girl of the groves, and a murderess of children,'" she replied.

"Then, by my head, prince that he is, he shall answer for it to me,"
said Sakon, grasping at his sword-hilt.

"Nay, father, since to him I must have seemed to deserve the words.
Listen." And she told him all that had passed, hiding nothing.

"Now it seems that trouble is heaped upon trouble," said the Phoenician
when she had finished, "and they were mad who suffered the prince and
that fierce Issachar to be present at the sacrifice. Daughter, I tell
you this: though I am a worshipper of El and Baaltis, as my fathers were
before me, I know that Jehovah of the Jews is a great and powerful Lord,
and that His prophets do not prophesy falsely, for I have seen it in my
youth, yonder in the coasts of Sidon. What did Issachar say? That before
the moon was young again, this temple should run red with blood? Well,
so it may happen, for Ithobal threatens war against us, and for your
sake, my daughter."

"How for my sake, father?" she asked heavily, as one who knew what the
answer would be.

"You know well, girl. Ever since you danced before him at the great
welcoming feast I made in his honour a month ago the man is besotted
of you; moreover, he is mad with jealousy of this new-comer, the prince
Aziel. He has demanded public audience of me this afternoon, and I have
it privately that then he will formally ask you in marriage before the
people, and if he is refused will declare war upon the city, with which
he has many an ancient quarrel. Yes, yes, king Ithobal is that sword
of God which the Jew said he saw hanging over us, and should it fall it
will be because of you, Elissa."

"The Jew did not say that, father; he said it would be because of the
sins of the people and their idolatries."

"What does it matter what he said?" broke in Sakon hastily. "How shall I
answer Ithobal?"

"Tell him," she replied with a strange smile, "that he does wisely to be
jealous of the prince Aziel."

"What! Of the stranger who this very day reviled you in words of such
shame, and so soon?" asked her father astonished.

Elissa did not speak in answer; she only looked straight before her, and
nodded her head.

"Had ever man such a daughter?" Sakon went on in petulant dismay. "Truly
it is a wise saying which tells that women love those best who beat
them, be it with the tongue or with the fist. Not but what I would
gladly see you wedded to a prince of Israel and of Egypt rathe