare been descriptivc Of Cleopdtrds
voyd0e up The Cylnus to The city Of Tarsus.
And [the writing continues 10 those who
could take JOY in such things the sight must,
indeed have been a gallant one For the
stern of our galley was covered with sheets
Of beaten gold, the sails We're of the scar
let of Tyre, and the oars of silver dipped in
the water to the measure Of music. And
re in the center of the vessel. beneath
Nawning ablaze with gold embroidery, lay
Cleopatra, attired as the Roman Venus
(and surely Venus was not more fairO, in
thin robeof whitest silk, bound in beneath
her breast with e golden girdie delicately
craven DER with scenes of love. All about
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