An hour later a white chiton might have been seen hanging heavily in the
sultry air from the limbs of a juniper bush, that grew out of a sandy
mound between two great boulders on the eastern shore of the Sea of
Galilee. Under the shelter of the rocks were two men, the one having on
only a pair of leather trousers; the other, but for a close-fitting
shirt, entirely nude. This was not the most decorous position in which
to find the King of Tyre and his aristocratic nobleman; yet they both
seemed supremely, even hilariously, happy. King Hiram had completed the
story of his adventures; and Hanno, donning his chiton, entered upon the
account of the events that had occurred recently at Tyre.
The priests, he said, after consultation, and with some misgiving as to
their policy, agreed to encourage the popular belief that King Hiram had
been bodily translated to some heavenly world by the favor and power of
Baal. They boasted thus a greater miracle on the part of their god than
those reported in the olden times of the exploits of Jehovah in Israel,
who took Enoch, Moses, and Elijah away without their seeing death. For
several days the Tyrian populace held high festival in devout
celebration of this astounding event. The city was given over to orgies
that drained much wealth into the coffers of the priests. Half the
jewels of Tyre, and heaps of coins, were stored in the Temple of
Melkarth. A hundred skins of choicest wine were poured into the sacred
lake around the Maabed. So many men offered themselves for the priestly
occupation, expecting miraculous reward, that some of the shops of the
artisans were closed for lack of workmen, and many ships were delayed in
sailing because they were unmanned.
Perhaps Ahimelek was the most ostentatious donor, "unless," said Hanno,
"I myself surpassed him in extravagant zeal. Three ship-loads of
dye-stuffs I emptied into the Egyptian harbor, empurpling the water, and
staining the stones of the quay with royal tints against the time of our
king's return.
"The priests were not long in discovering the real method of your
disappearance, but to have confessed it would have brought the whole
affair into such disrepute that the people would have torn Egbalus and
the rest of us to pieces."
"But was your hand not suspected?" asked Hiram.
"I think not. I anticipated that I too should have to flee, and prepared
to do so; but the falling of the foundation of the image, through the
accidental burning of some wooden supports, completely blocked the
passage from those who investigated it; and I have since removed every
royal rag you left in the vault beyond.
"Egbalus summoned a few of the more cautious and desperate, among whom I
was surprised to find myself, and revealed his own view and policy. The
shrewd old fox was certain that you had escaped by some ruse. You must
be tracked and killed, even if you had gone to where the Nile begins in
the melting of the mountains, or had become a savage in the islands of
tin. Priests were despatched to Greece, to Susa, to Damascus, to
Memphis, and Thebes. A dozen are tracking this Jews' land. I volunteered
in such fine frenzy--this fresh gash on my breast is the mark of my
vow--that Egbalus hugged me to his villainous heart, and called me a
true son of Baal, and offered me the fairest girl born of his concubine
Tissa for wife when I returned.
"I thought to go out alone. But I knew little of these inland roads, so
yoked myself with old Abdemon, the shrewdest of all the priests. He was
poor in tramping, and weak of arm, but had the wiliest head for this
sort of business. He knew every path in the Jews' land. I felt sure that
he would get your foot-prints, unless you had taken to flight in the
air; so I joined with him. He struck your trail at once. He scented you
near the crater of Giscala, and put the two devils you spoke of on guard
there, while we watched here by the sea."
"He was drowned when the boat sank?" asked Hiram.
"Yes, he sank like a stone. If he had swum a stroke I would have choked
him in the water. Indeed, when I saw your boat go down I drew a dagger
on him, but before I could use it our boat was in the same straits."
"But what of Zillah?"
"There is nothing to report, except what was known to all before the day
of the sacrifice. Her father had made a close alliance with Egbalus.
Believing that you were doomed, he offered his daughter to your cousin
Rubaal, and pledged the same dowry as he had pledged to you."
"That shall never be!" cried Hiram with impatient fury. "I will return
to Tyre, steal my way into the city, cut the throats of these wretches,
and flee with my betrothed."
"You shall return, but not now."
"Why not now? I cannot, I will not, wander about like a cowardly
fugitive."
"Wait at least, my king, until you get the mail on your hand to strike
the great blow that will shatter all this horrid tyranny at once. No
harm can come to Zillah. It was because I knew your hot blood and quick
determination that I sought more eagerly to find you, and prevent your
sudden return. Trust me in Tyre. The marriage with Rubaal cannot take
place until the next festival of Astarte and Tammuz. A hundred things
may happen before that. Patience! and then not mere vengeance, King
Hiram, but your restoration, and the renewed splendor of your power! I
believe in it, and if the gods will not send it, we will make it.
Loving you as I do, I am not risking my life merely for yours, but for
your crown as well. Tyre must be saved, made rich, powerful, the
mistress of Sidon, the queen of the Great Sea, the conqueror of--"
"Peace! peace! good Hanno. Let's first think of how to save a whole
skin, instead of gilding a new crown. But see! your boat has floated,
and is drifting this way."
Hanno looked sharply at the distant object.
"And, by the mouth of Dagon! old Abdemon is on her, clinging to her
bottom."
"I will smash his skull with the very stone I had selected for yours,"
cried the almost frantic king. "If I cannot dispense justice in my own
kingdom, I can here."
"No, no," said Hanno; "leave him to me. Get you gone out of sight. If he
has seen you I will put him out of the way. If he has not seen you, he
will confirm the report that you were drowned. That will recall all the
priests from pursuit, and leave the field free for us to work. Hide
away!"
Hanno plunged into the sea, and swam to the floating wreck. Abdemon was
barely alive. He had ceased to cling, and was lying limp across the
bottom of the upturned boat. The sea had subsided, else he had been
washed off. It was nearly another hour before Hanno was able to work the
wreck to the beach and carry the nearly unconscious priest ashore.
As Abdemon recovered his senses, it was plain that he had seen nothing
of what had occurred.
"The Cabeiri have avenged Baal," cried he. "I could have died willingly
after I saw the sea swallow up the traitorous king, but I could not bear
the thought of being myself drowned in the same water. Baal be praised!
Baal be praised!"
"And now," suggested Hanno, "we must hasten back to Tyre with the news.
The sooner the search ceases, and the priests return, the less danger of
suspicion by the people. Baal has taken his offering, whether by fire or
water it matters not that the crowd should know."
"Baal be praised!" echoed Abdemon.
"Could you not return alone?" asked Hanno. "I, as a new priest, and one
assigned by our most worshipful chief to the superintendency of our
temple property, would learn of the practices of worship among these
tribes of Ammon and Moab. And then I would visit Jerusalem, where these
Jews are rebuilding their temple. I may learn much that will add to the
splendor and impressiveness of our worship."
After some further consultation Hanno's plans were approved by his
fellow-priest. They talked about the renovation of temples and the
coming glory of the priestly guild, when the wealth of Ahimelek should
augment the treasury of Melkarth.
Near nightfall a fisherman rowed Hanno and Abdemon across the upper end
of the Sea of Galilee to one of the little hamlets there, and under the
starlight he brought Hanno back to the eastern shore.