The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-02

an enemy to the Phoenicians." ! The Spartan picked up the strangers
 knife, and bade him come in.
 | The Sikeliot crawIed through thu hole he had made. and stood up. Hi
 skin was fairer than that of the Canaanite invaders of Sicily. who had enslaved the ancient population of the | island. though he was dark beside the IGreeks.
 | T have come here, sent by the Sike- liots who are within the town," he an- ! nounced, ito bring you in by secret way which only we know of "why?" the Spartan asked distrust- fully.
 "Because we hate the Phoenicians for their cruelties, and we believe the Creeks will trat us mrcifu lly." You ar a spy" said Phalaris, frowning.
 The Sikeliot shook his head earnest ly.
 q know what has become of the young boy whom you sent herald to enquire for" he declared. The commanders eyes caught fire. Speak," he cried eagerly. If you can restore that boy to me unhurt I will give you your freedom and a tal- ent of silver"
 "TIe was found yesterday at noon. in the grove of Astarte, by the high priest Barnel. And tonight they will offer him In sacrifice to the Melek." One hour after Merix, the Sikeliot had stolen into the camp of the Greeks the whole army of the besiegers was walking in single file, its weapons bound rouid with grass to prevent any jingling of steel on bronze, along a narrow sunken path that ended in a clay-pit just without the city wall.
 It was the night of the new moon, and the Goddess of the Canaanites seemed to have stolen forth to listen to the vows of here adorers. From the heart of the besieged city arose the wild chant of the moon worshipers as they swarmed towards the temple of the Moons husband, the Melek, who ate his children.
 The votaries of Baal thronged the outer court of the temple, and glowed through into cavernous hall. lighted by a single torch. All at once dull red glow struggled through the copper shell of a huge bull-headed idol. en- throned at the upper end, causing the Melek to stand out before his worship CTS like an image of blood. The fea1ful bowling which was part of the ritual of the God. burst forth from a thousand throats, and woke the Greek boy who lay asleep in the priests quarter. behind the shrine.
 As Lusias sat up and rubbed his eyes. the high h-priest came into his chamber and offered him a cup filled with some warm brew which gave forth a sickly. intoxicating scent. Lu- sias dared not refuse to drink. When he had swallowed it his senses became clouded; the marble floor rocked un- der his feet, and the marble walls wa vered around him like curtains in a draught of air.
 Barnel took him by the hand, and placed an arm around his shoulders to steady him, as he drew him gently out of the cell. They passed two sweating temple slaves, who were blowing with bellows at the furnace whose wlames passed up a flue into the body of the ing allowed the flame to ascend freely. while preventing the victim from fall ing down into the coals.
 Too dizzy and confused to tell what he was doing. Lusias was brought to the foot of flight of steps between the knees of the idol. which led up to a small platform in front of its bel ly,
 It was at this moment that Phalaris, the Spartan. saw the moon-crescent glitter overhead. as he stood upright within the city wall on the bottom of low tunnel. and grasped at a wood en ladder let down from above
 Like a procession of ants his earth stained soldiers rose out of the, ground, finding themselves in a weed grown garden over which a few huts and pigsties struggled in all the disorder of wretchedness and avagery.
 The solemn pillars of the temple front showed pale in the dim moon light. A rush through the court. few cries followed by thrusts and stabs, and the flushed Hellenes burst in upon the Canaanites at their worship.
 The vision that met the straining eyes of Phalaris. the Spartan. was boy in a white tun!c. and a red vest, barefooted, with flowers In his hair. standing aloft like a cameo cut against the blood-red shade of the colossal Baal. whose belly gaped suddenly in hell of spouting flame Leaving the work of massacret to the troops and their Sikeliot helpers. the general leaped to the front and snatch ed Lusias by the foot just as he was giddily swaying towards the furnace, Gathering the child in his arms, he turned and saw a tall dark priest in l leopard skin robe. struggling in the grasp of three of his soldiers. With out uttering a word Phalaris pointed | to the open door of the furnace. The Greeks gave a loud cry of exulting comprehension. and dragged the high priest up the steps to the platform, from whence they hurled him head long into the flaming belly of the Melek.
 Then the bronze door changed down.