Part 42 (1/2)
”May it please your Excellency, a deserter.”
”A deserter, and how and why here?”
”He came to the _Nausicaa_ in a skiff. He swears he has just come from the Barbarians at Phaleron. He demands to see the admiral.”
”He is a Barbarian?”
”No, a Greek. He affects to speak a kind of Doric dialect.”
Themistocles laughed again, and even more lightly.
”A deserter, you say. Then why, by Athena's owls, has he left 'the Land of Roast Hare' among the Persians, whither so many are betaking themselves?
We've not so many deserters to our cause that to-night we can ignore one.
Fetch him in.”
”But the council with Eurybiades?” implored Simonides, almost on his knees.
”To the harpies with it! I asked Zeus for an omen. It comes-a fair one.
There is time to hear this deserter, to confound Adeimantus, and to save h.e.l.las too!”
Themistocles tossed his head. The wavering, the doubting frown was gone.
He was himself again. What he hoped for, what device lay in that inexhaustible brain of his, Simonides did not know. But the sight itself of this strong, smiling man gave courage. The officer reentered, with him a young man, his face in part concealed by a thick beard and a peaked cap drawn low upon his forehead. The stranger came boldly across to Themistocles, spoke a few words, whereat the admiral instantly bade the officer to quit the cabin.
CHAPTER XXVII
THE CRAFT OF ODYSSEUS
The stranger drew back the s.h.a.ggy cap. Simonides and Themistocles saw a young, well-formed man. With his thick beard and the flickering cabin lamps it was impossible to discover more. The newcomer stood silent as if awaiting remark from the others, and they in turn looked on him.
”Well,” spoke the admiral, at length, ”who are you? Why are you here?”
”You do not know me?”
”Not in the least, and my memory is good. But your speech now is Attic, not Doric as they told me.”
”It may well be Attic, I am Athenian born.”
”Athenian? And still to me a stranger? Ah! an instant. Your voice is familiar. Where have I heard it before?”
”The last time,” rejoined the stranger, his tones rising, ”it was a certain night at Colonus. Democrates and Hermippus were with you-likewise-”
Themistocles leaped back three steps.
”The sea gives up its dead. You are Glaucon son of-”
”Conon,” completed the fugitive, folding his arms calmly, but the admiral was not so calm.