A Victor of Salamis

  CHAPTER XXX

  THEMISTOCLES GIVES A PROMISE

  After the _Nausicaae_ had returned that night to Salamis, after the old menand the women had laughed and wept over the living,--they were too proud toweep over the dead,--after the prudent admirals had set the fleet again inorder, for Xerxes might tempt fate again in the morning with his remainingships, Themistocles found himself once more in his cabin. With him wasonly Glaucon the Alcmaeonid. The admiral's words were few and pointed.

  "Son of Conon, last night you gave me the thought whereby I could saveHellas. To-day your javelin saved me from death. I owe you much. I willrepay in true coin. To-morrow I can give you back to your wife and allyour friends if you will but suffer me."

  The younger man flushed a little, but his eyes did not brighten. He feltThemistocles's reservation.

  "On what terms?"

  "You shall be presented to the Athenians as one who, yielding for a momentto overmastering temptation, has atoned for one error by renderinginfinite service."

  "Then I am to be 'Glaucon the Traitor' still, even if 'Glaucon theRepentant Traitor'?"

  "Your words are hard, son of Conon; what may I say? Have you any newexplanation for the letter to Argos?"

  "The old one--I did not write it."

  "Let us not bandy useless arguments. Do you not see I shall be doing allthat is possible?"

  "Let me think a little."

  The younger Athenian held down his head, and Themistocles saw his browsknitting.

  "Son of Neocles," said Glaucon, at length, "I thank you. You are a justman. Whatever of sorrow has or will be mine, you have no part therein, butI cannot return--not to Hermione and my child--on any terms you name."

  "Your purpose, then?"

  "To-day the gods show mercy to Hellas, later they may show justice to me.The war is far from ended. Can you not let me serve on some ship of theallies where none can recognize me? Thus let me wait a year, and trustthat in that year the sphinx will find her riddle answered."

  "To wait thus long is hard," spoke the other, kindly.

  "I have done many hard things, Themistocles."

  "And your wife?"

  "Hera pity her! She bade me return when Athens knew me innocent. Betterthat she wait a little longer, though in sorrow, when I can return to hereven as she bade me. Nevertheless, promise one thing."

  "Name it."

  "That if her parents are about to give her to Democrates or any other, youwill prevent."

  Themistocles's face lightened. He laid a friendly hand on the young man'sshoulder.

  "I do not know how to answer your cry of innocency, _philotate_, but thisI know, in all Hellas I think none is fairer in body or soul than you.Have no fear for Hermione, and in the year to come may Revealer Apollomake all of your dark things bright."

  Glaucon bowed his head. Themistocles had given everything the outlaw couldask, and the latter went out of the cabin.

  BOOK III

  THE PASSING OF THE PERSIAN