ess, that
each one asked himself unconsciously how it was possible to torture
and nail to crosses men who would die soon in any case. The crowd was
silent. Among the Augustians Vestinius, bending to right and left,
whispered in a terrified voice, "See how they die!" Others were looking
for the bear, wishing the spectacle to end at the earliest.

The bear came into the arena at last, and, swaying from side to side a
head which hung low, he looked around from beneath his forehead, as if
thinking of something or seeking something. At last he saw the cross and
the naked body. He approached it, and stood on his hind legs; but after
a moment he dropped again on his fore-paws, and sitting under the cross
began to growl, as if in his heart of a beast pity for that remnant of a
man had made itself heard.

Cries were heard from Circus slaves urging on the bear, but the people
were silent.

Meanwhile Chilo raised his head with slow motion, and for a time moved
his eyes over the audience. At last his glance rested somewhere on the
highest rows of the amphitheatre; his breast moved with more life,
and something happened which caused wonder and astonishment. That face
became bright with a smile; a ray of light, as it were, encircled that
forehead; his eyes were uplifted before death, and after a while two
great tears which had risen between the lids flowed slowly down his
face.

And he died.

At that same moment a resonant manly voice high up under the velarium
exclaimed,--

"Peace to the martyrs!"

Deep silence reigned in the amphitheatre.

Chapter LXIII

AFTER the spectacle in Caesar's gardens the prisons were emptied
considerably. It is true that victims suspected of the Oriental
superstition were seized yet and imprisoned, but pursuit brought in
fewer and fewer persons,--barely enough for coming exhibitions, which
were to follow quickly. People were sated with blood; they showed
growing weariness, and increasing alarm because of the unparalleled
conduct of the condemned. Fears like those of the superstitious
Vestinius seized thousands of people. Among the crowds tales more and
more wonderful were related of the vengefulness of the Christian God.
Prison typhus, which had spread through the city, increased the general
dread. The number of funerals was evident, and it was repeated from
ear to ear that fresh piacula were needed to mollify the unknown god.
Offerings were made in the temples to Jove and Libitina. A