rrow platform,
with the stars above, the dim tracery of the wide sail, the still dimmer
tracery of the long ship below, they seemed transported to another world.
Far beneath by the glimmer of the lanterns they saw the rowers swaying at
their toil. In the wake the phosphorous bubbles ran away, opalescent
gleams springing upward, as if torches of Doris and her dancing Nereids.
So much had admiral and outlaw lived through this day they had thought
little of themselves. Now calmer thought returned. Glaucon could tell of
many things he had heard and thought, of the conversation overheard the
morning before Salamis, of what Phormio had related during the weary
captivity in the hold of the _Bozra_. Themistocles pondered long. Yet for
Glaucon when standing even on that calm pinnacle the trireme must creep
over the deep too slowly.

"O give me wings, Father Zeus," was his prayer; "yes, the wings of Icarus.
Let me fly but once to confound the traitor and deliver thy Hellas,--after
that, like Icarus let me fall. I am content to die."

But Themistocles pressed close against his side. "Ask for no wings,"--in
the admiral's voice was a tremor not there when he sped confidence through
the crew,--"if it be destined we save Hellas, it is destined; if we are to
die, we die. 'No man of woman born, coward or brave, can shun the fate
assigned.' Hector said that to Andromache, and the Trojan was right. But
we shall save Hellas. Zeus and Athena are great gods. They did not give us
glory at Salamis to make that glory tenfold vain. We shall save Hellas.
Yet I have fear--"

"Of what, then?"

"Fear that Themistocles will be too merciful to be just. Ah! pity me."

"I understand--Democrates."

"I pray he may escape to the Persians, or that Ares may slay him in fair
battle. If not--"

"What will you do?"

The admiral's hold upon the younger Athenian's arm tightened.

"I will prove that Aristeides is not the only man in Hellas who deserves
the name of 'Just.' When I was young, my tutor would predict great things
of me. 'You will be nothing small, Themistocles, but great, whether for
good or ill, I know not,--but great you will be.' And I have always
struggled upward. I have always prospered. I am the first man in Hellas. I
have set my will against all the power of Persia. Zeus willing, I shall
conquer. But the Olympians demand their price. For saving Hellas I must
pay--Democrates. I loved him."

The two men stood in silence long, whilst be