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I made my way down the stair in safety； and presently stood in the
courtyard of that great house。 It was but an hour from dawn； and none
were stirring。 The last reveller had drunk his fill； the dancing…girls
had ceased their dancing； and silence lay upon the city。 I drew near
the gate； and was challenged by an officer who stood on guard； wrapped
in a heavy cloak。
〃Who passes；〃 said the voice of Brennus。
〃A merchant； may it please you； Sir； who； having brought gifts from
Alexandria to a lady of the Queen's household； and； having been
entertained of the lady； now departs to his galley；〃 I answered in a
feigned voice。
〃Umph！〃 he growled。 〃The ladies of the Queen's household keep their
guests late。 Well； it is a time of festival。 The pass…word； Sir
Shopkeeper？ Without the pass…word you must needs return and crave the
lady's further hospitality。〃
〃'/Antony/；' Sir； and a right good word； too。 Ah！ I've wandered far；
and never saw I so goodly a man or so great a general。 And； mark you；
Sir！ I've travelled far； and seen many generals。〃
〃Ay； '/Antony/''s the word！ And Antony is a good general in his way
when it is a sober way； and when he cannot find a skirt to follow。
I've served with Antonyand against him； too； and know his points。
Well； well； he's got an armful now！〃
And all this while that he was holding me in talk； the sentry had been
pacing to and fro before the gate。 But now he moved a little way to
the right； leaving the entrance clear。
〃Fare thee well； Harmachis； and begone！〃 whispered Brennus； leaning
forward and speaking quickly。 〃Linger not。 But at times bethink thee
of Brennus who risked his neck to save thine。 Farewell； lad； I would
that we were sailing North together；〃 and he turned his back upon me
and began to hum a tune。
〃Farewell； Brennus； thou honest man；〃 I answered； and was gone。 And；
as I heard long afterwards； when on the morrow the hue and cry was
raised because the murderers could not find me； though they sought me
everywhere to slay me； Brennus did me a service。 For he swore that as
he kept his watch alone an hour after midnight he saw me come and
stand upon the parapet of the roof； that then I stretched out my robes
and they became wings on which I floated up to Heaven； leaving him
astonished。 And all those about the Court lent ear to this history；
believing in it； because of the great fame of my magic； and they
wondered much what the marvel might portend。 The tale also travelled
into Egypt； and did much to save my good name among those whom I had
betrayed； for the more ignorant among them believed that I acted not
of my will； but of the will of the dread Gods； who of their own
purpose wafted me into Heaven。 And thus to this day the saying runs
that 〃/When Harmachis comes again Egypt shall be free。/〃 But alas；
Harmachis comes no more！ Only Cleopatra； though she was much afraid；
doubted her of the tale； and sent an armed vessel to search for the
Syrian merchant； but not to find him； as shall be told。
When I reached the galley of which Charmion had spoken； I found her
about to sail； and gave the writing to the captain； who conned it；
looking on me curiously； but said nothing。
So I went aboard； and immediately we dropped swiftly down the river
with the current。 And having come to the mouth of the river
unchallenged； though we passed many vessels； we put out to sea with a
strong favouring wind that before night freshened to a great gale。
Then the sailor men； being much afraid； would have put about and run
for the mouth of Cydnus again； but could not because of the wildness
of the sea。 All that night it blew furiously； and by dawn our mast was
carried away； and we rolled helplessly in the trough of the great
waves。 But I sat wrapped in a cloak； little heeding； and because I
showed no fear the sailors cried out that I was a wizard； and sought
to cast me into the sea； but the captain would not。 At dawn the wind
slackened； but ere noon it once more blew in terrible fury； and at the
fourth hour from noon we came in sight of the rocky coast of that cape
in the island of Cyprus which is called Dinaretum； where is a mountain
named Olympus； and thither…wards we drifted swiftly。 Then； when the
sailors saw the terrible rocks； and how the great waves that smote on
them spouted up in foam； once more they grew much afraid； and cried
out in their fear。 For； seeing that I still sat unmoved； they swore
that I certainly was a wizard； and came to cast me forth as a
sacrifice to the Gods of the sea。 And this time the captain was over…
ruled； and said nothing。 Therefore； when they came to me I rose and
defied them； saying； 〃Cast me forth； if ye will； but if ye cast me
forth ye shall perish。〃
For in my heart I cared little； having no more any love of life； but
rather a desire to die； though I greatly feared to pass into the
presence of my Holy Mother Isis。 But my weariness and sorrow at the
bitterness of my lot overcame even this heavy fear； so that when；
being mad as brute beasts； they seized me and； lifting me； hurled me
into the raging waters； I did but utter one prayer to Isis and made
ready for death。 But it was fated that I should not die； for； when I
rose to the surface of the water； I saw a spar of wood floating near
me； to which I swam and clung。 And a great wave came and swept me；
riding； as it were； upon the spar； as when a boy I had learned to do
in the waters of the Nile； past the bulwarks of the galley where the
fierce…faced sailors clustered to see me drown。 And when they saw me
come mounted on the wave； cursing them as I came； and saw； too； that
the colour of my face had changedfor the salt water had washed way
the pigment； they shrieked with fear and threw themselves down upon
the deck。 And within a very little while； as I rode toward the rocky
coast； a great wave poured into the vessel； that rolled broadside on；
and pressed her down into the deep； whence she rose no more。
So she sank with all her crew。 And in that same storm also sank the
galley which Cleopatra had sent to search for the Syrian merchant。
Thus all traces of me were lost； and of a surety she believed that I
was dead。
But I rode on toward the shore。 The wind shrieked and the salt waves
lashed my face as； alone with the tempest； I rushed upon my way； while
the sea…birds screamed about my head。 I felt no fear； but rather a
wild uplifting of the heart； and in the stress of my imminent peril
the love of life seemed to waken again。 And so I plunged and drifted；
now tossed high toward the lowering clouds； now cast into the deep
valleys of the sea； till at length the rocky headland loomed before
me； and I saw the breakers smite upon the stubborn rocks； and through
the screaming of the wind heard the sullen thunder of their fall and
the groan of stones sucked seaward from the beach。 On！ high…throned
upon the mane of a mighty billowfifty cubits beneath me the level of
the hissing waters； above me the inky sky！ It was done！ The spar was
torn from me； and； dragged downwards by the weight of the bag of gold
and the clinging of my garments； I sank struggling furiously。
Now I was underthe green light for a moment streamed through the
waters； and then came darkness； and on the darkness pictures of the
past。 Picture after pictureall the long scene of life was written
here。 Then in my ears I only heard the song of the nightingale； the
murmur of the summer sea； and the music of Cleopatra's laugh of
victory； following me softly and yet more soft as I sank away to
sleep。
Once more my life came back； and with it a sense of deadly sickness
and of aching pain。 I opened my eyes and saw a kind face bending over
me； and knew that I was in the room of a builded house。
〃How came I hither？〃 I asked faintly。
〃Of a truth； Poseidon brought thee； Stranger；〃 answered a rough voice
in barbarous Greek； 〃we found thee cast high upon the beach like a
dead dolphin and brought thee to our house； for we are fisher…folk。
And here； methinks； thou must lie a while； for thy left leg is broken
by the force of the waves。〃
I strove to move my foot and could not。 It was true； the bone was
broken above the knee。
〃Who art thou； and how art thou named？〃 asked the rough…bearded
sailor。
〃I am an Egyptian traveller whose ship has sunk in the fury of the
gale； and I am named Olympus；〃 I answered； for these people called a
mountain that we had sighted Olympus； and therefore I took the name at
hazard。 And as Olympus I was henceforth known。
Here with these rough fisher…folk I abode for the half of a year；
paying them a little out of the sum of gold that had come safely
ashore upon me。 For it was long before my bones grew together again；
and then I was left somewhat of a cripple； for I； who had been so tall
and straight and strong； now limpedone limb being shorter than the
other。 And after I recovered from my h