' He was silent
a moment, then suddenly he altered the ship's course, and then he
stood up and spoke.
'Good friends and gentlemen,' he said, 'who are bound with me in
this brave venture by our King's command, the false, foreign ship
is close on our heels. If we land, they land, and only the gods
know whether they might not beat us in fight, and themselves
survive to carry back the tale of Tyre's secret island to enrich
their own miserable land. Shall this be?'
'Never!' cried the half-dozen men near him. The slaves were
rowing hard below and could not hear his words.
The Egyptian leaped upon him; suddenly, fiercely, as a wild beast
leaps. 'Give me back my Amulet,' he cried, and caught at the
charm. The chain that held it snapped, and it lay in the
Priest's hand.
Pheles laughed, standing balanced to the leap of the ship that
answered the oarstroke.
'This is no time for charms and mummeries,' he said. 'We've
lived like men, and we'll die like gentlemen for the honour and
glory of Tyre, our splendid city. "Tyre, Tyre for ever! It's
Tyre that rules the waves." I steer her straight for the Dragon
rocks, and we go down for our city, as brave men should. The
creeping cowards who follow shall go down as slaves--and slaves
they shall be to us--when we live again. Tyre, Tyre for ever!'
A great shout went up, and the slaves below joined in it.
'Quick, the Amulet,' cried Anthea, and held it up.
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