friend began to watch
the stars again. The longer he looked the sadder and more serious became
his face, and when the Tistar-star set, he murmured, "Poor Bartja!" His
friends called him, and he was on the point of returning to them,
when he caught sight of a new star, and began to examine its position
carefully. His serious looks gave way to a triumphant smile, his tall
figure seemed to grow taller still, he pressed his hand on his heart and
whispered: "Use your pinions, winged Darius; your star will be on your
side," and then returned to his friends.

A few minutes after, Croesus came up to the arbor. The youths sprang
from their seats to welcome the old man, but when he saw Bartja's
face by the bright moonlight, he stood as if transfixed by a flash of
lightning.

"What has happened, father?" asked Gyges, seizing his hand anxiously.

"Nothing, nothing," he stammered almost inaudibly, and pushing his son
on one side, whispered in Bartja's ear: "Unhappy boy, you are still
here? don't delay any longer,--fly at once! the whip-bearers are close
at my heels, and I assure you that if you don't use the greatest speed,
you will have to forfeit your double imprudence with your life."

"But Croesus, I have..."

"You have set at nought the law of the land and of the court, and, in
appearance at least, have done great offence to your brother's honor.
..."

"You are speaking..."

"Fly, I tell you--fly at once; for if your visit to the hanging-gardens
was ever so innocently meant, you are still in the greatest danger. You
know Cambyses' violent temper so well; how could you so wickedly disobey
his express command?"

"I don't understand."

"No excuses,--fly! don't you know that, Cambyses has long been jealous
of you, and that your visit to the Egyptian to-night..."

"I have never once set foot in the hanging-gardens, since Nitetis has
been here."

"Don't add a lie to your offence, I..."

"But I swear to you..."

"Do you wish to turn a thoughtless act into a crime by adding the guilt
of perjury? The whip-bearers are coming, fly!"

"I shall remain here, and abide by my oath."

"You are infatuated! It is not an hour ago since I myself, Hystaspes,
and others of the Achaemenidae saw you in the hanging-gardens..."

In his astonishment Bartja had, half involuntarily, allowed himself to
be led away, but when he heard this he stood still, called his friends
and said "Croesus says he met me an hour ago in the hanging-garden