at anchor off the island for two
days. Then another calm; and at last, "because," said Hasdrubal piously,
"he had vowed two black lambs to the Wind God," the breeze came clear and
cool from the north, which, if not wholly favourable, enabled the
merchantman to plough onward. It was the fifth day, finally, after
quitting Troezene, that the headlands of Naxos came in sight at dawn, and
the master began to take comfort. The fleet of the Greeks--a fisherboat had
told him--was swinging inactive at Delos well to the north and westward,
and he could fairly consider himself in waters dominated by the king.

"A fortunate voyage," the master was boasting to Hiram, as he sat at
breakfast in the stern-cabin above a platter of boiled dolphin; "two
talents from the Persians for acting as their messenger; a thousand
drachmae profit on the corn; a hundred from Master Democrates in return for
our little service, not to mention the profit on the return cargo, and
last but not least the three slaves."

"Yes, the three slaves. I had almost forgotten about them."

"You see, my dear Hiram," quoth the master, betwixt two unwontedly huge
mouthfuls, "you see what folly it was of you to suggest putting out that
handsome fellow's eyes. I am strongly thinking of selling him not to
Carthage, but to Babylon. I know a trader at Ephesus who makes a specialty
of handsome youths. The satrap Artabozares has commissioned him to find as
many good-looking out-runners as possible. Also for his harem--if this
Glaucon were only a eunuch--"

Hiram, breaking a large disk of bread, was smiling very suggestively
before making reply, when a sailor shouted at the hatch:--

"Ships, master! Ships with oars!"

"In what quarter?" Hasdrubal sprang up, letting the dishes clatter.

"From Myconus. They come up fast. Hib at the masthead counts eleven
triremes."

"Baal preserve us!" The master at once clambered on deck. "The Greek fleet
may be quitting Delos. We must pray for wind."

It was a gray, hazy day after a dozen bright ones. The northerly breeze
seemed falling. The water spread out a sombre lead colour. The heights of
Naxos were in sight to starboard, but none too clearly. Much more
interesting to Hasdrubal was the line of dots spreading on the horizon to
northwest. Despite the distance his keen eyes could catch the rise and
fall of the oar banks--war-ships, not traders. Hib was right, and
Hasdrubal's face grew longer. No triremes save the Greeks could be b