The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-07-15

why tue opdrtan asked ulStruSt-
fully.
Because we hate the Phoenicians
for their crueties, and we believe the
Greeks will treat us merclfully."
You are spy" said Phalaris
frowning,
The Sikeliot shook his head earnest
ly.
II 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,
will give you your freedom and tai
ent of silver"
He 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 MeleS."
One hour after Merix. the SiSeiot,
had stolen into the camp of the Greeks
the whole army of the besiegers was
walking in single file, its weapons
bound round with grass to prevent any
/ jingling of steel on bronze, along q
narrow sunken path that ended In a
clay-pit just without the city wall
i 1t was the night of the new moon.
/ and the Goddess of the CanaanItes
seemed to have stolen forth to listen
TO the VOWS of her adorers From the
heart of the besieged city arose the
villa chant of the moon worshipers as
| 1AH ba In 80
the Moons husband, the Melek. who
ate his children.
! The yotaries of Baai thronged the
1'outer court OF the temple, and flowed
through into a cayernous hall, lighted
| by single torch. All at once duh
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
ers like an image of blood
The fearful 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
ewes, the high-priest came into his
chamber and offered him cup filled
with some warm brew which gave
forth sickly, Intoxicating scent.
Luslas dared not refuse to drink.
When he had swallowed 1t his senses
became clouded; the marble floor rock
ed under his feet, and the marble
walls wavered round him like curtains
in draught of air
Barnel took him by the hand. and
placed an arm round his shoulders to
steady him, as he drew him gently out
of the cell. They passed two sweating
temple slaves. who were blowing with
passed up a fue into the body of the
idol, Illuminating it. A bronze graf
ing allowed the fame TO ascend freely,
while preventing the victim from fall
ing down into the Goals.
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 belly.
II was at this moment that Phalaris.
the Spartan saw the moon-erescent |
glitter overhead, as he stood upright |
within the city wall on the bottom OF a |
low tunnel and grasped at a wooden
ladder let down from above.
Like a procession of ants his earth
stained soldiers rose out of the ground, |
In .uyf,
garden over which few huts and |
pigstles struggled In all the disorder Of
wretchedness and savagery.
The solemn pillars of the temple |
front showed pale in the dim moon
light. A rush through the court, a few
cries followed by thrusts and stabs,
and the flushed Hellenes burst in upon
the Canaanites at their worship.
The vision that met the stralnlng
eyes of Phalaris. the Spartan. was a
boy In white tunic and red vest,
barefooted. with flowers In his hair,
standing aloft like cameo cut against
the blood-red shape OF the colossal
Baal. whose belly saped suddenly in a
hell OF spouting flame.
Leaving the work of massacre TO the
troops and their Sikeiot helpers, the
general leaped to the front and snatch
ed Luslas by the foot just as he was
giddily swaying towards the furnace.
Gathering the child in his arms. lie
tIrned and saw tall, dark priest in a
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 exultins
and dragged the high
priest mp 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.
and as the shrek of the sacrifice rang
forth from the Idols mouth above, =.
seemed TO be the hldeous believing Of
the God
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Birds Nest in Railway Van.
In a railway van of the Marbach-
Heilbronn line. in wurtemberg. a lit