d both ship and wine-vessel to the Samians. As they could not
convict me of the crime, and had yet determined on my ruin, I was
sentenced to two days' and nights' exposure on the pillory. My foot was
chained to it during the night; but before the morning of disgrace
dawned, my brother brought me secretly a sword, that my honor might be
saved, though at the expense of my life. But I could not die before
revenging myself on the men who had worked my ruin; and therefore,
cutting the manacled foot from my leg, I escaped, and hid in the rushes
on the banks of the Furotas. My brother brought me food and drink in
secret; and after two months I was able to walk on the wooden leg you now
see. Apollo undertook my revenge; he never misses his mark, and my two
worst opponents died of the plague. Still I durst not return home, and at
length took ship from Gythium to fight against the Persians under you,
Croesus. On landing at Teos, I heard that you were king no longer, that
the mighty Cyrus, the father of yonder beautiful youth, had conquered the
powerful province of Lydia in a few weeks, and reduced the richest of
kings to beggary."

Every guest gazed at Aristomachus in admiration. Croesus shook his hard
hand; and Bartja exclaimed: "Spartan, I would I could take you back with
me to Susa, that my friends there might see what I have seen myself, the
most courageous, the most honorable of men!"

"Believe me, boy," returned Aristomachus smiling, every Spartan would
have done the same. In our country it needs more courage to be a coward
than a brave man."

"And you, Bartja," cried Darius, the Persian king's cousin, "could you
have borne to stand at the pillory?" Bartja reddened, but it was easy to
see that he too preferred death to disgrace.

"Zopyrus, what say you?" asked Darius of the third young Persian.

"I could mutilate my own limbs for love of you two," answered he,
grasping unobserved the hands of his two friends.

With an ironical smile Psamtik sat watching this scene--the pleased faces
of Amasis, Croesus and Gyges, the meaning glances of the Egyptians, and
the contented looks with which Aristomachus gazed on the young heroes.

Ibykus now told of the oracle which had promised Aristomachus a return to
his native land, on the approach of the men from the snowy mountains, and
at the same time, mentioned the hospitable house of Rhodopis.

On hearing this name Psamtik grew restless; Croesus expressed a wish to
form the acqua