angerous office,
and when Andreas and Joseph also refused with no less decision the
leadership that was offered them, Stephanus said:

"You see there is no choice left us but to be, the Alexandrian to
command us here so long as the robbers threaten us, and no longer. There
he comes--shall I ask him?"

A murmur of consent, though by no means of satisfaction, answered the
old man, and Paulus, quite carried away by his eagerness to stake
his life and blood for the protection of the weak, and fevered with a
soldier's ardor, accepted Stephanus' commission as a matter of course,
and set to work like a general to organize the helpless wearers of
sheepskin.

Some he sent to the top of the tower to keep watch, others he charged
with the transport of the stones; to a third party he entrusted the duty
of hurling pieces of rock and blocks of stone down into the abyss in
the moment of danger; he requested the weaker brethren to assemble
themselves together, to pray for the others and to sing hymns of praise,
and he concerted signs and passwords with all; he was now here, now
there, and his energy and confidence infused themselves even into the
faint-hearted.

In the midst of these arrangements Hermas took leave of him and of his
father, for he heard the Roman war-trumpets and the drums of the young
manhood of Pharan, as they marched through the short cut to meet
the enemy. He knew where the main strength of the Blemmyes lay and
communicated this knowledge to the Centurion Phoebicius and the captain
of the Pharanites. The Gaul put a few short questions to Hermas, whom he
recognized immediately, for since he had met him at the harbor of Raithu
he could not forget his eyes, which reminded him of those of Glycera;
and after receiving his hasty and decided answers he issued rapid and
prudent orders.

A third of the Pharanites were to march forward against the enemy,
drumming and trumpeting, and then retreat as far as the watch-tower as
the enemy approached over the plain. If the Blemmyes allowed themselves
to be tempted thither, a second third of the warriors of the oasis, that
could easily be in ambush in a cross-valley, were to fall on their left
flank, while Phoebicius and his maniple--hidden behind the rock on which
the castle stood--would suddenly rush out and so decide the battle.
The last third of the Pharanites had orders to destroy the ships of the
invaders under the command of Hermas, who knew the spot where they had
lan