us; probably because it escaped
being buried with the dead and therefore was not injured or discolored
by the soil as were so many of the Greek vases found at
Athens. Moreover, we must remember that not every artist who made and
decorated an object excelled. Naturally some did more perfect work
than others, even in the days of the best Grecian art. How sad it is
that at a later period in history the work of the Greeks became less
fine because the ideals of the race degenerated. Pottery makers,
sculptors, and builders began to produce cheap, gaudy things which
were lavishly decorated, and reflected the luxury and extravagance
that had crept into the nation. From that moment the glory of Greece
decayed. For it is the ideals of a country and its people that serve
as guide-posts to the greatest and finest deeds. Unless each
individual in a land aims at the purest and best his country will
never reach holiness. It is the struggle for perfection in every field
of life that results in fine art, fine men, and fine nations."

Mr. Croyden had become very grave.

Then he rose abruptly, took out his pipe, and knocked the bowl of it
upon a stump.

"Well, well," he exclaimed with a swift return to his accustomed
gaiety, "I think I have lectured long enough. See! Manuel has
everything packed up and is waiting for us. Suppose we start back
home."

But Theo was very quiet on the trip back to the camp.

He was thinking about the Greeks.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER III

THEO MEETS WITH A CALAMITY

It was when Theo had been three days in camp that the accident
happened.

Outside the cook-house stood a ladder to be used in case of fire, and
as one morning the boy passed it, it suddenly came to him what fun it
would be to mount to the ridge-pole of the cabin and toss a handful of
tiny pebbles down on the heads of the guides as they passed through
the door beneath. What a surprise it would be to Tony and Franz to
have the stones come clattering down upon them; and what sport it
would be to watch them as they tried to solve the riddle as to where
the missiles came from!

It was a foolish scheme, and probably had Theo thought it over a
second time he would have abandoned it; but he was an impulsive boy
who often acted before he carefully considered what he was
doing. Therefore without a moment's hesitation he cautiously dragged
the ladder to the end of the cabin and, making sure that no one was
looking, began climbi