United States or Côte d'Ivoire ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"I know one more thing we can do," said Daphne. "Lycias told me about it." She got a small piece of bark and made a little amulet of it. She punched a hole through one end and put a leather string through it. Neither she nor Dion could write, so when she had explained what must be done Melas himself took a sharp stone and scratched a curse upon crows in the soft bark.
Lycias passed his big hand over his smoothly shaven face to hide his expression of disgust. He rose. "If you permit, honored sir, I will now retire, with the hope that we shall meet again." "Willingly will I continue the conversation. Perhaps " Alyrus was swelling with importance, "it would interest you to visit the prisons and see these Christians before they are thrown into the arena.
"It's a fine young ram," he cried, "and it's nothing short of a miracle that the wolves haven't got it, and its mother too, long before this! "I always said that old ewe was bewitched," quavered Lycias. "It's magic, I say. And the lamb is as black as Erebus too. No good will come of this!" "Come, come!
He and Lidia walked back to Rome together. As they parted, the big gladiator looked down into her earnest little face, with the clear, honest eyes. "I should like to learn about Christ," he said. "I will teach thee, Lycias, though I am but a weak follower of my Master." The next day, the one before the games were to take place in the Circus, two things happened.
"We are not far from the entrance. Quick!" Martius seized Virgilia in his arms; Marcus led his mother and Hermione. It was but a step, a moment and they were by the side of Lycias. Hermione was fainting. The gladiator lifted her as easily as if she were a child. "Follow me," said Lycias, striding before them.
"And it is really true that thou art admitted to those holy precincts?" "Behold!" Alyrus drew from the folds of his garment the bronze lizard. "Not only does this admit me to the temple itself but to any place in the city of Rome. Thou seest. It is the symbol of the priests of Jupiter." "I see," Lycias' eyes gleamed, as he watched Alyrus placing the precious symbol in a safe place.
It grew necessary for the men to help the women, who were very weary and weak from excitement; although Lycias did not wish to call any more attention to them than was necessary, for fear that the ladies, especially Octavia, who was well known, might be recognized. All the Romans had not gone to the Circus, some were sitting in the eating- places, and women were knitting in the doorways.
He had been a poor boy, but by reason of his strength had risen to be the first gladiator. He and Lidia the kitchen-maid, had grown up together in the cave of Lucius, for Lycias had been found, a tiny baby, lying at the door of the sheepfold. For the love and care bestowed upon him, Lycias had always been grateful. Therefore, at the request of Lucius, was he here.
"It was wolves, I'll go bail," cried Lycias, and he started at once to climb a tree. "Wolves!" shrieked Chloe, and got behind her mistress. The Twins were already holding to her skirts. "Wolves!" howled the slaves, "a whole pack of them!" and as there was nothing for them to climb, each hastily tried to get behind some one else. In the struggle Dromas got crowded back and sat down on a hot coal.
Lycias gave a sigh of satisfaction as he saw, sitting on a grassy bank a man and a woman, who was heavily veiled. Standing beside them was a slender girl. It was Lidia, the daughter of the shepherd, who sprang forward and put her arms around her father's neck, while great tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks. "At last! at last! thou art come. Thanks be to our God."
Word Of The Day