f on a straw pallet, for the first time
came the comfort of hot tears.

* * * * * * *

Very early the _Solon's_ square mainsail caught the breeze from the warm
southwest. The hill of Munychia and the ports receded. The panorama of
Athens--plain, city, citadel, gray Hymettus, white Pentelicus--spread in a
vista of surpassing beauty--so at least to the eyes of the outlaw when he
clambered to the poop. As the ship ran down the low coast, land and sea
seemed clothed with a robe of rainbow-woven light. Far, near,--islands,
mountains, and deep were burning with saffron, violet, and rose, as the
Sun-God's car climbed higher above the burning path it marked across the
sea. Glaucon saw all in clear relief,--the Acropolis temple where he had
prayed, the Pnyx and Areopagus, the green band of the olive groves, even
the knoll of Colonus,--where he had left his all. Never had he loved Athens
more than now. Never had she seemed fairer to his eyes than now. He was a
Greek, and to a Greek death was only by one stage a greater ill than
exile.

"O Athena Polias," he cried, stretching his hands to the fading beauty,
"goddess who determineth all aright,--bless thou this land, though it wakes
to call me traitor. Teach it to know I am innocent. Comfort Hermione, my
wife. And restore me to Athens, after doing deeds which wipe out all my
unearned shame!"

The _Solon_ rounded the cape. The headland concealed the city. The
Saronian bay opened into the deeper blue of the AEgean and its sprinkling
of brown islands. Glaucon looked eastward and strove to forget Attica.

* * * * * * *

Two hours later all Athens seemed reading this placard in the Agora:--

NOTICE

For the arrest of GLAUCON, SON OF CONON, charged with high
treason, I will pay one talent.

DEXILEUS, Chairman of the Eleven.

Other such placards were posted in Peiraeus, in Eleusis, in Marathon, in
every Attic village. Men could talk of nothing else.

CHAPTER XIV

MARDONIUS THE PERSIAN

Off Andros the northern gale smote them. The ship had driven helplessly.

Off Tenos only the skill of Brasidas kept the _Solon_ clear of the rocky
shores.

As they raced past holy Delos the frightened passengers had vowed twelve
oxen to Apollo if he saved them.

Near Naxos, Bras