Part 25 (1/2)

'”The times will not bear it,” muttered one. ”'Tis a vain attempt.”

'”His severity is cruel,” said another. ”G.o.ds! when before was it heard of, that a soldier, and such a one, for what every one does whom chance favors, should be torn limb from limb? The trees that wrenched Stilcho asunder, ere they grow too stiff, may serve a turn on 'Hand-to-his-Sword' himself. He will fatten on these starved citizens when he climbs over their walls.”

'”O no, by Jupiter!” said the first, ”it is far likelier he will let them off, as he did at Tyana, and we lose our sport. It is his own soldiers' blood he loves.”

'”He may yet learn,” replied the other, ”that soldiers wear weapons for one purpose as well as another. Hark! what noise was that?”

'”It was but some rat at work within this old arch, Come, let us to bed.”

'They moved away, and we, breathing again, pa.s.sed along, and soon re-lighted our torches.

'After walking a weary distance from this point, and encountering many obstacles, we at length reached the long-desired termination. The dromedaries were in readiness, and mounting them without delay, we ascended the steep sides of the ravine, and then at a rapid pace sought the open plains. When they were attained, I considered that we were out of all danger from the Romans, and had only to apprehend the ordinary dangers of this route during a time of war, when freebooters of all the neighboring tribes are apt to abound. ”Here,” I said to the Queen, ”we will put our animals to their utmost speed, as the way is plain and smooth--having regard only,” I added, ”to your and the Princess's strength.”--”On, on, in the name of the G.o.ds!” said they both; ”we can follow as fast as you shall lead.” And on we flew with the speed of the wind. The Queen's animals were like spirits of the air, with such amazing fleetness and sureness of foot did they shoot over the surface of the earth. The way was wholly our own. We met none; we saw none. Thrice we paused to relieve those not accustomed to such speed, or to the peculiar motion of this animal. But at each resting place, the Queen with impatience hastened us away, saying, that ”rest could be better had at once when we had crossed the river; and once upon the other bank, and we were safe.”

'The first flush of morning was upon the sky as we came within sight of the valley of the Euphrates. The river was itself seen faintly gleaming as we wound down the side of a gentle hill. The country here was broken, as it had been for many of the last miles we had rode--divided by low ridges, deep ravines, and stretches of wood and bush. So that to those approaching the banks in the same general direction, many distinct paths offered themselves. It was here, O Piso, just as we reached the foot of this little hill, riding more slowly by reason of the winding road, that my quick ear caught at a distance the sounds of other hoofs upon the ground beside our own. My heart sank within me--a sudden faintness spread over my limbs. But at the instant I gave the alarm to our troop, and at greatest risk of life and limb we put our beasts to their extreme speed, and dashed toward the river. I still, as we rode, turning my ear in the direction of the sound, heard with distinctness the clatter of horses' hoofs. Our beasts were dromedaries; in that lay my hope. Two boats awaited us among the rushes on the river's bank, in the keeping of those who had been sent forward for that purpose; and off against them, upon the other side of the stream, lay a small Persian village and fortress. Once off in the boats but ever so short a distance, and we were safe. On we flew, and on I was each moment conscious came pursuers, whoever they might be. We reached the river's edge.--”Quick! for your lives,” I cried. ”The Queen, the Princess, and four men in this boat; the packages in the other.” In a moment and less than that, we were in our boat, a troop of horse at the same instant sweeping like a blast of the desert down the bank of the river. We shot into the stream; but ere the other could gain the water, the Romans, as we now too plainly saw them to be, were upon them. A brief but desperate strife ensued. The Romans were five for one of the others, and quickly putting them to the sword, sprang into their boat.

'”Pull! pull!” cried the Queen, the first words she had uttered, ”for your lives and Palmyra!” They gained upon us. We had six oars, they eight. But the strength of three seemed to nerve the arm of Calpurnius.

'”Immortal G.o.ds!” cried he, in inexpressible agony, ”they near us!” and straining with redoubled energy his oar snapped, and the boat whirled from her course.

'”All is lost!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Zen.o.bia.

'A Roman voice was now heard, ”Yield you, and your lives are safe.”

'”Never,” cried Calpurnius, and as the Roman boat struck against ours, he raised his broken oar, and aiming at him who had spoken, lost his balance and plunged headlong into the stream,

'”Save him--save him!” cried the Queen, but they heeded her not. ”It is vain to contend,” she cried out again; ”we yield, but save the life of him who has fallen.”

'The light was yet not sufficient to see but to a little distance. Nothing was visible upon the smooth surface of the water, nor any sound heard.

'”His own rash fury has destroyed him,” said the Roman, who we now could discern bore the rank of Centurion.

'”We seek,” said he, turning toward where the Queen sat, ”we seek Zen.o.bia, Queen of Palmyra.”

'”I am Zen.o.bia,” said the Queen.

'”The G.o.ds be praised therefor!” rejoined the Centurion. ”Our commands are to bear you to the tent of Aurelian.”

'”Do with me as you list,” replied the Queen; ”I am in your power.”

'”To the sh.o.r.e,” exclaimed the Roman; and our boat, fastened to the other, was soon at the place whence but a moment before it had parted.

'”Who are these?” asked the Centurion, as we reached the sh.o.r.e, pointing to the Princess, and the attendant slave and secretary. ”Our orders extend only to the person of the Queen.”

'”Divide them not,” I said, willing to spare the Queen the bandying of words with a Roman soldier, ”they are of the Queen's family. They are a part of herself. If thou takest one take all to thy Emperor.”

'”So be it; and now to your horses, and once more over the plain. It shall go hard, but that what we carry with us will make our fortune with Aurelian.”

'Saying this, the whole troop formed, placing Zen.o.bia and Julia in the midst, and winding up the banks of the river disappeared.