bow rose. She stopped, all her timbers groaning in the shock, and
rolled sideways and lay with tilted deck above the water. Cries of
alarm rose from her galley. Men fought their way up the ladders and
scrambled like dripping rats to every place of vantage. After the
shock, Appius had leaped to the upper rail, and, rushing forward to the
door of Arria's deck-house, found her and the slave-girl within it,
unharmed. The two were crying with fear, and he bade them dress
quickly and await his orders. Then he took command. Soon a raft and
small boats were ready alongside the wreck. Within half an hour Appius
and the two maidens and part of the crew landed.

Before daylight all were safely carried to the bare, lonely rocks, with
a goodly store of food and water.

CHAPTER 22

It was a clear morning and the tenth day before the kalends of January.
Since the ides, Vergilius had been lying in camp with a cohort, near
the port of Ascalon. Night and day on the headland velites had been
watching for the trireme of Antipater. A little before dawn their
beacon-fires had flamed up. Since daylight all had been watching the
far-come vessel of the son of Herod, and, as she came near, they could
see the pattern of gold upon the royal vestments of Antipater. Now,
presently, he would set foot upon the unhappy land of his inheritance.
The cohort had formed in a long arc at the landing. Before now, on his
return, the king's horsemen had greeted him with cheers; to-day he
greeted them with curses. Vergilius, hard by, faced the cohort, his
back turned to the new-comer. Antipater halted as he came ashore,
looking in surprise at the tribune. He seized a lance, and, crouching
as he ran, with sly feet approached the Roman officer. He was like the
cat nearing its prey. Vergilius, now seeming unmindful of his pursuer,
walked in the direction of the cohort. Swiftly, stealthily, the prince
came near, intending to plunge his lance into the back of the young
tribune. Suddenly there rose an outcry among the soldiers. Vergilius
turned; the prince halted, breathing heavily, for he had run near a
hundred paces in the sea-sand. A roar of rage burst from his lips.

"Dog!" he shouted. "Bid them cheer me or I will run you through!" His
lance threatened.

"There shall be cheers in a moment, son of Herod," said Vergilius,
calmly and respectfully approaching him. Antipater, unaware of his
peril, stood with lance at rest. With a h