The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1901-10-03


| instant's space too long, his javelin
missed its throw and with terrible
blow from her powerful paw, the
honess stretched Artaxerxes unscon-
scious at her feet. ATrion at a dis
lance had descended from his chariot
and was in the thick of his combat
with his wounded foe. Amytis was
the only one whose weapons were free.
| With a cry of rage and terror she
leaped to the side of her brother.
Alorus rushed to her assistance, but
she cried out furiously, mine, mine,
| will avenge my brother"
Across the body of the king the
liOness looked at the woman. They
measured each other with their eyes.
Another instant and the lioness had
| leaped to the attack. Amytis was
armed only with dagger as she stood
| fearlessly and faced the raging beast.
! About her the palm trees made cir
Gle of shadow, but in the open SPACE
where she stood the moonlight fell as
| bright as day. The movements of the
woman and the lioness were graceful,
catlike, similar. With sinuous, hypo-
ci.iticGl feints and sudden bounds they
| Joined the combat. Amytis' blazing
| alrs were fixed upon the red eyeballs
which slared furiously in her face.
| They parried each others thrusts
with astonishing deXterity the lion
ess with her formidable paw, the We
man with her dagger. The contest
lasted for an eternity, so it seemed
to the band of soldiers who stood back
in dire CONSERVATION, daring not to
interfere They feared that the
strength, if not the skill, of the wo-
man would yield the first, but Amytis'
arm as it flashed with its jeweled
weapon back and forth in graceful
feline sweeps, seemed made of steel.
The lioness whipped her tail upon her
1uivering TANKS and roared again and
| again.
A sudden Whit of wind blowing
fresher in the deepening night tossed
the branches of the palm trees. \
shadow fell across Amytis' eyes and a
long lock of her hair floated across her
shoulder and blew into her face. She
raised her hand to brush it away, and
n that instant with a growl the lion
ess gripped her arm and with a quick
snatch of her terrible paw tore away
/ the tunic from her shoulder; another
blow and she had brought the prin-
'ess to her knees. AT this moment
\rrion, victorious. had drawn his drip
| ping iavelin from the body of his fall
II foe, and emerged from the shad-
wv of the palm trees Just in time to
zee Amytis on her knees before the
ioness, her right arm disabled, torn
md bleeding. He dashed forward with
lis spear appraised, and in his fight his
Iuick thought realized that there was
10 time to reach her side with his
lager. His only chance was to throw
he dripping weapon which ne held
his hand. Alorus and others of the
Euard seemed paralyzed with fright
nd, although advancing, were fatally
ar away Could he trust his eye and
and at such a distance? No choice
lie raised his weapon and it sped
traight as an arrow flashing sudden
in the moonlight. a whizz and ther
ide and brought her to the ground
mother instant and Amytis, freed
With a dexterous left hand stroke
uried her own weapon in the throat
f the lioness. 1t was the last effort
# her strength, for when ArriOr
'eacher her side, with sigh she
eeled and fell fainting upon the dead
'ody of her foe.
BY this time Alorus and his soldiers
| lad reached the spot. with ThemiStO
les, who bent over the stil uncon
cious king. And soon the other char
OTIS drew near and they were sur
ounded by an excited crowd, lament
ing and crying aloud with eXclamations
If CONSERVATION and despair. Themis
ocles and Arrion alone were calm, and
he latter watching intently the pale
eatures of the king, motioned then
% silence, for he saw that he was
tirring to consciousness. But wher
re opened his eyes they fell upon 6
certifying sight The two lions were
lead indeed, but Amytis, white anC
apparently lifeless, lay in the arms OF
\rrion. Artaxerxes groaned and tried
jeebly to rise.
Fear not, oh king" cried Themis
tocles, "Amytis lives. Arrion haiti
saved her"
The young Jew bent over Amytis
whitefaced and breathing quickly, he
lifted her head upon his arm. The
black mass of her hair flowed back
from her face. She looked helpless
and weak, and once more womanly
suddenly her dark eyes Enclosed, gaz.
ing appealingly into Arrion's face.
Fear not, Princess" he answered
soothingly. "The king lives, and thou
art safe"
\ look of JOY spread over her face
rs she gazed into his softencd tender
yes, then smiling braveiy, she strug.
gled to her feet, ArrioH still support.
ing her.
Il thank thee, Arrion," she cried in
her clear voice, 81 owe thee my life
md with an imperial gesture she held
out her arm to the lips of the young
lew Blood was driDDinp from its