in with soothing tones.

"No one intends to deny your right to vote, Themistocles. The excellent
Corinthian did but jest."

"A fitting hour for jesting!" muttered the Athenian, sinking back into his
seat.

"The vote, the vote!" urged the Sicyonian chief, from Adeimantus's elbow,
and the voting went on. Of more than twenty voices only
three--Themistocles's and those of the AEginetan and Megarian admirals--were
in favour of abiding the onset. Yet even when Eurybiades arose to announce
the decision, the son of Neocles sat with his hands sprawling on the
table, his face set in an inscrutable smile as he looked on Adeimantus.

"It is the plain opinion,"--Eurybiades hemmed and hawed with his
words,--"the plain opinion, I say, of this council that the allied fleet
retire at once to the Isthmus. Therefore, I, as admiral-in-chief, do order
each commander to proceed to his own flag-ship and prepare his triremes to
retire at dawn."

"Well said," shouted Adeimantus, already on his feet; "now to obey."

But with him rose Themistocles. He stood tall and calm, his thumbs thrust
in his girdle. His smile was a little broader, his head held a little
higher, than of wont.

"Good Eurybiades, I grieve to blast the wisdom of all these valiant
gentlemen, but they cannot retire if they wish."

"Explain!" a dozen shouted.

"Very simply. I have had good reason to know that the king has moved
forward the western horn of his fleet, so as to enclose our anchorage at
Salamis. It is impossible to retire save through the Persian line of
battle."

Perseus upholding the Gorgon's head before Polydectes's guests and turning
them to stone wrought hardly more of a miracle than this calm announcement
of Themistocles. Men stared at him vacantly, stunned by the tidings, then
Adeimantus's frightened wrath broke loose.

"Fox!(10) Was this your doing?"

"I did not ask you to thank me, _philotate_," was the easy answer. "It is,
however, urgent to consider whether you wish to be taken unresisting in
the morning."

The Corinthian shook his fist across the table.

"Liar, as a last device to ruin us, you invent this folly."

"It is easy to see if I lie," rejoined Themistocles; "send out a pinnace
and note where the Persians anchor. It will not take long."

For an instant swords seemed about to leap from their scabbards, and the
enraged Peloponnesians to sheathe them in the Athenian's breast. He stood
unflinching, smiling, while a volley of curses f