all the confidence of unsuspicious innocence.
'This is a lucky accident,' cried one of the soldiers, with a brutal
satisfaction; 'fortune was not willing we should go without a supper,
and has therefore sent us a present.' 'A happy exchange,' answered a
second; 'a fat sheep for a lubberly shepherd; and the coward will no
doubt think himself happy to sleep in a whole skin at so small an
expense.' Saying this, he took the lamb, and bore it away in triumph,
uttering a thousand threats and execrations against the master if he
should dare to reclaim it.

"Sophron was not so far removed to escape the sight of the indignity
that was offered him. He followed the troop, with so much swiftness that
it was not long before he overtook the soldier who was bearing away his
friend, and from his load marched rather behind the rest. When Sophron
approached him, he accosted him in the gentlest manner, and besought
him, in words that might have touched any one but a savage, to restore
his favourite; he even offered, when he found that nothing else would
avail, to purchase back his own property with something of greater
value; but the barbarous soldier, inured to scenes of misery, and little
accustomed to yield to human entreaties, only laughed at his complaints,
and loaded him with additional insults. At length he began to be tired
with his importunities, and drawing his sword, and waving it before the
eyes of Sophron, threatened, that if he did not depart immediately he
would use him as he intended to do the lamb. 'And do you think,'
answered Sophron, 'that while I have an arm to lift, or a drop of blood
in my veins, I will suffer you, or any man, to rob me of what I value
more than life?' The soldier, exasperated at such an insolent reply, as
he termed it, aimed a blow at Sophron with his sword, which he turned
aside with a stick he held in his hand, so that it glanced inoffensively
down; and before he could recover the use of his weapon, Sophron, who
was infinitely stronger, closed in with him, wrested it out of his
hands, and hurled him roughly to the ground. Some of the comrades of the
vanquished soldier came in an instant to his assistance, and without
inquiring into the merits of the cause, drew their swords, and began to
assail the undaunted young man; but he, brandishing the weapon which he
had just seized, appeared ready to defend himself, with so much strength
and courage that they did not choose to come too near.

"While the