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outstretched arm。
〃Charmion；〃 I whispered； 〃have I slept？〃
Instantly she was wide awake； and； gazing on me with tender eyes；
〃Yea； thou hast slept； Harmachis。〃
〃How long； then； have I slept？〃
〃Nine hours。〃
〃And thou hast held thy place there； at my side； for nine long hours？〃
〃Yes； it is nothing； I also have sleptI feared to waken thee if I
stirred。〃
〃Go； rest；〃 I said； 〃it shames me to think of this thing。 Go rest
thee； Charmion！〃
〃Vex not thyself；〃 she answered； 〃see； I will bid a slave watch thee；
and to wake me if thou needest aught； I sleep there； in the outer
chamber。 PeaceI go！〃 and she strove to rise； but； so cramped was
she； fell straightway on the floor。
I can scarcely tell the sense of shame that filled me when I saw her
fall。 Alas！ I could not stir to help her。
〃It is naught；〃 she said； 〃move not； I did but catch my foot。 There！〃
and she rose； again to fall〃a pest upon my awkwardness！ WhyI must
be sleeping。 'Tis well now。 I'll send the slave；〃 and she staggered
thence like one overcome with wine。
And after that； I slept once more； for I was very weak。 When I woke it
was afternoon； and I craved for food； which Charmion brought me。
I ate。 〃Then I die not；〃 I said。
〃Nay；〃 she answered； with a toss of her head； 〃thou wilt live。 In
truth； I did waste my pity on thee。〃
〃And thy pity saved my life；〃 I said wearily； for now I remembered。
〃It is nothing；〃 she answered carelessly。 〃After all； thou art my
cousin； also； I love nursingit is a woman's trade。 Like enough I had
done as much for any slave。 Now； too； that the danger is past； I leave
thee。〃
〃Thou hadst done better to let me die； Charmion；〃 I said after a
while； 〃for life to me can now be only one long shame。 Tell me； then；
when sails Cleopatra for Cilicia？〃
〃She sails in twenty days； and with such pomp and glory as Egypt has
never seen。 Of a truth； I cannot guess where she has found the means
to gather in this store of splendour； as a husbandman gathers his
golden harvest。〃
But I； knowing whence the wealth came； groaned in bitterness of
spirit； and made no answer。
〃Goest thou also； Charmion？〃 I asked presently。
〃Ay； I and all the Court。 Thou； toothou goest。〃
〃I go？ Nay； why is this？〃
〃Because thou art Cleopatra's slave； and must march in gilded chains
behind her chariot； because she fears to leave thee here in Khem；
because it is her will； and there is an end。〃
〃Charmion； can I not escape？〃
〃Escape； thou poor sick man？ Nay； how canst thou escape？ Even now thou
art most strictly guarded。 And if thou didst escape； whither wouldst
thou fly？ There's not an honest man in Egypt but would spit on thee in
scorn！〃
Once more I groaned in spirit； and； being so very weak； I felt the
tears roll adown my cheek。
〃Weep not！〃 she said hastily； and turning her face aside。 〃Be a man；
and brave these troubles out。 Thou hast sown； now must thou reap； but
after harvest the waters rise and wash away the rotting roots； and
then seed…time comes again。 Perchance； yonder in Cilicia； a way may be
found； when once more thou art strong； by which thou mayst flyif in
truth thou canst bear thy life apart from Cleopatra's smile； then in
some far land must thou dwell till these things are forgotten。 And now
my task is done； so fare thee well！ At times I will come to visit thee
and see that thou needest nothing。〃
So she went； and I was nursed thenceforward； and that skilfully； by
the physician and two women…slaves； and as my wound healed so my
strength came back to me； slowly at first； then most swiftly。 In four
days from that time I left my couch； and in three more I could walk an
hour in the palace gardens； another week and I could read and think；
though I went no more to Court。 And at length one afternoon Charmion
came and bade me make ready； for the fleet would sail in two days；
first for the coast of Syria； and thence to the gulf of Issus and
Cilicia。
Thereon； with all formality； and in writing； I craved leave of
Cleopatra that I might be left； urging that my health was so feeble
that I could not travel。 But a message was sent to me in answer that I
must come。
And so； on the appointed day； I was carried in a litter down to the
boat； and together with that very soldier who had cut me down； the
Captain Brennus； and others of his troop （who； indeed； were sent to
guard me）； we rowed aboard a vessel where she lay at anchor with the
rest of the great fleet。 For Cleopatra was voyaging as though to war
in much pomp； and escorted by a fleet of ships； among which her
galley； built like a house and lined throughout with cedar and silken
hangings； was the most beautiful and costly that the world has ever
seen。 But I went not on this vessel； and therefore it chanced that I
did not see Cleopatra or Charmion till we landed at the mouth of the
river Cydnus。
The signal being made； the fleet set sail； and； the wind being fair；
we came to Joppa on the evening of the second day。 Thence we sailed
slowly with contrary winds up the coast of Syria； making C？sarea； and
Ptolemais； and Tyrus； and Berytus； and past Lebanon's white brow
crowned with his crest of cedars； on to Heraclea and across the gulf
of Issus to the mouth of Cydnus。 And ever as we journeyed； the strong
breath of the sea brought back my health； till at length； save for a
line of white upon my head where the sword had fallen； I was almost as
I had been。 And one night； as we drew near Cydnus； while Brennus and I
sat alone together on the deck； his eye fell upon the white mark his
sword had made； and he swore a great oath by his heathen Gods。 〃An
thou hadst died； lad；〃 he said； 〃methinks I could never again have
held up my head！ Ah！ that was a coward stroke； and I am shamed to
think that it was I who struck it； and thou on the ground with thy
back to me！ Knowest thou that when thou didst lie between life and
death； I came every day to ask tidings of thee？ and I swore by Taranis
that if thou didst die I'd turn my back upon that soft palace life and
then away for the bonny North。〃
〃Nay； trouble not； Brennus；〃 I answered； 〃it was thy duty。〃
〃Mayhap！ but there are duties that a brave man should not donay； not
at the bidding of any Queen who ever ruled in Egypt！ Thy blow had
dazed me or I had not struck。 What is it； lad？art in trouble with
this Queen of ours？ Why art thou dragged a prisoner upon this pleasure
party？ Knowest thou that we are strictly charged that if thou dost
escape our lives shall pay the price？〃
〃Ay； in sore trouble； friend；〃 I answered； 〃ask me no more。〃
〃Then； being of the age thou art； there's a woman in itthat I swear
and； perchance； though I am rough and foolish； I might make a guess。
Look thou； lad； what sayest thou？ I am weary of this service of
Cleopatra and this hot land of deserts and of luxury； that sap a man's
strength and drain his pocket； and so are others who