sures no longer
destined for their lord, the slaves of Arbaces joined the throng. One
only of all their torches yet flickered on. It was borne by Sosia; and
its light falling on the face of Nydia, he recognized the Thessalian.

'What avails thy liberty now, blind girl?' said the slave.

'Who art thou? canst thou tell me of Glaucus?'

'Ay; I saw him but a few minutes since.'

'Blessed be thy head! where?'

'Crouched beneath the arch of the forum--dead or dying!--gone to rejoin
Arbaces, who is no more!'

Nydia uttered not a word, she slid from the side of Sallust; silently
she glided through those behind her, and retraced her steps to the city.
She gained the forum--the arch; she stooped down--she felt around--she
called on the name of Glaucus.

A weak voice answered--'Who calls on me? Is it the voice of the Shades?
Lo! I am prepared!'

'Arise! follow me! Take my hand! Glaucus, thou shalt be saved!'

In wonder and sudden hope, Glaucus arose--'Nydia still? Ah! thou, then,
art safe!'

The tender joy of his voice pierced the heart of the poor Thessalian,
and she blessed him for his thought of her.

Half leading, half carrying Ione, Glaucus followed his guide. With
admirable discretion, she avoided the path which led to the crowd she
had just quitted, and, by another route, sought the shore.

After many pauses and incredible perseverance, they gained the sea, and
joined a group, who, bolder than the rest, resolved to hazard any peril
rather than continue in such a scene. In darkness they put forth to
sea; but, as they cleared the land and caught new aspects of the
mountain, its channels of molten fire threw a partial redness over the
waves.

Utterly exhausted and worn out, Ione slept on the breast of Glaucus, and
Nydia lay at his feet. Meanwhile the showers of dust and ashes, still
borne aloft, fell into the wave, and scattered their snows over the
deck. Far and wide, borne by the winds, those showers descended upon
the remotest climes, startling even the swarthy African; and whirled
along the antique soil of Syria and of Egypt (Dion Cassius).

Chapter X

THE NEXT MORNING. THE FATE OF NYDIA.

AND meekly, softly, beautifully, dawned at last the light over the
trembling deep!--the winds were sinking into rest--the foam died from
the glowing azure of that delicious sea. Around the east, thin mists
caught gradually the rosy hues that heralded the morning; Light was
about to resume her reign. Ye