thunder of the
stones hurled by the catapults, and the sharp notes of the signals which
sounded like calls for help. Two soldiers, stricken by arrows, fell
beside me. It was horrible! Yet my courage remained steadfast, even when
a squadron--it was commanded by Aruntius--pressed upon the fleet. I saw
another line of galleys steering directly towards us, and a Roman vessel
assailed by one of mine--I had named her the Selene--turn on her side
and sink. This pleased me and seemed like the first presage of victory.
I again ordered Alexas to have the ship's prow turned as soon as the
result of the battle was decided. Ere I had ceased speaking, Jason, the
steward--you know him--appeared with refreshments. I took the beaker,
but, ere I could raise it to my lips, he fell to the deck with a cloven
skull, mingling his blood with the spilled juice of the grape. My blood
seemed fairly to freeze in my veins, and Alexas, trembling and deadly
pale, asked, 'Do you command us to quit the battle?'

"Every fibre of my being urged me to give the order, but I controlled
myself, and asked the nauarch, who was standing on the bridge before
me, 'Are we gaining the advantage?' The reply was a positive 'Yes.' I
thought the fitting time had come, and called to him to steer the galley
southward. But the man did not seem to understand. Meanwhile the noise
of the conflict had grown louder and louder. So, in spite of Charmian,
who besought me not to interfere in the battle, I sent Alexas to the
commander on the bridge, and while he talked with the grey-bearded
seaman, who wrathfully answered I know not what, I glanced at the
nearest ship--I no longer knew whether it was friend or foe--and as I
saw the rows of restless oars moving in countless numbers to and fro,
it seemed as if every ship had become a huge spider, and the long wooden
handles of the oars were its legs and feet. Each of these monsters
appeared to be seeking to snare me in a horrible net, and when the
nauarch came to beseech me to wait, I imperiously commanded him to obey
my orders.

"The luckless man bowed, and performed his Queen's behest. The giant was
turned, and forced a passage through the maze.

"I breathed more freely.

"What had threatened me like the legs of huge spiders became oars once
more. Alexas led me under a roof, where no missiles could reach me. My
desire was fulfilled. I had escaped Antony's eyes, and we were going
towards Alexandria and my children. When I at la