33
XXXII. THE STRANGER IN TROEZENE 343
XXXIII. WHAT BEFELL ON THE HILLSIDE 350
XXXIV. THE LOYALTY OF LAMPAXO 360
XXXV. MOLOCH BETRAYS THE PHOENICIAN 372
XXXVI. THE READING OF THE RIDDLE 388
XXXVII. THE RACE TO SAVE HELLAS 399
XXXVIII. THE COUNCIL OF MARDONIUS 418
XXXIX. THE AVENGING OF LEONIDAS 426
XL. THE SONG OF THE FURIES 438
XLI. THE BRIGHTNESS OF HELIOS 445

PROLOGUE

THE ISTHMIAN GAMES NEAR CORINTH

A VICTOR OF SALAMIS

CHAPTER I

GLAUCON THE BEAUTIFUL

The crier paused for the fifth time. The crowd--knotty Spartans, keen
Athenians, perfumed Sicilians--pressed his pulpit closer, elbowing for the
place of vantage. Amid a lull in their clamour the crier recommenced.

"And now, men of Hellas, another time hearken. The sixth contestant in the
pentathlon, most honourable of the games held at the Isthmus, is Glaucon,
son of Conon the Athenian; his grandfather--" a jangling shout drowned him.

"The most beautiful man in Hellas!" "But an effeminate puppy!" "Of the
noble house of Alcmaeon!" "The family's accursed!" "A great god helps
him--even Eros." "Ay--the fool married for mere love. He needs help. His
father disinherited him."

"Peace, peace," urged the crier; "I'll tell all about him, as I have of
the others. Know then, my masters, that he loved, and won in marriage,
Hermione, daughter of Hermippus of Eleusis. Now Hermippus is Conon's
mortal enemy; therefore in great wrath Conon disinherited his son,--but
now, consenting to forgive him if he wins the parsley crown in the
pentathlon--"

"A safe promise," interrupted a Spartan in broadest Doric; "the pretty boy
has no chance against Lycon, our Laconian giant."

"Boaster!" retorted an Athenian. "Did not Glaucon bend open a horseshoe
yesterday?"

"Our Moerocles did that," called a Mantinean; whereupon the crier,
foregoing his long speech on Glaucon's noble ancestry, began to urge the
Athenians to show their confidence by their wagers.

"How much is staked that Glaucon can beat Ctesias of Epidaurus?"

"We don't match our lion against mice!" roared the