The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-05

sure of it. He will not fall so easily as you think. And if the king were what you ina zine him--and what most men imagine him-there are his guards led l by that cool, stern Selemenes, Believe me | you will have all the work you want" l Just then a messenger entered and said | to the satraps that the king commanded | their presence at the banquet that night ''In the pavilion?" asked Beleses. No ,
 replied the messenger. "in the great ban | quet hall of Nimrod."
 This change of place for the midnigh | banquet disturbed Arbaces, who feared
 that discovery of the plans for in. l surrection had caused the change. l But Beleses said: Tt is nothing Does | he not change a hundred times a day. Merely one of his whms.' Suddenly the changing of arms was 1 heard, and the measured tread of sol derly feet and Salemenes appeared al the head of a guard.
 What do you here, my lords?' asked Salemenes.
 Why, we are on duty" replied the surprised and perturbed conspirators 'I, also, am on duty," replied Sale menes.
 May we ask what the duty is?' said Beleses.
 'To arrest two traitors" replied the general. "Satraps-your swords The chaldean unbuclSled his sword at once and handing it to Salemenes, said: My lord, behold my scimitar,"
 But Arbaces swiftly drew his weapon and placing himself in a posture of de- fense, cried out: Take mine-but in your heart you take the blade, the hilt quits not my hand"
 "'Tis we'll" cried Salemenes: "this saves trial and the chance of false mercy. Soldiers. hew down the rebel.r Salemenes and the guards at once set upon Arbaces, who defended himself with great skill. 'Take him not" cried the general kill him"
 At that moment there came upon the scene Sardanapalus and his train "T:oId your hands, cried the King. Upon your lives" and seizing @ sword from G soldier he rushed between the combat ants, who drew apart at this unexpected interference.
 What, fighting in my very palace?'s cried the King in fury. What flinders me from cleaving you in twain?"
 Salemenes briefly laid before the King accusations against Arbases and Beleses and said that he had arrested them by virtue Of the power conferred upon him by the royal sgnet
 Sardanapalus became grave. ''Give Be- ieses back his sword" he said. and, lcrds, sheath your weapons
 As Salemenes returned his sword to the scabbard he said to Sardanapalus, T pray thee sheath not yours; 'tis the only scepter left you now with safety. . Beeses began to explain. to deny, to rropitate, but Arbaces stood in sullen silence.
 Go said the King. cutting short the explanations of Beleses. you are free. You shall hear from me hereafter"
 The King, with Salemenes and the royal train, swept away from the terrace leav-
 ing the conspirators alone
 "We are lost said Arbaces. No, we have won a kingdom replied Beeses, the hour is still our own: we are as powerful as ever; only me must move Swiftly--to delay is fatal."s
 "Yet he spared our lives-and more. he saved them from Salemenes," said the soldier. ''EIe gave nobly what we 'aG forfeited basely'
 The Chaldean looked with scorn at the simple soldier and said: This is weak ness worse than a scared woman dream
 ing of the dead. told you you had too much despised him. You are turned into what shall ] say-Sardanapalus-- know no name more ignominioue You have rone too far to go back. If you falter will go on alone, and if I win Arbaces Is my slave If fall Arbaces is still the slave-thc pardoned slave-of Sar- 1anapalus.
 A royal messenger came hastily upon the two and said. My lords. I bear aG order from the Fling. You will repair this very night to your rrsuoctive ea-' frapies of Bahylonia and Media. with vour household trains-but not your troops My orders are to see you de- part will retire to marshal ths' guard Of honor which befits vour ra,,l, will be with you again in ar hour
 The paarc Is not vour prison said Belcses This is thu very style of Oriental inonarchs. Pardon end pei sen, favors and q sword, Q distant jour ney and eterra' sleen. How many satraps in his fathers time set out for distant setrapes--and never reached there:"
 If I thought he meant my llfe," said the soldier waycring
 Fool" cried the Chaldean what else does he mean? Come let us rejoin