while he removed the spear on which his loins were resting, and finally
that on which his head was fixed.

This took place in the clear day, before some thousands of spectators.
The sleeping Chaldean rested in the air horizontally, without support,
a couple of ells above the earth. At last the old man pushed him down
and roused him.

The audience was astounded; no one dared to applaud or to shout, but
flowers were thrown from some boxes.

Ramses too was astonished. He bent towards Hiram's box, and asked the
old prince in a low voice,

"Could they perform that secret in the temple of Astaroth?"

"I am not conversant with all the secrets of our priests," answered
Hiram, confused. "I know, though, that Chaldeans are very clever."

"But we all saw that that young man rested in the air."

"If they did not put a spell on us," said Hiram, reluctantly; and he
grew serious.

After a short interval, during which servitors took to the boxes of
dignitaries fresh flowers, cool wine and cakes, the most important part
of the spectacle began, the bull fight.

To the sound of trumpets, drums, and flutes they led a strong bull into
the arena, with a cloth over his head so that he should not see. Then a
number of naked men ran around with darts, and one with a short sword.

At a signal, given by the prince, the leaders ran away, and one of the
armed men struck the cloth from the head of the bull. The beast stood
some moments in a maze; then he chased after the dart man, who vexed
him by pricking.

This barren struggle continued some tens of minutes. Men tormented the
bull, and he, foaming, stained with blood, reared and chased over the
whole arena after his enemies without reaching any.

At last he fell, amid the laughter of the spectators.

The wearied prince, instead of looking at the arena, looked at the box
of the Phoenician priests. He saw that Kama had moved nearer to Sargon
and was conversing vivaciously. The Assyrian devoured her with his
glances; she smiled and blushed, whispered with him, sometimes bending
so that her hair touched the locks of the barbarian; sometimes she
turned from him and feigned anger.

Ramses felt pain in his heart. For the first time it had happened that
a woman had preferred another man to him; besides, a man who was almost
old, and, moreover, an Assyrian.

Meanwhile a murmur rose in the audience. On the arena a man armed with
a sword gave command to tie his left hand to his breast; ot