Evening star., 1926-12-02

side of the path, he pulled at. the
chief. until the latter, understandings.
crawled past him. He helped the
wounded man mount to his follow
er's back. and with little shove
started them on their way.
Il hope they won't go too far he
muttered TO himself II wish l could
explain to them"
He drew together his weapons, put
ting his sword into his sheath. placing
two extra daEgers-spoils from the
battle-into his belt. and rested his
spear across his knees.
A long time passed. while he
waited for the servant to come and
carry him, in turn, to a safer spot
At last, grumbling. he began to
hitch himself along, watchful against
body by pressure Of his hands against
the path.
He dragged his spear after him.
laying it down as he drew himself
forward, then pausing to move the
weapon farther along.
Daylight found him at the curve
where the two villagers had stood
guard the day before. There was no
sign of them. nor of the Arabians.
He peered down the sharp slope be
low him, but a tangle of brush hid
fallen from the cliff.
Above, and across the ravine. there
was ledge. evidently part of the
roof of the cave. Behind ii was an
other height of the mountain, a bare
precipice crowned at it's top with a
plume Of trees.
A hundred PAGES from him began
the abrupt dip in the path. where "
disappeared in underground. After
1.,s. L.
tonius Crawled back a little distance
on the way he had come. He settled
himself in a small. sharp curve. which
gave him partial shelter from attack
in the rear. A shoulder of rock pro-
truded, narrowing the path to the
breadth of a mans foot. lie could see
toward the entrance of the cave by
craning his neck, but in the other di-
rection he had an uninterrupted view.
reaching to the distant rise over
which his enemies had come the day
before.
A guard was standing on this hill.
leaning on his spear. AS the light
grew brighter and Herod's man could
make OFT the form of the soldier back
in the shadows, he beckoned. and
several of his companions came To
look.
Antonius waved at them. They
made no response. but turned. ap-
parently to watch another party COM
ing from their rear
A second group appeared on the
hilltop.
"Humph." said Antonius.
The newcomers were arChers, car
rying long war bows, and followed
each by a slave with q burden of ar
rows.
In the niche where Antonius lay
there were several boulders. He
hastily gathered these, and made a
foot-hish bulwark before him, across
the path.
The bowmen were descending the
hill Antonius placed his shield slant
wise, it's base under the little heap of
rocks. its top inclining against his
shoulder, so that in case of need he
could slip his head beneath it.
The first arrow came skipping over
the rocks and lodged in a crevice of
his tiny fort.
Good shot" he yelled, lifting his
sword.
Two bowmen only could aim directly
at him. one loosing his arrows over
the shoulder of the other. The path
was too narrow and irregular for
the others to do more than send their
they might alight upon the solitary
defender of the ravine.
The iron heads of the arrows rat
tied noisily about him. He had taken
his shield now and laid 1t on his back,
and settled himself face downward.
More than once an arrow glanced
from the shield, and one struck his
helmet with so direct stroke that his
eyes logged dizZily for a moment.
The men were steadily coming
nearer An arrow cut the calf of his
leg. not deeply, but enough to draw
blood
He drew himself together, and shift
ing the largest of his boulders, fairly
wrapped himself around it, holding
his shield now on his left shoulder.
and flattening himself as tightly as
possible against the ground.
Encouraged, the foremost bowman
broke into a run, his bow drawn. an
arrow aimed at the PROSTATE soldier.
Just as he loosed the string Anto-
Mus sat upright and hurled his spear,
catching the flying arrow on his shield.
Herod's guard sank Imply into the
abyss.
The spear had struck him under
his uplifted arm.
six counted the soldier, dropping
behind his heap of rocks.
An arrow from the second bowman
rang upon his helmet and the third in
line sent a bolt so strongly that the
iron head came through Antonius'
shield.
The soldier wrapped his arm around
one Of the heavy stones. and as his
assailants fitted fresh arrows to their
bows he hurled the rock. striking the
foremost archer in the face. The
man screamed. and turning. was led
to the rear by his slave, blinded by
the blow.
In the moments confusion Antonius
perceived that the next archer's bow
string had parted.
Hastily he pushed himself back.
ward, resting his injured leg upon the
narrow shelf that formed the foot
path at this point. his other limb
dangling over the ravine. 1t was a
task Of 30 seconds to get himself on
the other side OF the outcrOpping rock.
Two arrows struck him. one upon
the helmet, the other where his leather
tunic fastened on his shoulder. The
shaft dangled from the wound. He
snatched it out, felt with his fore
finger, and learned that the arrow
had struck his shoulder-bone. The
enemy now approached cautiously.
Their bows were Of no service, for An
tonius lay on the far side of the jut-
ting stone. They handed the weapons
to their slaves and came with long
knives, drawn from sheaths that lay
under their left arms.
AntOnius, watching around the cor
ner. withdrew his head. Taking his
sword in his left hand-his right rest
ed against the cliff-he held the blade
aloft and ready.
| Seven" he counted, an instant
| later.
| An archer had appeared, TO vanish
| instantly down the prccipice. knocked
from his balance by the force Of An
| tonius' blow.