of three talents. He is
fond of wine, and for such the sea has many perils. Do you understand
me?"

"I do," said Tepas, nodding his approval, and then that heap of gold,
lying on the chart, was delivered to him, and without more delay he
went to his own vessel. Antipater sat in silence, thinking for a
moment, his chin upon his breast. Soon the thought of his enemies and
their doom brightened his eyes and lifted the corners of his mouth a
little and set his lips quivering. He leaned forward upon a table,
softly, as if in fear that some eye would observe him. One might have
heard then that menacing, Herodian rumble in his throat. He seemed to
caress the table with his hands.

"Dear Appius! Good Vergilius!" he muttered, seizing a piece of vellum
and crushing it in his hand. "Soon my power shall close upon you. And
Arria, my pretty maiden, you shall repair my heart with kisses."

A pet kitten leaped upon the table. It seemed to startle him, and he
struck it dead with his hand.

Then he sprang up suddenly and looked about, a feline stealth upon him,
and ran with catlike paces to the deck.

"Get to work, you sea-rats!" he roared. "Every man to his place. If
we are not gone to sea before the moon is up, some of you will be gone
to Hades."

In half a moment slaves were up in the rigging and rushing across the
deck and tumbling into the galley.

And that night Antipater pushed his prow into the deep sea.

Meanwhile Arria and Appius, fearing the power of this new king of
Judea, and thinking also of the peril of Vergilius, travelled slowly,
considering what they should do. Appius feared either to go or to
return, but Arria was of better courage.

"I must go to him," said she. "You know not this love in me, dear
brother. I would give up my life to be with him. If he is dead I
shall never see the seven hills again. I shall go--" she paused,
covering her eyes a moment.

"Where?"

"To the city of God," she whispered.

"May all the gods protect us," said her brother.

And the day after Antipater had set sail, they, too, with Cyran, the
slave-girl, were moving southward in the great, middle sea.

CHAPTER 20

Again the council of the covenant was in session. Herod, unknown to
all, sat in the darkness of the council chamber. The intrigue of
Salome and the treachery of Manius had led the Lion of Judea to his
prey. Swords of fate were in the gloom that surrounded the traitors.

Now there had