in
to us why you are to be killed or taken prisoner."

Now a tumult arose, and a eunuch in the background shouted to the
soldiers to obey the Empress's orders, whereon again some of them began
to advance.

"If no answer is given to my question," went on Jodd in his slow,
bull-like voice, "I fear that others must be killed besides the General
Olaf. Ho! Northmen. To me, Northmen! Ho! Britons, to me, Britons! Ho!
Saxons, to me, Saxons! Ho! all who are not accursed Greeks. To me all
who are not accursed Greeks!"

Now at each cry of Jodd's men leapt forward from the gathering crowd,
and, to the number of fifty or more in all, marshalled themselves behind
him, those of each nation standing shoulder to shoulder in little groups
before me.

"Is my question to be answered?" asked Jodd. "Because, if not, although
we be but one against ten, I think that ere the General Olaf is cut down
or taken there will be good fighting this night."

Then I spoke, saying,

"Captain Jodd, and comrades, I will answer your question, and if I
speak wrongly let the Augusta correct me. This is the trouble. The lady
Heliodore here is my affianced wife. We were speaking together in this
garden as the affianced do. The Empress, who, unseen by us, was hidden
behind those trees, overheard our talk, which, for reasons best known
to herself, for in it there was naught of treason or any matter of
the State, made her so angry that she set her servants on to kill me.
Thinking them murderers or robbers, I defended myself, and there they
lie, save one, who fled away wounded. Then the Empress appeared and
ordered me to kill the lady Heliodore. Comrades, look on her whom the
Empress ordered me to kill, and say whether, were she your affianced,
you would kill her even to please the Empress," and, stepping to one
side, I showed them Heliodore in all her loveliness standing against the
tree, the drawn dagger in her hand.

Now from those that Jodd had summoned there went up a roar of "_No_,"
while even the rest were silent. Irene sprang forward and cried,

"Are my orders to be canvassed and debated? Obey! Cut this man down or
take him living, I care not which, and with him all who cling to him, or
to-morrow you hang, every one of you."

Now the soldiers who had gathered also began to form up under their
officers, for they saw that before them was war and death. By this time
they were many, and as the alarm spread minute by minute more arrived.

"Yield or w