Evening star., 1926-11-30

Antonius' sword whistled and
eheared off the head Of the lance. The
assailant dropped to his hands and
knees. overbalanced.
A long shaft darted past Antonius
shoulder from behind. thrust by his
Arabian servant. The spearhead
struck Herod's man in the breast,
and. shrieKing, he fell into the deep
crevasse.
"One," said the soldier. grimly.
The second guardsman was upon
him Antorius parried the blow and,
seizing the spear, jerked the soldier
toward him. His sword rose and fell.
The man sprawled, face downward
and motionless.
Two counted Antonius. He
turned to his servant. Throw his
body down the cliff"
The man understood and pushed the
limp form of Herod's follower over
the rocky ledge
AntOniuS fell to examining the edge
of his blade and sharpening It on a
rough stone that protruded from the
crag. His eye lifted sharply from
time to time TO the crest of the sum-
nit. over which other enemies must
come.
After some consideration he pulled
forward his military helmet, which
under his jaw. and. working his in
jured leg sidewise. drew his shield
nearer him. so il gave protection to
more of his body. Turning to the
trfbesmen. he motioned them to lie
down upon the path.
They waited for 10 minutes. The
Winter sky above them was lowering
and from time TO time a. broad drop
Of rain fell upon the rocks.
Ia. ,-e.I 90 H..
tiously above the rise. where the path
widened. Antonius gave quick ex-
olanlation of warning \ Cozen men
rose into view showing only waist
high as they stood on the other side
of the crest Their arms drew back.
and a volley of iave!ins few toward
the five mon who held the path.
Three of the missiles thudded on An
tonius' shield. and one of them chung
there imbedded in the layers of bull
hide and linen. one ratified on An
torius helmet. He turned to see
what effect thew had achieved upon
the Arabians behind him.
The chief his face impassive. was
drawing a bloody javelin from his left
arm. which 1t had pierced. The man
nearest him hastily stanched the
flow from the open wound, wrapping
his headcloth tightly around his lead
en- upper arm.
Another volleN followed Antonius
heard sob behind him. The man
who was dressing the chiefs wound
drooped sdawise and lurched into the
abvss. q thin shaft protruGlnc from
his breast. The chief himself was
wounded in the shoulder.
Gravelv. the three remaining tribes
men stepped forward. carefully edg-
ing their way around -\ntonius. and
stood up. offering Their bodies as
shields for the two warriors behind.
Antonius sWore an oath Of pleased
surprise.
est trihesman by the ankle and drew
him back Get behind me-all Of YOU
get behind me-" he cried. tapping his
shield and lifting i; 70 show that he
was better equipped than they TO
stand in front. He pointed to their
chief to indicate that they should pro-
tect their own leader.
As he gestured. trying 10 make his
meaning clear. the foremost Arabian n
fol. wounded in the stomach by one
nf the hurtling. iron.tipped wands.
His fellows inspected the wound
1sw that il was fatal and solemnly
propped the dying man in front OF
Antonius They handed TO the soldier
their comrades spear and sword and
dagger. Then. obediently. they moved
backward and set themselves TO guard
their chief.
A Iull came. during which the aSsail.
ants remained in view, but idle. hp-
rarently waiting for reinforcements.
Arrows next. l suppose. grumbled
Antortus.
He eyed the opposed force. II
WONDER" he said. -nusingly. u