按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
or childish； you will then excuse me。〃
The sheik held his peace； listening closely； until Ben…Hur came to the paragraph in which he was particularly mentioned： 〃'I saw the Jew yesterday in the Grove of Daphne；'〃 so ran the part； 〃'and if he be not there now； he is certainly in the neighborhood； making it easy for me to keep him in eye。 Indeed； wert thou to ask me where he is now； I should say； with the most positive assurance； he is to be found at the old Orchard of Palms。'〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Ilderim； in such a tone one might hardly say he was more surprised than angry； at the same time； he clutched his beard。
〃'At the old Orchard of Palms；'〃 Ben…Hur repeated； 〃'under the tent of the traitor Shiek Ilderim。'〃
〃Traitor！I？〃 the old man cried； in his shrillest tone； while lip and beard curled with ire； and on his forehead and neck the veins swelled and beat as they would burst。
〃Yet a moment； sheik；〃 said Ben…Hur； with a deprecatory gesture。 〃Such is Messala's opinion of you。 Hear his threat。〃 And he read on〃'under the tent of the traitor Sheik Ilderim； who cannot long escape our strong hand。 Be not surprised if Maxentius； as his first measure； places the Arab on ship for forwarding to Rome。'〃
〃To Rome！ MeIlderimsheik of ten thousand horsemen with spears me to Rome！〃
He leaped rather than rose to his feet； his arms outstretched； his fingers spread and curved like claws； his eyes glittering like a serpent's。
〃O God！nay； by all the gods except of Rome！when shall this insolence end？ A freeman am I； free are my people。 Must we die slaves？ Or； worse； must I live a dog； crawling to a master's feet？ Must I lick his hand； lest he lash me？ What is mine is not mine； I am not my own； for breath of body I must be beholden to a Roman。 Oh； if I were young again！ Oh； could I shake off twenty yearsor tenor five！〃
He ground his teeth and shook his hands overhead； then； under the impulse of another idea； he walked away and back again to Ben…Hur swiftly； and caught his shoulder with a strong grasp。
〃If I were as thou； son of Arriusas young； as strong； as practised in arms； if I had a motive hissing me to revengea motive； like thine； great enough to make hate holy Away with disguise on thy part and on mine！ Son of Hur； son of Hur； I say〃
At that name all the currents of Ben…Hur's blood stopped； surprised； bewildered； he gazed into the Arab's eyes； now close to his； and fiercely bright。
〃Son of Hur； I say； were I as thou； with half thy wrongs； bearing about with me memories like thine； I would not； I could not； rest。〃 Never pausing； his words following each other torrent…like； the old man swept on。 〃To all my grievances； I would add those of the world； and devote myself to vengeance。 From land to land I would go firing all mankind。 No war for freedom but should find me engaged； no battle against Rome in which I would not bear a part。 I would turn Parthian； if I could not better。 If men failed me； still I would not give over the effortha； ha； ha！ By the splendor of God！ I would herd with wolves； and make friends of lions and tigers； in hope of marshalling them against the common enemy。 I would use every weapon。 So my victims were Romans； I would rejoice in slaughter。 Quarter I would not ask； quarter I would not give。 To the flames everything Roman； to the sword every Roman born。 Of nights I would pray the gods； the good and the bad alike； to lend me their special terrorstempests； drought； heat； cold； and all the nameless poisons they let loose in air； all the thousand things of which men die on sea and on land。 Oh； I could not sleep。 II〃
The sheik stopped for want of breath； panting； wringing his hands。 And； sooth to say； of all the passionate burst Ben…Hur retained but a vague impression wrought by fiery eyes； a piercing voice； and a rage too intense for coherent expression。
For the first time in years； the desolate youth heard himself addressed by his proper name。 One man at least knew him； and acknowledged it without demand of identity； and he an Arab fresh from the desert！
How came the man by his knowledge？ The letter？ No。 It told the cruelties from which his family had suffered； it told the story of his own misfortunes； but it did not say he was the very victim whose escape from doom was the theme of the heartless narrative。 That was the point of explanation he had notified the sheik would follow the reading of the letter。 He was pleased； and thrilled with hope restored； yet kept an air of calmness。
〃Good sheik； tell me how you came by this letter。〃
〃My people keep the roads between cities；〃 Ilderim answered； bluntly。 〃They took it from a courier。〃
〃Are they known to be thy people？〃
〃No。 To the world they are robbers； whom it is mine to catch and slay。〃
〃Again； sheik。 You call me son of Hurmy father's name。 I did not think myself known to a person on earth。 How came you by the knowledge？〃
Ilderim hesitated； but； rallying； he answered； 〃I know you； yet I am not free to tell you more。〃
〃Some one holds you in restraint？〃
The sheik closed his mouth； and walked away； but； observing Ben…Hur's disappointment； he came back； and said； 〃Let us say no more about the matter now。 I will go to town； when I return； I may talk to you fully。 Give me the letter。〃
Ilderim rolled the papyrus carefully； restored it to its envelopes； and became once more all energy。
〃What sayest thou？〃 he asked； while waiting for his horse and retinue。 〃I told what I would do； were I thou； and thou hast made no answer。〃
〃I intended to answer； sheik； and I will。〃 Ben…Hur's countenance and voice changed with the feeling invoked。 〃All thou hast said； I will doall at least in the power of a man。 I devoted myself to vengeance long ago。 Every hour of the five years passed； I have lived with no other thought。 I have taken no respite。 I have had no pleasures of youth。 The blandishments of Rome were not for me。 I wanted her to educate me for revenge。 I resorted to her most famous masters and professorsnot those of rhetoric or philosophy： alas！ I had no time for them。 The arts essential to a fighting…man were my desire。 I associated with gladiators； and with winners of prizes in the Circus； and they were my teachers。 The drill…masters in the great camp accepted me as a scholar； and were proud of my attainments in their line。 O sheik； I am a soldier； but the things of which I dream require me to be a captain。 With that thought； I have taken part in the campaign against the Parthians； when it is over； then； if the Lord spare my life and strengththen〃he raised his clenched hands； and spoke vehemently〃then I will be an enemy Roman…taught in all things； then Rome shall account to me in Roman lives for her ills。 You have my answer； sheik。〃
Ilderim put an arm over his shoulder； and kissed him； saying； passionately； 〃If thy God favor thee not； son of Hur； it is because he is dead。 Take thou this from mesworn to； if so thy preference run： thou shalt have my hands； and their fulnessmen； horses； camels； and the desert for preparation。 I swear it！ For the present； enough。 Thou shalt see or hear from me before night。〃
Turning abruptly off； the sheik was speedily on the road to the city。
CHAPTER VI
The intercepted l