eappeared, and led Glaucon to one of the great fires roaring on
the beach, where the provident Greek sailors were breakfasting on barley
porridge and meat broth before dining on spears and arrow-heads. A silent
company, no laughter, no jesting. All knew another sun for them might
never rise. Glaucon ate not because he hungered, but because duty ordered
it. As the light strengthened, the strand grew alive with thousands of men
at toil. The triremes drawn on shore went down into the sea on their
rollers. More trumpet-blasts sent the rowers aboard their ships. But last
of all, before thrusting out to do or die, the Greeks must feast their
ears as well as their stomachs. On the sloping beach gathered the officers
and the armoured marines,--eighteen from each trireme,--and heard one
stirring harangue after another. The old feuds were forgotten. Adeimantus
and Eurybiades both spoke bravely. The seers announced that every bird and
cloud gave good omen. Prayer was offered to Ajax of Salamis that the hero
should fight for his people. Last of all Themistocles spoke, and never to
fairer purpose. No boasts, no lip courage, a painting of the noble and the
base, the glory of dying as freemen, the infamy of existing as slaves. He
told of Marathon, of Thermopylae, and asked if Leonidas had died as died a
fool. He drew tears. He drew vows of vengeance. He never drew applause.
Men were too strained for that. At last he sent the thousands forth.

"Go, then. Quit yourselves as Hellenes. That is all the task. And I say to
you, in the after days this shall be your joy, to hear the greatest
declare of you, 'Reverence this man, for he saved us all at Salamis.' "

The company dispersed, each man to his ship. Themistocles went to his
pinnace, and a cheer uprose from sea and land as the boat shot out to the
_Nausicaae_. Eurybiades might be chief in name; who did not know that
Themistocles was the surest bulwark of Hellas?

The son of Neocles, standing in the boat, uplifted his face to the now
golden east.

"Be witness, Helios," he cried aloud, "be witness when thou comest, I have
done all things possible. And do thou and thy fellow-gods on bright
Olympus rule our battle now; the lot is in your hands!"

CHAPTER XXIX

SALAMIS

Sunrise. The _Nausicaae_ was ready. Ameinias the navarch walked the deck
above the stern-cabin with nervous strides. All that human forethought
c