ed kings when you were shooting frogs,' cried Smid. 'Listen
to me, my sons! A coward grips sharply at first, and loosens his hand
after a while, because his blood is soon hot and soon cold. A brave
man's grip grows the firmer the longer he holds, because the spirit of
Odin comes upon him. I watched the boy's hands on my threat; and he will
make a man; and I will make him one. However, we may as well make him
useful at once; so give him an oar.'

'Well,' answered his new protector, 'he can as well row us as he rowed
by us; and if we are to go back to a cow's death and the pool of Hela,
the quicker we go the better.'

And as the men settled themselves again to their oars, one was put into
Philammon's hand, which he managed with such strength and skill that his
late tormentors, who, in spite of an occasional inclination to robbery
and murder, were thoroughly good-natured, honest fellows, clapped him
on the back, and praised him as heartily as they had just now heartily
intended to torture him to death, and then went forward, as many of them
as were not rowing, to examine the strange beast which they had just
slaughtered, pawing him over from tusks to tail, putting their heads
into his mouth, trying their knives on his hide, comparing him to all
beasts, like and unlike, which they had ever seen, and laughing and
shoving each other about with the fun and childish wonder of a party
of schoolboys; till Smid, who was the wit of the party, settled the
comparative anatomy of the subject for them--'Valhalla! I've found out
what he's most like!--One of those big blue plums, which gave us all the
stomach-ache when we were encamped in the orchards above Ravenna!'

CHAPTER IV: MIRIAM

One morning in the same week, Hypatia's favourite maid entered her
chamber with a somewhat terrified face.

'The old Jewess, madam--the hag who has been watching so often lately
under the wall opposite. She frightened us all out of our senses last
evening by peeping in. We all said she had the evil eye, if any one ever
had--'

'Well, what of her?'

'She is below, madam, and will speak with you. Not that I care for her;
I have my amulet on. I hope you have?'

'Silly girl! Those who have been initiated as I have in the mysteries
of the gods, can defy spirits and command them. Do you suppose that the
favourite of Pallas Athene will condescend to charms and magic? Send her
up.'

The girl retreated, with a look half of awe, half of doubt, at