Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-10-23
Foor.RAcE FOR FREEDOM.
A Christian Lad Gives the Victory to
a Greek Slave.

from them eighty thousand spectators
were looking down in eager expecta-
tion. Cyril hardly saw them, although
the Emperor himself was there. and
all the splendid array of the richest
people Of Rome itself, with kings and
mobiles and chiefs from all the world
tributary to Rome. For one moment
he was thinking and he was listening.
He and Apollos were side by side, in
the foremost rank, and he heard the
Greek boy murmur:
"Mother-father-m brethren and
my sisters-if l win not their freedom,
hope Tallienus will slay mel"
Cyril did not turn to look Mt him, for
he was thinking:
"The first prize or the quarries-I
must win, or shall not be with Jesus
of Nazareth when he enters Jerusa-
lem"
The trumpet sounded again from near
where the Emperor sat, and the racers
were off, all together. Not one of them
but was good runner, and there We're
several smaller prizes; but the race
was little more. after all, than an occa-
sion for gambling to the dissipated, cor
rupt, idle populace of Rome. 1t was
evil. evil. evil, like all the other games
of the Roman circus!
A splendid runner was Apollos, and
he shot ahead with great bound that
called forth plaudits from the specta-
tors. Close behind him, quickly, came
several others, but before the runners
were third of the way around the
arena one Of these tripped and fell,
and another fell over him.
'They will be scourged!' thought
Cyril. "More than half the rest are
behind me now. But the pace is too
fast at the beginning"
Several more We're shortly compelled
to slacken their pace and Cyril passed
them; but still, away in the front, with
an elastic, springing step, the tall young
Greek kept the lead.
"The Greek will winw growled Va.
lerianus to Crispus, who sat beside
him. ''The Greek is twenty PAGES ahead
of thy Galilean. will send him to the
galleys!"
"Only ten PAGES now," said Crispus,
calmly, after few minutes. 80 noble
Valerianus, it is the last circuit that
tells"
Just then the runners came nearer,
and Valerianus was silent until they
had passed. The race included one
more complete round of the arena.
"All are out of the race but those
two," muttered the noble Roman. IL
shall lose half my fortune if that Jew
ish boy fails me. What! See-they
are abreast! Bacchus! My Jew is Win
ning!"
Not yet. There was still long race
before him, but he and Apollos ran
side by side, and the circus rang with
the loud applause of the multitude.
Other runners were not far behind,
but it seemed evident that the first
prize was between these two. Until
that moment, Cyril had had no thought
but Of winning If he could; but sud-
denly he cast a swift glance ut the face
of Apollos. It was somewhat pale in
stead of flushed, and Cyril saw look
of terror, almost Of agony, in his eyes.
"He is breathing with difficulty"
thought Cyril. ''and shall beat him!
But-he and his family will be slaves
forever If l win!'
Cyril was ahead now, and the plaudit
sprang out again.
"Thy sestertia are safe," said Crispus
to Valerianus.
81 will slay that Greek!" Missed Tai
lienus.
Cyril heard gasping cry as Apollos
put forth all his remaining strength,
for they were nearing the goal.
81 can give him his freedom!' fash
ed into the mind of Cyril. ".rhey may
slay him-or me. Shall I?'
Then it was as if he heard certain
words-but in truth he only remember
ed words he had heard the Master
say long ago. upon the mount in Cali
lee. Cyril could not have told his
thought. but in the next moment he
spoke in Greek to Apollos:
win thou, Apollos! Jesus of Naza-
reth has hidden me to set thee free!'
Cyril had to slacken his speed. for
the Greek was beginning to falter.
One moment more, and they were
over the line. with Apollos the winner
by only half a pace.-St. Nicholas.
Prehistoric Horse of the Rockies.
Professor Henry Fairfield Osborn. of
the American Museum of Natural His
tory. in the Century describes the re-