The Hellenes could not be fighting everywhere at once. He
might find some spot on the shore, far in their rear, where he could
land and gain the hills. There was danger indeed, but once on the
ridge he would be safe; and by the time he came back the Great King
would have swept the defenders into the sea, and be well on the road
for Athens. He asked himself if it were fitting that a Lemnian should
be stayed in his holy task by the struggles of Hellene and Barbarian.
His thoughts flew to his steading at Larisa, and the dark-eyed wife who
was awaiting his homecoming. He could not return without Apollo's
favour: his manhood and the memory of his lady's eyes forbade it. So
late in the afternoon he pushed off again and steered his galley for
the south.

About sunset the mist cleared from the sea; but the dark falls swiftly
in the shadow of the high hills, and Atta had no fear. With the night
the hum sank to a whisper; it seemed that the invaders were drawing off
to camp, for the sound receded to the west. At the last light the
Lemnian touched a rock-point well to the rear of the defence. He
noticed that the spume at the tide's edge was reddish and stuck to his
hands like gum. Of a surety much blood was flowing on that coast.

He bade his slaves return to the north shore and lie hidden to await
him. When he came back he would light a signal fire on the topmost
bluff of Kallidromos. Let them watch for it and come to take him off.
Then he seized his bow and quiver, and his short hunting-spear, buckled
his cloak about him, saw that the gift to Apollo was safe in the folds
of it, and marched sturdily up the hillside.

The moon was in her first quarter, a slim horn which at her rise showed
only the faint outline of the hill. Atta plodded steadfastly on, but
he found the way hard. This was not like the crisp sea-turf of Lemnos,
where among the barrows of the ancient dead, sheep and kine could find
sweet fodder. Kallidromos ran up as steep as the roof of a barn.
Cytisus and thyme and juniper grew rank, but above all the place was
strewn with rocks, leg-twisting boulders, and great cliffs where eagles
dwelt. Being a seaman, Atta had his bearings. The path to Delphi left
the shore road near the Hot Springs, and went south by a rift of the
mountain. If he went up the slope in a beeline he must strike it in
time and find better going. Still it was an eerie place to be tramping
after dark. The Hellenes had strange g