CHAPTER XIV
When the dash for position began, Ben-Hur, as we have seen, was onthe extreme left of the six. For a moment, like the others, he washalf blinded by the light in the arena; yet he managed to catch sightof his antagonists and divine their purpose. At Messala, who was morethan an antagonist to him, he gave one searching look. The air ofpassionless hauteur characteristic of the fine patrician face wasthere as of old, and so was the Italian beauty, which the helmetrather increased; but more--it may have been a jealous fancy,or the effect of the brassy shadow in which the features wereat the moment cast, still the Israelite thought he saw the soulof the man as through a glass, darkly: cruel, cunning, desperate;not so excited as determined--a soul in a tension of watchfulnessand fierce resolve.
In a time not longer than was required to turn to his four again,Ben-Hur felt his own resolution harden to a like temper. At whatevercost, at all hazards, he would humble this enemy! Prize, friends,wagers, honor--everything that can be thought of as a possibleinterest in the race was lost in the one deliberate purpose.Regard for life even should not hold him back. Yet there was nopassion, on his part; no blinding rush of heated blood from heartto brain, and back again; no impulse to fling himself upon Fortune:he did not believe in Fortune; far otherwise. He had his plan, and,confiding in himself, he settled to the task never more observant,never more capable. The air about him seemed aglow with a renewedand perfect transparency.
When not half-way across the arena, he saw that Messala's rushwould, if there was no collision, and the rope fell, give him thewall; that the rope would fall, he ceased as soon to doubt; and,further, it came to him, a sudden flash-like insight, that Messalaknew it was to be let drop at the last moment (prearrangementwith the editor could safely reach that point in the contest);and it suggested, what more Roman-like than for the officialto lend himself to a countryman who, besides being so popular,had also so much at stake? There could be no other accountingfor the confidence with which Messala pushed his four forward theinstant his competitors were prudentially checking their fours infront of the obstruction--no other except madness.
It is one thing to see a necessity and another to act upon it.Ben-Hur yielded the wall for the time.
The rope fell, and all the fours but his sprang into the courseunder urgency of voice and lash. He drew head to the right, and,with all the speed of his Arabs, darted across the trails of hisopponents, the angle of movement being such as to lose the leasttime and gain the greatest possible advance. So, while the spectatorswere shivering at the Athenian's mishap, and the Sidonian, Byzantine,and Corinthian were striving, with such skill as they possessed,to avoid involvement in the ruin, Ben-Hur swept around and tookthe course neck and neck with Messala, though on the outside.The marvellous skill shown in making the change thus from theextreme left across to the right without appreciable loss didnot fail the sharp eyes upon the benches; the Circus seemed torock and rock again with prolonged applause. Then Esther claspedher hands in glad surprise; then Sanballat, smiling, offered hishundred sestertii a second time without a taker; and then the Romansbegan to doubt, thinking Messala might have found an equal, if nota master, and that in an Israelite!
And now, racing together side by side, a narrow interval betweenthem, the two neared the second goal.
The pedestal of the three pillars there, viewed from the west,was a stone wall in the form of a half-circle, around whichthe course and opposite balcony were bent in exact parallelism.Making this turn was considered in all respects the most tellingtest of a charioteer; it was, in fact, the very feat in whichOraetes failed. As an involuntary admission of interest on thepart of the spectators, a hush fell over all the Circus, so thatfor the first time in the race the rattle and clang of the carsplunging after the tugging steeds were distinctly heard. Then, itwould seem, Messala observed Ben-Hur, and recognized him; and atonce the audacity of the man flamed out in an astonishing manner.
"Down Eros, up Mars!" he shouted, whirling his lash with practisedhand--"Down Eros, up Mars!" he repeated, and caught the well-doingArabs of Ben-Hur a cut the like of which they had never known.
The blow was seen in every quarter, and the amazement was universal.The silence deepened; up on the benches behind the consul the boldestheld his breath, waiting for the outcome. Only a moment thus: then,involuntarily, down from the balcony, as thunder falls, burst theindignant cry of the people.
The four sprang forward affrighted. No hand had ever been laidupon them except in love; they had been nurtured ever so tenderly;and as they grew, their confidence in man became a lesson to menbeautiful to see. What should such dainty natures do under suchindignity but leap as from death?
Forward they sprang as with one impulse, and forward leapedthe car. Past question, every experience is serviceable to us.Where got Ben-Hur the large hand and mighty grip which helpedhim now so well? Where but from the oar with which so long hefought the sea? And what was this spring of the floor under hisfeet to the dizzy eccentric lurch with which in the old timethe trembling ship yielded to the beat of staggering billows,drunk with their power? So he kept his place, and gave the fourfree rein, and called to them in soothing voice, trying merely toguide them round the dangerous turn; and before the fever of thepeople began to abate, he had back the mastery. Nor that only:on approaching the first goal, he was again side by side withMessala, bearing with him the sympathy and admiration of everyone not a Roman. So clearly was the feeling shown, so vigorousits manifestation, that Messala, with all his boldness, felt itunsafe to trifle further.
As the cars whirled round the goal, Esther caught sight of Ben-Hur'sface--a little pale, a little higher raised, otherwise calm, even placid.
Immediately a man climbed on the entablature at the west end ofthe division wall, and took down one of the conical wooden balls.A dolphin on the east entablature was taken down at the same time.
In like manner, the second ball and second dolphin disappeared.
And then the third ball and third dolphin.
Three rounds concluded: still Messala held the inside position;still Ben-Hur moved with him side by side; still the othercompetitors followed as before. The contest began to have theappearance of one of the double races which became so popularin Rome during the later Caesarean period--Messala and Ben-Hur inthe first, the Corinthian, Sidonian, and Byzantine in the second.Meantime the ushers succeeded in returning the multitude to theirseats, though the clamor continued to run the rounds, keeping, as itwere, even pace with the rivals in the course below.
In the fifth round the Sidonian succeeded in getting a placeoutside Ben-Hur, but lost it directly.
The sixth round was entered upon without change of relative position.
Gradually the speed had been quickened--gradually the blood ofthe competitors warmed with the work. Men and beasts seemed toknow alike that the final crisis was near, bringing the time forthe winner to assert himself.
The interest which from the beginning had centred chiefly in thestruggle between the Roman and the Jew, with an intense and generalsympathy for the latter, was fast changing to anxiety on his account.On all the benches the spectators bent forward motionless, except astheir faces turned following the contestants. Ilderim quitted combinghis beard, and Esther forgot her fears.
"A hundred sestertii on the Jew!" cried Sanballat to the Romansunder the consul's awning.
There was no reply.
"A talent--or five talents, or ten; choose ye!"
He shook his tablets at them defiantly.
"I will take thy sestertii," answered a Roman youth, preparing towrite.
"Do not so," interposed a friend.
"Why?"
"Messala hath reached his utmost speed. See him lean over hischariot rim, the reins loose as flying ribbons. Look then atthe Jew."
The first one looked.
"By Hercules!" he replied, his countenance falling. "The dog throwsall his weight on the bits. I see, I see! If the gods help not ourfriend, he will be run away with by the Israelite. No, n
ot yet.Look! Jove with us, Jove with us!"
The cry, swelled by every Latin tongue, shook the velaria overthe consul's head.
If it were true that Messala had attained his utmost speed, the effortwas with effect; slowly but certainly he was beginning to forge ahead.His horses were running with their heads low down; from the balconytheir bodies appeared actually to skim the earth; their nostrilsshowed blood red in expansion; their eyes seemed straining intheir sockets. Certainly the good steeds were doing their best!How long could they keep the pace? It was but the commencement ofthe sixth round. On they dashed. As they neared the second goal,Ben-Hur turned in behind the Roman's car.
The joy of the Messala faction reached its bound: they screamedand howled, and tossed their colors; and Sanballat filled histablets with wagers of their tendering.
Malluch, in the lower gallery over the Gate of Triumph, found ithard to keep his cheer. He had cherished the vague hint droppedto him by Ben-Hur of something to happen in the turning of thewestern pillars. It was the fifth round, yet the something hadnot come; and he had said to himself, the sixth will bring it;but, lo! Ben-Hur was hardly holding a place at the tail of hisenemy's car.
Over in the east end, Simonides' party held their peace. The merchant'shead was bent low. Ilderim tugged at his beard, and dropped his browstill there was nothing of his eyes but an occasional sparkle of light.Esther scarcely breathed. Iras alone appeared glad.
Along the home-stretch--sixth round--Messala leading, next himBen-Hur, and so close it was the old story:
"First flew Eumelus on Pheretian steeds; With those of Tros bold Diomed succeeds; Close on Eumelus' back they puff the wind, And seem just mounting on his car behind; Full on his neck he feels the sultry breeze, And, hovering o'er, their stretching shadow sees."
Thus to the first goal, and round it. Messala, fearful of losinghis place, hugged the stony wall with perilous clasp; a foot tothe left, and he had been dashed to pieces; yet, when the turnwas finished, no man, looking at the wheel-tracks of the two cars,could have said, here went Messala, there the Jew. They left butone trace behind them.
As they whirled by, Esther saw Ben-Hur's face again, and it waswhiter than before.
Simonides, shrewder than Esther, said to Ilderim, the momentthe rivals turned into the course, "I am no judge, good sheik,if Ben-Hur be not about to execute some design. His face haththat look."
To which Ilderim answered, "Saw you how clean they were and fresh?By the splendor of God, friend, they have not been running! But nowwatch!"
One ball and one dolphin remained on the entablatures; and allthe people drew a long breath, for the beginning of the end wasat hand.
First, the Sidonian gave the scourge to his four, and, smarting withfear and pain, they dashed desperately forward, promising for a brieftime to go to the front. The effort ended in promise. Next, the Byzantineand the Corinthian each made the trial with like result, after whichthey were practically out of the race. Thereupon, with a readinessperfectly explicable, all the factions except the Romans joinedhope in Ben-Hur, and openly indulged their feeling.
"Ben-Hur! Ben-Hur!" they shouted, and the blent voices of the manyrolled overwhelmingly against the consular stand.
From the benches above him as he passed, the favor descended infierce injunctions.
"Speed thee, Jew!"
"Take the wall now!"
"On! loose the Arabs! Give them rein and scourge!"
"Let him not have the turn on thee again. Now or never!"
Over the balustrade they stooped low, stretching their handsimploringly to him.
Either he did not hear, or could not do better, for halfway roundthe course and he was still following; at the second goal evenstill no change!
And now, to make the turn, Messala began to draw in his left-handsteeds, an act which necessarily slackened their speed. His spiritwas high; more than one altar was richer of his vows; the Romangenius was still president. On the three pillars only six hundredfeet away were fame, increase of fortune, promotions, and a triumphineffably sweetened by hate, all in store for him! That moment Malluch,in the gallery, saw Ben-Hur lean forward over his Arabs, and give themthe reins. Out flew the many-folded lash in his hand; over the backsof the startled steeds it writhed and hissed, and hissed and writhedagain and again; and though it fell not, there were both sting andmenace in its quick report; and as the man passed thus from quiet toresistless action, his face suffused, his eyes gleaming, along thereins he seemed to flash his will; and instantly not one, but thefour as one, answered with a leap that landed them alongside theRoman's car. Messala, on the perilous edge of the goal, heard,but dared not look to see what the awakening portended. From thepeople he received no sign. Above the noises of the race therewas but one voice, and that was Ben-Hur's. In the old Aramaic,as the sheik himself, he called to the Arabs,
"On, Atair! On, Rigel! What, Antares! dost thou linger now?Good horse--oho, Aldebaran! I hear them singing in the tents.I hear the children singing and the women--singing of the stars,of Atair, Antares, Rigel, Aldebaran, victory!--and the song willnever end. Well done! Home to-morrow, under the black tent--home!On, Antares! The tribe is waiting for us, and the master is waiting!'Tis done! 'tis done! Ha, ha! We have overthrown the proud. The handthat smote us is in the dust. Ours the glory! Ha, ha!--steady! Thework is done--soho! Rest!"
There had never been anything of the kind more simple; seldom anythingso instantaneous.
At the moment chosen for the dash, Messala was moving in a circleround the goal. To pass him, Ben-Hur had to cross the track, andgood strategy required the movement to be in a forward direction;that is, on a like circle limited to the least possible increase.The thousands on the benches understood it all: they saw the signalgiven--the magnificent response; the four close outside Messala'souter wheel; Ben-Hur's inner wheel behind the other's car--allthis they saw. Then they heard a crash loud enough to send athrill through the Circus, and, quicker than thought, out over thecourse a spray of shining white and yellow flinders flew. Down onits right side toppled the bed of the Roman's chariot. There was arebound as of the axle hitting the hard earth; another and another;then the car went to pieces; and Messala, entangled in the reins,pitched forward headlong.
To increase the horror of the sight by making death certain,the Sidonian, who had the wall next behind, could not stopor turn out. Into the wreck full speed he drove; then over theRoman, and into the latter's four, all mad with fear. Presently,out of the turmoil, the fighting of horses, the resound of blows,the murky cloud of dust and sand, he crawled, in time to see theCorinthian and Byzantine go on down the course after Ben-Hur,who had not been an instant delayed.
The people arose, and leaped upon the benches, and shouted and screamed.Those who looked that way caught glimpses of Messala, now under thetrampling of the fours, now under the abandoned cars. He was still;they thought him dead; but far the greater number followed Ben-Hurin his career. They had not seen the cunning touch of the reins bywhich, turning a little to the left, he caught Messala's wheel withthe iron-shod point of his axle, and crushed it; but they had seenthe transformation of the man, and themselves felt the heat andglow of his spirit, the heroic resolution, the maddening energyof action with which, by look, word, and gesture, he so suddenlyinspired his Arabs. And such running! It was rather the long leapingof lions in harness; but for the lumbering chariot, it seemed thefour were flying. When the Byzantine and Corinthian were halfwaydown the course, Ben-Hur turned the first goal.
AND THE RACE WAS WON!
The consul arose; the people shouted themselves hoarse; the editorcame down from his seat, and crowned the victors.
The fortunate man among the boxers was a low-browed, yellow-hairedSaxon, of such brutalized face as to attract a second look fromBen-Hur, who recognized a teacher with whom he himself had beena favorite at Rome. From him the young Jew looked up and beheldSimonides and his party on the balcony. They waved their handsto him. Esther kept her seat; but Iras arose, and gave him asmile an
d a wave of her fan--favors not the less intoxicating tohim because we know, O reader, they would have fallen to Messalahad he been the victor.
The procession was then formed, and, midst the shouting of themultitude which had had its will, passed out of the Gate of Triumph.
And the day was over.