second flooding
the floor with blood. Then down he went shuddering to his death. The
young men shouted loud their applause in honor of Herod's son. While
the beast was dying slaves came and sanded the floor. Then, presently,
they swept up the red sand, and tying a rope to the legs of the limp
tiger, dragged him away. They had done this kind of work before, and
each knew his part. Presently Antipater called two of them.

"Bring that girl Cyran--she that chants of her new king," said he, as
they ran to do his bidding.

"Noble prince, the strange god is again at work in me," said Vergilius,
with rising ire. "I could not bear to see you put her with the
leopard; I should rather face him myself."

"You!" said the other, tauntingly, and with a shrewd purpose. The
youths turned to see if Vergilius would really accept the challenge.
No man had ever faced a black leopard at close quarters without
suffering death or injury.

"I," said Vergilius, promptly. "If it is amusement you desire, I can
supply it as well as she. Surely I have more blood in me. If you wish
only to feed the leopard--will I not make a better feast?"

A sound hushed them. It was the slave-girl, singing as she came near:

"Send, quickly send, the new king whose arrows
shall fly as the lightning,
Making the mighty afraid and the proud to bow
low and the wicked to tremble.
Soon let me hear the great song that shall sound
in the deep of the heavens;
Show me the lantern of light hanging low in
the deep of the heavens."

She was fair to look upon as she came, led by the carnifex, her form,
draped in soft, transparent linen, like that of a goddess in its
outline, her face lighted even with that light of which she sang.

"The girl against a hundred denarii that you cannot live an hour in the
arena with him," said Antipater, hotly.

"I accept the wager," Vergilius calmly answered, laying off his robe
and seizing a lance. He entered the arena and closed its gate behind
him. "Drive the beast in upon me, son of Herod; and you, Gracus, be
ready to hand me another lance."

The black leopard spat fiercely and struck at the points that were put
upon it, the deep rumble in its throat swelling into loud crescendos.
Of a sudden it bounded through the gateway and stood a moment, baring
great fangs. The animal threatened with long hisses. Vergilius held
its eye, his lance raised. The hissing ceased, the growl dimini