lew over him. Then an
orderly summoned him on deck, while Adeimantus and his fellows foamed and
contended below. Under the battle lantern Themistocles saw a man who was
his elder in years, rugged in feature, with massive forehead and wise gray
eyes. This was Aristeides the Just, the admiral's enemy, but their feud
had died when Xerxes drew near to Athens.

Hands clasped heartily as the twain stood face to face.

"Our rivalry forever more shall be a rivalry which of us can do most to
profit Athens," spoke the returning exile; then Aristeides told how he had
even now come from AEgina, how he had heard of the clamours to retreat, how
retreat was impossible, for the Persians were pressing in. A laugh from
Themistocles interrupted.

"My handiwork! Come to the council. They will not believe me, no, not my
oath."

Aristeides told his story, and how his vessel to Salamis had scarce
escaped the Egyptian triremes, and how by this time all entrance and exit
was surely closed. But even now many an angry captain called him "liar."
The strife of words was at white heat when Eurybiades himself silenced the
fiercest doubter.

"Captains of Hellas, a trireme of Teos has deserted from the Barbarian to
us. Her navarch sends word that all is even as Themistocles and Aristeides
tell. The Egyptians hold the passage to Eleusis. Infantry are disembarked
on Psyttaleia. The Phoenicians and Ionians enclose us on the eastern
strait. We are hemmed in."

* * * * * * *

Once more the orderly turned the water-clock. It was past midnight. The
clouds had blown apart before the rising wind. The debate must end.
Eurybiades stood again to take the votes of the wearied, tense-strung men.

"In view of the report of the Teans, what is your voice and vote?"

Before all the rest up leaped Adeimantus. He was no craven at heart,
though an evil genius had possessed him.

"You have your will, Themistocles," he made the concession sullenly yet
firmly, "you have your will. May Poseidon prove you in the right. If it is
battle or slavery at dawn, the choice is quick. Battle!"

"Battle!" shouted the twenty, arising together, and Eurybiades had no need
to declare the vote. The commanders scattered to their flag-ships, to give
orders to be ready to fight at dawn. Themistocles went to his pinnace
last. He walked proudly. He knew that whatever glory he might gain on the
morrow, he could never win a fairer victory than he had won that