CHAPTER XXVII
THE CRAFT OF ODYSSEUS
The stranger drew back the shaggy cap. Simonides and Themistocles saw ayoung, well-formed man. With his thick beard and the flickering cabinlamps it was impossible to discover more. The newcomer stood silent as ifawaiting 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 isfamiliar. Where have I heard it before?"
"The last time," rejoined the stranger, his tones rising, "it was acertain night at Colonus. Democrates and Hermippus were withyou--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 admiralwas not so calm.
"Miserable youth! What harpy, what evil god has brought you hither? Whatprevents that I give you over to the crew to crucify at the foremast?"
"Nothing hinders! nothing"--Glaucon's voice mounted to shrillness--"savethat Athens and Hellas need all their sons this night."
"A loyal son you have been!" darted Themistocles, his lips curling. "Wheredid you escape the sea?"
"I was washed on Astypalaea."
"Where have you been since?"
"In Sardis."
"Who protected you there?"
"Mardonius."
"Did the Persians treat you so shabbily that you were glad to desertthem?"
"They loaded me with riches and honour. Xerxes showered me with benefits."
"And you accompanied their army to Hellas? You went with the other Greekrenegades--the sons of Hippias and the rest?"
Glaucon's brow grew very red, but he met Themistocles's arrowlike gaze.
"I did--and yet--"
"Ah, yes--the 'yet,' " observed Themistocles, sarcastically. "I hadexpected it. Well, I can imagine many motives for coming,--to betray ourhopes to the Persians, or even because Athena has put some contritemanhood in your heart. You know, of course, that the resolution we passedrecalling the exiles did not extend pardon to traitors."
"I know it."
Themistocles flung himself into a chair. The admiral was in a rarecondition for him,--truly at a loss to divine the best word and question.
"Sit also, Simonides," his order, "and you, once Alcmaeonid and now outlaw,tell why, after these confessions, I should believe any other part of yourstory?"
"I do not ask you to believe,"--Glaucon stood like a statue,--"I shall notblame you if you do the worst,--yet you shall hear--"
The admiral made an impatient gesture, commanding "Begin," and thefugitive poured out his tale. All the voyage from Phaleron he had beennerving himself for this ordeal; his composure did not desert now. Herelated lucidly, briefly, how the fates had dealt with him since he fledColonus. Only when he told of his abiding with Leonidas Themistocles'sgaze grew sharper.
"Tell that again. Be careful. I am very good at detecting lies."
Glaucon repeated unfalteringly.
"What proof that you were with Leonidas?"
"None but my word. Euboulus of Corinth and the Spartans alone knew myname. They are dead."
"Humph! And you expect me to accept the boast of a traitor with a priceupon his head?"
"You said you were good at detecting lies."
Themistocles's head went down between his hands; at last he lifted it andgazed the deserter in the face.
"Now, son of Conon, do you still persist that you are innocent? Do yourepeat those oaths you swore at Colonus?"
"All. I did not write that letter."
"Who did, then?"
"A malignant god, I said. I will say it again."
Themistocles shook his head.
"Gods take human agencies to ruin a man in these days, even Hermes theTrickster. Again I say, who wrote that letter?"
"Athena knows."
"And unfortunately her Ladyship the Goddess will not tell," cried theadmiral, blasphemously. "Let us fall back on easier questions. Did I writeit?"
"Absurd."
"Did Democrates?"
"Absurd again, still--"
"Do you not see, dearest outlaw," said Themistocles, mildly, "until youcan lay that letter on some other man's shoulders, I cannot answer, 'Ibelieve you'?"
"I did not ask that. I have a simpler request. Will you let me serveHellas?"
"How do I know you are not a spy sent from Mardonius?"
"Because too many deserters and talebearers are flying to Xerxes now torequire 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 lastquestion was to the poet.
"That this Glaucon, whatever his guilt a year ago, comes to-night in goodfaith."
"_Euge!_ that's easily said. But what if he betrays us again?"
"If I understand aright," spoke Simonides, shrewdly, "our case is suchthere's little left worth betraying."
"Not badly put,"--again Themistocles pressed his forehead, while Glauconstood as passive as hard marble. Then the admiral suddenly began to rainquestions 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 tooconfident."
"Of course. How do their ships lie?"
"Crowded around the havens of Athens. The vassal Ionians have their shipson the left. The Phoenicians, Xerxes's chief hope, lie on the right, but onthe extreme right anchor the Egyptians."
"How do you know this?"
"From the camp-followers' talk. Then, too, I rowed by the whole armadawhile on my way to Salamis. I have eyes. The moon was shining. I was notmistaken."
"Do you know where rides the trireme of Ariabignes, Xerxes'sadmiral-in-chief?"
"Off the entrance to Peiraeus. It is easy to find her. She is covered withlights."
"Ah! and the Egyptian squadron is on the extreme right and closest toSalamis?"
"Very close."
"If they went up the coast as far as the promontory on Mt. AEgaleos, thestrait toward Eleusis would be closed?"
"Certainly."
"And on the south the way is already blocked by the Ionians."
"I had trouble in passing 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 Hellas?"
"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 theBarbarians to be torn by wild horses or of the Greeks to be crucified?"
"But it shall not slip!"
"_Euge!_ that is a noble answer. Now let us come."
"Whither?"
"To Eurybiades's flag-ship. Then I can know whether you must risk thedeed."
Themistocles touched a bronze gong; a marine adjutant entered.
"My pinnace," ordered the admiral. As the man went out, Themistocles tooka long himation from the locker and wrapped it around the newcomer.
"Since even Simonides and I did not recognize you in your long beard, Idoubt if you are in danger of detection to-night. But remember your nameis Critias. You can dye your hair if you come safe back from thisadventure. Have you eaten?"
"Who has hunger now?"
Themistocles laughed.
"So say all of us. But if the gifts of Demeter cannot strengthen, it isnot so with those of Dionysus. Drink."
&nb
sp; He took from a hook a leathern bottle and poured out a hornful of hotChian. Glaucon did not refuse. After he had finished the admiral didlikewise. Then Glaucon in turn asked questions.
"Where is my wife?"
"In the town of Salamis, with her father; do you know she has borne--"
"A son. Are both well?"
"Well. The child is fair as the son of Leto."
They could see the light flash out of the eyes of the outlaw. He turnedtoward the statue and stretched out his hand.
"O Aphrodite, I bless thee!" Then again to the admiral, "And Hermione isnot yet given to Democrates in marriage?" The words came swiftly.
"Not yet. Hermippus desires it. Hermione resists. She calls Democratesyour destroyer."
Glaucon turned away his face that they might not behold it.
"The god has not yet forgotten mercy," Simonides thought he heard him say.
"The pinnace is waiting, _kyrie_," announced the orderly from thecompanionway.
"Let the deserter's skiff be towed behind," ordered Themistocles, once ondeck, "and let Sicinnus also go with me."
The keen-eyed Asiatic took his place with Themistocles and Glaucon in thestern. The sturdy boatmen sent the pinnace dancing. All through the briefvoyage the admiral was at whispers with Sicinnus. As they reached theSpartan flag-ship, half a score of pinnaces trailing behind told how thePeloponnesian admirals were already aboard clamouring at Eurybiades fororders to fly. From the ports of the stern-cabin the glare of many lampsspread wavering bars of light across the water. Voices came, upraised injarring debate. The marine guard saluted with his spear as Themistocleswent up the ladder. Leaving his companions on deck, the admiral hastenedbelow. An instant later he was back and beckoned the Asiatic and theoutlaw to the ship's rail.
"Take Sicinnus to the Persian high admiral," was his ominous whisper, "andfail not,--fail not, for I say to you except the god prosper you now, notall Olympus can save our Hellas to-morrow."
Not another word as he turned again to the cabin. The pinnace crew hadbrought the skiff alongside, Sicinnus entered it, Glaucon took the oars,pulled out a little, as if back to the _Nausicaae_, then sent the head ofthe skiff around, pointing across the strait, toward the havens of Athens.Sicinnus sat in silence, but Glaucon guessed the errand. The wind wasrising and bringing clouds. This would hide the moon and lessen thedanger. But above all things speed was needful. The athlete put hisstrength upon the oars till the heavy skiff shot across the black void ofthe water.
* * * * * * *
It was little short of midnight when Glaucon swung the skiff away from thetall trireme of Ariabignes, the Barbarian's admiral. The deed was done. Hehad sat in the bobbing boat while Sicinnus had been above with the Persianchiefs. Officers who had exchanged the wine-cup with Glaucon in the dayswhen he stood at Xerxes's side passed through the glare of the battlelanterns swaying above the rail. The Athenian had gripped at the dagger inhis belt as he watched them. Better in the instant of discovery to slayone's self than die a few hours afterward by slow tortures! But discoveryhad not come. Sicinnus had come down the ladder, smiling, jesting, a dozensubalterns salaaming as he went, and offering all manner of service, forhad he not been a bearer of great good tidings to the king?
"Till to-morrow," an olive-skinned Cilician navarch had spoken.
"Till to-morrow," waved the messenger, lightly. He did all things coolly,as if he had been bearing an invitation to a feast, took his post in thestern of the skiff deliberately, then turned to the silent man with him.
"Pull."
"Whither?" Glaucon was already tugging the oars.
"To Eurybiades's ship. Themistocles is waiting. And again all speed."
The line of twinkling water betwixt the skiff and the Persian widened. Fora few moments Glaucon bent himself silently to his task, then for thefirst time questioned.
"What have you done?"
Even in the darkness he knew Sicinnus grinned and showed his teeth.
"In the name of Themistocles I have told the Barbarian chiefs that theHellenes are at strife one with another, that they are meditating a hastyflight, that if the king's captains will but move their ships so as toenclose them, it is likely there will be no battle in the morning, but theHellenes will fall into the hands of Xerxes unresisting."
"And the Persian answered?"
"That I and my master would not fail of reward for this service to theking. That the Egyptian ships would be swung at once across the strait tocut off all flight by the Hellenes."
The outlaw made no answer, but pulled at the oars. The reaction from theday and evening of strain and peril was upon him. He was unutterablyweary, though more in mind than in body. The clumsy skiff seemed only tocrawl. Trusting the orders of Sicinnus to steer him aright, he closed hiseyes. One picture after another of his old life came up before him now hewas in the stadium at Corinth and facing the giant Spartan, now he stoodby Hermione on the sacred Rock at Athens, now he was at Xerxes's side withthe fleets and the myriads passing before them at the Hellespont, he sawhis wife, he saw Roxana, and all other things fair and lovely that hadcrossed his life. Had he made the best choice? Were the desperate fates ofHellas better than the flower-banked streams of Bactria, whose delights hehad forever thrust by? Would his Fortune, guider of every human destiny,bring him at last to a calm haven, or would his life go out amid thecrashing ships to-morrow? The oars bumped on the thole-pins. He pulledmechanically, the revery ever deepening, then a sharp hail awoke him.
"O-op! What do you here?"
The call was in Phoenician. Glaucon scarce knew the harsh Semitic speech,but the _lembos_, a many-oared patrol cutter, was nearly on them. A momentmore, and seizure would be followed by identification. Life, death,Hellas, Hermione, all flashed before his eyes as he sat numbed, butSicinnus saved them both.
"The password to-night? You know it," he demanded in quick whisper.
" 'Hystaspes,' " muttered Glaucon, still wool-gathering.
"Who are you? Why here?" An officer in the cutter was rising and upholdingan unmasked lantern. "We've been ordered to cruise in the channel and snapup deserters, and by Baal, here are twain! The crows will pick at youreyes to-morrow."
Sicinnus stood upright in the skiff.
"Fool," he answered in good Sidonian, "dare you halt the king's privymessenger? It is not _our_ heads that the crows will find the soonest."
The cutter was close beside them, but the officer dropped his lantern.
"Good, then. Give the password."
" 'Hystaspes.' "
They could see the Phoenician's hand rise to his head in salute.
"Forgive my rudeness, worthy sir. It's truly needless to seek desertersto-night with the Hellenes' affairs so desperate, yet we must obey hisEternity's orders."
"I pardon you," quoth the emissary, loftily, "I will commend yourvigilance to the admiral."
"May Moloch give your Lordship ten thousand children," called back themollified Semite.
The crew of the cutter dropped their blades into the water. The boatsglided apart. Not till there was a safe stretch betwixt them did Glauconbegin to grow hot, then cold, then hot again. Chill Thanatos had passedand missed by a hair's breadth. Again the bumping of the oars and theslow, slow creeping over the water. The night was darkening. The cloudshad hid the moon and all her stars. Sicinnus, shrewd and weatherwise,remarked, "There will be a stiff wind in the morning," and lapsed intosilence. Glaucon toiled on resolutely. A fixed conviction was takingpossession of his mind,--one that had come on the day he had been preservedat Thermopylae, now deepened by the event just passed,--that he was beingreserved by the god for some crowning service to Hellas, after whichshould come peace, whether the peace of a warrior who dies in the arms ofvictory, whether the peace of a life spent after a deed well done, hescarcely knew, and in the meantime, if the storms must beat and the wavesrise up against him, he would bear them still. Like the hero of his race,he could say, "Already have I suffered much and much have I toiled inpe
rils of waves and war, let this be added to the tale of those."
Bump--bump, the oars played their monotonous music on the thole-pins.Sicinnus stirred on his seat. He was peering northward anxiously, andGlaucon knew what he was seeking. Through the void of the night theirstraining eyes saw masses gliding across the face of the water. Ariabigneswas making his promise good. Yonder the Egyptian fleet were swinging forthto close the last retreat of the Hellenes. Thus on the north, andsouthward, too, other triremes were thrusting out, bearing--both watcherswisely guessed--a force to disembark on Psyttaleia, the islet betwixtSalamis and the main, a vantage-point in the coming battle.
The coming battle? It was so silent, ghostlike, far away, imaginationscarce could picture it. Was this black slumberous water to be the sceneat dawn of a combat beside which that of Hector and Achilles under Troywould be only as a tale that is told? And was he, Glaucon, son of Cononthe Alcmaeonid, sitting there in the skiff alone with Sicinnus, to have apart therein, in a battle the fame whereof should ring through the ages?Bump, bump--still the monologue of the oars. A fish near by leaped from thewater, splashing loudly. Then for an instant the clouds broke. Seleneuncovered her face. The silvery flash quickly come, more quickly flying,showed him the headlands of that Attica now in Xerxes's hands. He sawPentelicus and Hymettus, Parnes and Cithaeron, the hills he had wanderedover in glad boyhood, the hills where rested his ancestors' dust. It wasno dream. He felt his warm blood quicken. He felt the round-bowed skiffspring over the waves, as with unwearied hands he tugged at the oar. Thereare moments when the dullest mind grows prophetic, and the mind of theAthenian was not dull. The moonlight had vanished. In its place throughthe magic darkness seemed gathering all the heroes of his people beckoninghim and his compeers onward. Perseus was there, and Theseus andErechtheus, Heracles the Mighty, and Odysseus the Patient, whose intellectThemistocles possessed, Solon the Wise, Periander the Crafty, Diomedes theUndaunted, men of reality, men of fable, sages, warriors, demigods,crowding together, speaking one message: "Be strong, for the heritage ofwhat you do this coming day shall be passed beyond children's children,shall be passed down to peoples to whom the tongue, the gods, yea, thename of Hellas, are but as a dream."
Glaucon felt the weariness fly from him. He was refreshed as never bywine. Then through the void in place of the band of heroes slowlyoutspread the tracery of a vessel at anchor,--the outermost guardship ofthe fleet of the Hellenes. They were again amongst friends. The watcher onthe trireme was keeping himself awake after the manner of sentries bysinging. In the night-stillness the catch from Archilochus rang lustily.
"By my spear I have won my bread, By spear won my clear, red wine, On my spear I will lean and drink,-- Show me a merrier life than is mine!"
The trolling called Glaucon back to reality. Guided by Sicinnus, who knewthe stations of the Greek fleet better than he, a second time they camebeside the Spartan admiral. The lamps were still burning in thestern-cabin. Even before they were alongside, they caught the clamours offierce debate.
"Still arguing?" quoth Sicinnus to the yawning marine officer who advancedto greet them as they reached the top of the ladder.
"Still arguing," grunted the Spartan. "I think your master has draggedforth all his old arguments and invented a thousand new ones. He talkscontinuously, as if battling for time, though only Castor knows wherefore.There's surely a majority against him."
The emissary descended the companionway, Themistocles leaped up from hisseat in the crowded council. A few whispers, the Asiatic returned toGlaucon on the deck. The two gazed down the companionway, observingeverything. They had not long to wait.