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〃long homes；〃 and you will find the word used in the same sense
in Ecclesiastes xii。； 5。
Hatred； boys and girls； is a very ugly as it is a very headstrong
fault； but as there is a good side even to a bad habit； so there
is a hatred which may rise to the heighth of a virtue。 Hatred of
vice IS virtue； hatred of tyranny is patriotism。 It is this which
has led the world from slavery to freedom； from ignorance to
enlightenment； and inspired the words that have found immortality
alike above the ashes of Bradshaw the regicide and of Jefferson
the American。 Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God。
But how could a fatherless boy and girl； away off on the edge of
an Arabian desert； hope to resist successfully the mighty power
of Imperial Rome？ The story of their lives will tell。
If there are some people who are patriots； there are others who
are poltroons； and such a one was Hairan； the elder brother of
young Odhainat； when； succeeding to his dead father's wealth and
power； he thought less of Roman tyranny than of Roman gold。
〃Revenge ourselves on their purses； my brother； and not on their
pikes；〃 he said。 〃 'T is easier and more profitable to sap the
Roman's gold than to shed the Roman's blood。〃
But this submission to Rome only angered Odhainat； and to such a
conflict of opinion did it lead that at last Hairan drove his
younger brother from the home of his fathers； and the lad； 〃an
Esau among the Jacobs of Tadmor；〃 so the record tells us； spent
his youth amid the roving Bedaween of the Arabian deserts and the
mountaineers of the Armenian hills； waiting his time。
But； though a homeless exile； the dark…eyed Bath Zabbai did not
forget him。 In the palace of another kinsman； Septimus Worod； the
〃lord of the markets；〃 she gave herself up to careful study； and
hoped for the day of Palmyra's freedom。 As rich in powers of mind
as in the graces of form and face； she soon became a wonderful
scholar for those distant daysmistress of four languages：
Coptic； Syriac； Latin； and Greek； while the fiery temper of the
girl grew into the nobler ambitions of the maiden。 But above all
things； as became her mingled Arabic and Egyptian bloodfor she
could trace her ancestry back to the free chiefs of the Arabian
desert； and to the dauntless Cleopatra of Egypt；she loved the
excitement of the chase； and in the plains and mountains beyond
the city she learned to ride and hunt with all the skill and
daring of a young Diana。
And so it came to pass that when the Emperor Valerian sent an
embassy from Rome to Ctesiphon； bearing a message to the Great
King； as Sapor； the Persian monarch； was called； the embassy
halted in Palmyra； and Septimus Hairan； now the head…man of the
city； ordered； 〃in the name of the senate and people of Palmyra；〃
a grand venatio； or wild beast hunt； in the circus near the
Street of the Thousand Columns； in honor of his Roman guests。 And
he despatched his kinsman Septimus Zabbai； the soldier； to the
Armenian hills to superintend the capture and delivery of the
wild game needed for the hunt。 With a great following of slaves
and huntsmen； Zabbai the soldier departed； and with him went his
niece； Bath Zabbai； or Zenobia； now a fearless young huntress of
fifteen。 Space will not permit to tell of the wonders and
excitement of that wild…beast hunta hunt in which none must be
killed but all must be captured without mar or wound。 Such a
trapping of wolves and bears and buffaloes was there； such a
setting of nets and pitfalls for the mountain lion and the Syrian
leopard； while the Arab hunters beat； and drove； and shouted； or
lay in wait with net and blunted lance； that it was rare sport to
the fearless Zenobia； who rode her fleet Arabian horse at the
very head of the chase； and； with quick eye and practised hand；
helped largely to swell the trophies of the hunt。 What girl of
to…day； whom even the pretty little jumping…mouse of Syria would
scare out of her wits； could be tempted to witness such a scene？
And yet this young Palmyrean girl loved nothing better than the
chase； and the records tell us that she was a 〃passionate
hunter；〃 and that…she pursued with ardor the wild beasts of the
desert and thought nothing of fatigue or peril。
So； through dense Armenian forests and along rugged mountain
paths； down rock…strewn hill…slopes and in green； low…lying
valleys； the chase swept on： and one day； in one of the pleasant
glades which； half…sun and half…shadow； stretch away to the
Lebanon hills； young Bath Zabbai suddenly reined in her horse in
full view of one of the typical hunting scenes of those old days。
A young Arabian hunter had enticed a big mountain lion into one
of the strong…meshed nets of stout palm fibres； then used for
such purposes。 His trained leopard or cheetah had drawn the beast
from his lair； and by cunning devices had led him on until the
unfortunate lion was half…entrapped。 Just then； with a sudden
swoop； a great golden eagle dashed down upon the preoccupied
cheetah； and buried his talons in the leopard's head。 But the
weight of his victim was more than he had bargained for； the
cheetah with a quick upward dash dislodged one of the great
bird's talons； and； turning as quickly； caught the disengaged leg
in his sharp teeth。 At that instant the lion； springing at the
struggling pair； started the fastenings of the net； which；
falling upon the group； held all three prisoners。 The eagle and
the lion thus ensnared sought to release themselves； but only
ensnared themselves the more； while the cunning cheetah； versed
in the knowledge of the hunter's net； crept out from beneath the
meshes as his master raised them slightly； and with bleeding head
crawled to him for praise and relief。
Then the girl； flushed with delight at this double capture；
galloped to the spot； and in that instant she recognized in the
successful hunter her cousin the exile。
〃Well snared； my Odhainat；〃 she said； as； the first exclamation
of surprise over； she stood beside the brown…faced and sturdy
young hunter。 〃The Palmyrean leopard hath bravely trapped both
the Roman eagle and the Persian lion。 See； is it not an omen from
the gods？ Face valor with valor and craft with craft； O Odhainat！
Have you forgotten the vow in your father's palace full three
years ago？〃
Forgotten it？ Not he。 And then he told Bath Zabbai how in all his
wanderings he had kept their vow in mind； and with that； too； her
other words of counsel； 〃Watch and Wait。〃 He told her that； far
and wide； he was known to all the Arabs of the desert and the
Armenians of the hills； and how； from sheikh to camel…boy； the
tribes were ready to join with Palmyra against both Rome and
Persia。
〃Your time will indeed come； my Odhainat；〃 said the fearless
girl； with proud looks and ringing voice。 〃See； even thus our
omen gives the proof；〃 and she pointed to the net； beneath whose
meshes both eagle and lion； fluttering and panting； lay wearied
with