The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-02-05
kIk~NLAUCUS the Athenian.
Z E thy time has come, said

k5kH4 LAUCUS the Athenian,
~ a loud and clear voice
the lions await thee
~ am ready said the Athenian. He
had bent his limbs 50 as to give him
self the firme:t posture at the expect
cd rush Of the lion. with his small and
shining weapons raised on high, in the
faint hope that one weIl-directcd
thrust might penetrate through the eye
to the brain of his grim foe.
Put to the unutterable astonish-
ment Of all, the beast seemed not even
aware of the presence IF the Grim
inal. 81 the first moment Of its re-
lease il halted abruptly in the arena,
raised itself half on end, shutting the
upward air with impatient signs; then
suddenly it sprang forward, but not
on the Athenian AT hIlf-speed it
circled round and round the space,
turning its vast head from side to side
with an anxious ana perturbed gaze.
as if seeking only some avenue Of es-
cape; once or twice 1t endeavOred to
leap up the 1arapet that divided it
from the audience, and, en- failing, ut
-TeTgd-TUthcr & baffied howl than its
deep-toned and kingly roar. 1t evinced
no sign either of wrath or hunger: its
tail dropped along the sand, instead of
flashing its gaunt sides; and its eye,
though it wandered at times to Glau-
Gus. rolled again IiStlessly from him.
AT length, as If tired of attempting to
escape, it crept with moan into its
cage and once more laid itself down
10 rest
1.-THE first surprise of the assembly
at the apathy Of tie lion soon grew
into resentment at It's cOwardice and
the porUlace already merged their
pity for the fare IF Glaucus into angry
compassion for their own disappOint-
ment. The manager called TO the
keeper:
"How is this? Take a goad aDd
prick him forth, and then close the
door of the den
"As the keeper. with some fear
but more establishment, was preparing
to obey, Il loud cry was heard at one
of the entrances of the arena; there
was a confusion. a hustle, voices of
remonsrance suddenly breaking forth,
and sudden silence at the reply. All
eyes turned in wonder toward the
quarter of the disturbance; the crowd
gave way. and suddenly SalluSt ap-
peared on the senatorial benches, his
hair disheveled, breathless, heated,
half exhausted. He cast his eyes has
tily around the ring. Remove the
Athenian, he cried; haste, he Is In
nocent! Arrest Arnaces the Egyp-
tian; he is the murderer of Apae-
cides!
ART thou mad, o Sallustr said the
praetor, rising from his seat. What
means this raving?
"'Remove the Athenian! Quick! or
his blood be on your head. Praetor,
delay, and you answer with your own
life to the emperor! l bring with me
the eyewitness to the death of the
priest Apaec1des. Room there! stand
back! Give way! People of Pompeii,
fl every eye +lpon Arbaces; there he
sits. Room there for the priest Gale.
nus"
pale haggard, fresh from the jaws
of famine and of death, his face fallen,
his ey"5 Il Us a vulture's, hi broad
frame Iii as Il skeleton, c. n was
supported into the very row IN which
Arbaces sat. His releasers had
given him sparingly of food; but the
chief SustenanCe that nerved his feeble
limbs was revenge!
THE priest Calenus! Calenusr
cried the mob. Is it he? No, it is a
dead man!
1T is the priest Calenus, said the
praetor, bravely. What hast thou to
sayY
"'Arbaces of Egypt is the murderer
OF Apaecides, the priest Of isis;
these eyes saw him deal the blow.
1t Is from the dungeon into which
he plunged me, it is from the
darkness and horror Of q death
by famine, that the gods have raised
me to proclaim his crime! Release
the Athenian-he is innocent!
at is for this, then, that the lion
spared him. A miraclel a miraclev
cried Pansa.
"a miracle! miracler shouted the
people; remove the Athenian-
Arbaces to the lionp
1.-THE power of the praetor was as a
reed beneath the whirlwind; still, at
his word the guards had drawn them
selves along the lower benches, on
which the upper classes sat separate
fran tho vulgar. Thav made but q