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iefly。 There was a mighty blow； the rowers in front of the chief's platform reeled； some of them fell； the ship bounded back； recovered； and rushed on more irresistibly than before。 Shrill and high arose the shrieks of men in terror； over the blare of trumpets； and the grind and crash of the collision； they arose； then under his feet； under the keel； pounding； rumbling； breaking to pieces； drowning； Ben…Hur felt something overridden。 The men about him looked at each other afraid。 A shout of triumph from the deck the beak of the Roman had won！ But who were they whom the sea had drunk？ Of what tongue； from what land were they？
No pause； no stay！ Forward rushed the Astroea； and； as it went； some sailors ran down； and plunging the cotton balls into the oil…tanks； tossed them dripping to comrades at the head of the stairs： fire was to be added to other horrors of the combat。
Directly the galley heeled over so far that the oarsmen on the uppermost side with difficulty kept their benches。 Again the hearty Roman cheer； and with it despairing shrieks。 An opposing vessel； caught by the grappling…hooks of the great crane swinging from the prow； was being lifted into the air that it might be dropped and sunk。
The shouting increased on the right hand and on the left； before； behind； swelled an indescribable clamor。 Occasionally there was a crash； followed by sudden peals of fright； telling of other ships ridden down； and their crews drowned in the vortexes。
Nor was the fight all on one side。 Now and then a Roman in armor was borne down the hatchway； and laid bleeding； sometimes dying； on the floor。
Sometimes； also； puffs of smoke； blended with steam； and foul with the scent of roasting human flesh； poured into the cabin； turning the dimming light into yellow murk。 Gasping for breath the while； Ben…Hur knew they were passing through the cloud of a ship on fire； and burning up with the rowers chained to the benches。
The Astroea all this time was in motion。 Suddenly she stopped。 The oars forward were dashed from the hands of the rowers； and the rowers from their benches。 On deck； then； a furious trampling； and on the sides a grinding of ships afoul of each other。 For the first time the beating of the gavel was lost in the uproar。 Men sank on the floor in fear or looked about seeking a hiding…place。 In the midst of the panic a body plunged or was pitched headlong down the hatchway； falling near Ben…Hur。 He beheld the half…naked carcass； a mass of hair blackening the face； and under it a shield of bull…hide and wicker…worka barbarian from the white…skinned nations of the North whom death had robbed of plunder and revenge。 How came he there？ An iron hand had snatched him from the opposing deckno； the Astroea had been boarded！ The Romans were fighting on their own deck？ A chill smote the young Jew： Arrius was hard pressedhe might be defending his own life。 If he should be slain！ God of Abraham forefend！ The hopes and dreams so lately come； were they only hopes and dreams？ Mother and sisterhousehomeHoly Landwas he not to see them； after all？ The tumult thundered above him； he looked around； in the cabin all was confusionthe rowers on the benches paralyzed； men running blindly hither and thither； only the chief on his seat imperturbable； vainly beating the sounding…board； and waiting the orders of the tribunein the red murk illustrating the matchless discipline which had won the world。
The example had a good effect upon Ben…Hur。 He controlled himself enough to think。 Honor and duty bound the Roman to the platform； but what had he to do with such motives then？ The bench was a thing to run from； while； if he were to die a slave； who would be the better of the sacrifice？ With him living was duty； if not honor。 His life belonged to his people。 They arose before him never more real： he saw them； their arms outstretched； he heard them imploring him。 And he would go to them。 He startedstopped。 Alas！ a Roman judgment held him in doom。 While it endured； escape would be profitless。 In the wide； wide earth there was no place in which he would be safe from the imperial demand； upon the land none； nor upon the sea。 Whereas he required freedom according to the forms of law； so only could he abide in Judea and execute the filial purpose to which he would devote himself： in other land he would not live。 Dear God！ How he had waited and watched and prayed for such a release！ And how it had been delayed！ But at last he had seen it in the promise of the tribune。 What else the great man's meaning？ And if the benefactor so belated should now be slain！ The dead come not back to redeem the pledges of the living。 It should not beArrius should not die。 At least； better perish with him than survive a galley…slave。
Once more Ben…Hur looked around。 Upon the roof of the cabin the battle yet beat； against the sides the hostile vessels yet crushed and grided。 On the benches； the slaves struggled to tear loose from their chains； and； finding their efforts vain； howled like madmen； the guards had gone upstairs； discipline was out； panic in。 No； the chief kept his chair； unchanged； calm as everexcept the gavel； weaponless。 Vainly with his clangor he filled the lulls in the din。 Ben…Hur gave him a last look； then broke awaynot in flight； but to seek the tribune。
A very short space lay between him and the stairs of the hatchway aft。 He took it with a leap； and was half…way up the stepsup far enough to catch a glimpse of the sky blood…red with fire； of the ships alongside； of the sea covered with ships and wrecks； of the fight closed in about the pilot's quarter； the assailants many； the defenders fewwhen suddenly his foothold was knocked away； and he pitched backward。 The floor； when he reached it； seemed to be lifting itself and breaking to pieces； then； in a twinkling； the whole after…part of the hull broke asunder； and； as if it had all the time been lying in wait； the sea； hissing and foaming； leaped in； and all became darkness and surging water to Ben…Hur。
It cannot be said that the young Jew helped himself in this stress。 Besides his usual strength； he had the indefinite extra force which nature keeps in reserve for just such perils to life； yet the darkness； and the whirl and roar of water； stupefied him。 Even the holding his breath was involuntary。
The influx of the flood tossed him like a log forward into the cabin； where he would have drowned but for the refluence of the sinking motion。 As it was； fathoms under the surface the hollow mass vomited him forth； and he arose along with the loosed debris。 In the act of rising； he clutched something； and held to it。 The time he was under seemed an age longer than it really was； at last he gained the top； with a great gasp he filled his lungs afresh； and； tossing the water from his hair and eyes； climbed higher upon the plank he held； and looked about him。
Death had pursued him closely under the waves； he found it waiting for him when he was risenwaiting multiform。
Smoke lay upon the sea like a semitransparent fog； through which here and there shone cores of intense brilliance。 A quick intelligence told him that they were ships on fire。 The battle was yet on； nor could he say who was victor。 Within