e
people with keen attraction. The fishers in the boats paddled into
the surf which edged the beach, and leaped overside and left the frail
basket-work structures to be spewed up sound or smashed, as chance
ordered. And from the houses, and from the filthy lanes between them,
poured out hordes of others, women mixed with the men, gathering round
us threateningly.

"Have a care," shouted one on the outskirts of the crowd. "She called
down fire for the sacrifice once to-day, and she can burn up others here
if she chooses."

"So much the more for those that are left," retorted another. "She
cannot burn all."

"Nay, I will not burn any," said Phorenice, "but you shall look upon my
sword-play till you are tired."

I heard her say that with some malicious amusement, knowing (as one of
the Seven) how she had called down the fires of the sky to burn that
cloven-hoofed horse offered in sacrifice, and knowing too, full well,
that she could bring down no fire here. But they gave us little enough
time for wordy courtesies. Their Empress never went far unattended, and,
for aught the wretches knew, an escort might be close behind. So what
pilfering they did, it behoved them to get done quickly.

They closed in, jostling one another to be first, and the reek of their
filthy bodies made us cough. A grimy hand launched out to seize some of
the jewels which flashed on Phorenice's breast, and I lopped it off
at the elbow, so that it fell at her feet, and a second later we were
engaged.

"Your back to mine, comrade," cried she, with a laugh, and then drew and
laid about her with fine dexterity. Bah! but it was mere slaughter, that
first bout.

The crowd hustled inwards with such greediness to seize what they could,
that none had space to draw back elbow for a thrust, and we two kept a
circle round us by sheer whirling of steel. It is necessary to do one's
work cleanly in these bouts, as wounded left on the ground unnoticed
before one are as dangerous as so many snakes. But as we circled round
in our battling I noted that all of Phorenice's quarry lay peaceful
and still. By the Gods! but she could play a fine sword, this dainty
Empress. She touched life with every thrust.

Yes, it was plain to see, now an example was given, that the throne of
Atlantis had been won, not by a lovely face and a subtle tongue alone;
and (as a fighter myself) I did not like Phorenice the less for the
knowledge. I could but see her out of the corner of