n. From
afar came sounds not of seamen's trumpets, but horns, harps, kettledrums,
from the hidden mainland across the strait, as of a host advancing along
the shore. "Xerxes goes down to the marge with his myriads," Glaucon told
himself. "Have not all his captains bowed and smiled, 'Your Eternity's
victory is certain. Come and behold.' " But here the Athenian shut his
teeth.

People at length were passing up and down the strand. The coast was
waking. The gray bar was becoming silver. Friends passed, deep in
talk,--perchance for the last time. Glaucon lay still a moment longer, and
as he rested caught a voice so familiar he felt all the blood surge to his
forehead,--Democrates's voice.

"I tell you, Hiram,--I told you before,--I have no part in the ordering of
the fleet. Were I to interfere with ever so good a heart, it would only
breed trouble for us all."

So close were the twain, the orator's trailing chiton almost fell on
Glaucon's face. The latter marvelled that his own heart did not spring
from its prison in his breast, so fierce were its beatings.

"If my Lord would go to Adeimantus and suggest,"--the other's Greek came
with a marked Oriental accent.

"Harpy! Adeimantus is no Medizer. He is pushed to bay now, and is sure to
fight. Have you Barbarians no confidence? Has not the king two triremes to
our one? Only fools can demand more. Tell Lycon, your master, I have long
since done my uttermost to serve him."

"Yet remember, Excellency."

"Begone, scoundrel. Don't threaten again. If I know your power over me, I
can also promise you not to go down to Orchus alone, but take excellent
pains to have fair company."

"I am sorry to bear such tidings to Lycon, Excellency."

"Away with you!"

"Do not raise your voice, _kyrie_," spoke Hiram, never more blandly, "here
is a man asleep."

The hint sent Democrates from the spot almost on a run. Hiram disappeared
in the opposite direction. Glaucon rose, shook the sand from his cloak,
and stood an instant with his head whirling. The voice of his boyhood
friend, of the man who had ruined him because of a suspicion of
treason--and now deep in compromising talk with the agent of the chief of
the peace party at Sparta! And wherefore had Mardonius spoken those
mysterious words at their parting, "Beware of Democrates"? For an instant
the problems evoked made him forget even the coming battle.

A clear trumpet-blast down the strand gave a truce to questioning.
Sicinnus r