A Victor of Salamis Part 43

"You said you were good at detecting lies."

Themistocles's head went down between his hands; at last he lifted it and gazed the deserter in the face.

"Now, son of Conon, do you still persist that you are innocent? Do you repeat those oaths you swore at Colonus?"

"All. I did not write that letter."

"Who did, then?"

"A malignant G.o.d, I said. I will say it again."

Themistocles shook his head.

"G.o.ds take human agencies to ruin a man in these days, even Hermes the Trickster. Again I say, who wrote that letter?"

"Athena knows."

"And unfortunately her Ladys.h.i.+p the G.o.ddess will not tell," cried the admiral, blasphemously. "Let us fall back on easier questions. Did I write it?"

"Absurd."

"Did Democrates?"

"Absurd again, still-"

"Do you not see, dearest outlaw," said Themistocles, mildly, "until you can lay that letter on some other man's shoulders, I cannot answer, 'I believe you'?"

"I did not ask that. I have a simpler request. Will you let me serve h.e.l.las?"

"How do I know you are not a spy sent from Mardonius?"

"Because too many deserters and talebearers are flying to Xerxes now to require that I thrust my head in the Hydra's jaws. You know surely that."

Themistocles raised his eyebrows.

"There's truth said there, Simonides. What do you think?" The last question was to the poet.

"That this Glaucon, whatever his guilt a year ago, comes to-night in good faith."

"_Euge!_ that's easily said. But what if he betrays us again?"

"If I understand aright," spoke Simonides, shrewdly, "our case is such there's little left worth betraying."

"Not badly put,"-again Themistocles pressed his forehead, while Glaucon stood as pa.s.sive as hard marble. Then the admiral suddenly began to rain questions like an arrow volley.

"You come from the king's camp?"

"Yes."

"And have heard the plans of battle?"

"I was not at the council, but nothing is concealed. The Persians are too confident."

"Of course. How do their s.h.i.+ps lie?"

"Crowded around the havens of Athens. The va.s.sal Ionians have their s.h.i.+ps on the left. The Phnicians, Xerxes's chief hope, lie on the right, but on the extreme right anchor the Egyptians."

"How do you know this?"

"From the camp-followers' talk. Then, too, I rowed by the whole armada while on my way to Salamis. I have eyes. The moon was s.h.i.+ning. I was not mistaken."

"Do you know where rides the trireme of Ariabignes, Xerxes's admiral-in-chief?"

"Off the entrance to Peiraeus. It is easy to find her. She is covered with lights."

"Ah! and the Egyptian squadron is on the extreme right and closest to Salamis?"

"Very close."

"If they went up the coast as far as the promontory on Mt. aegaleos, the strait toward Eleusis would be closed?"

"Certainly."

"And on the south the way is already blocked by the Ionians."

"I had trouble in pa.s.sing even in my skiff."

More questions, Glaucon not knowing whither they all were drifting.

Without warning Themistocles uprose and smote his thigh.

"So you are anxious to serve h.e.l.las?"

"Have I not said it?"

"Dare you die for her?"

"I made the choice once with Leonidas."

"Dare you do a thing which, if it slip, may give you into the hands of the Barbarians to be torn by wild horses or of the Greeks to be crucified?"

"But it shall not slip!"

"_Euge!_ that is a n.o.ble answer. Now let us come."

"Whither?"

"To Eurybiades's flag-s.h.i.+p. Then I can know whether you must risk the deed."