THE MAN WITH THE DAGGER.
Another door opened up with a sudden bang, and behold! a fair-haired
youth, almost naked, and armed with a simple dagger, stepped boldly
into the arena. A great shout went up from the spectators, as, without
the least delay, he ran forward and stood between the lion and its
intended victim.
Coryna gave the would-be deliverer one bewildered, piercing glance,
then instantly lowering her head she hid a face of death-like whiteness
in hands clammy with a cold perspiration.
"Father, father, dost thou not know him?" cried Carnion, startled up
with the bang and the shout, and quivering with mingled grief and joy.
Titanus, never without a feeble ray of hope, was yet thunderstruck when
the combatant's identity dawned upon him; and though filled with
admiration, he was visibly troubled.
The brave youth below stood erect and resolute, while the beast,
disconcerted with the shout and the sudden check, rested back flat upon
its limbs and belly. Like David of old when facing the giant, the
young man came forward trusting in the God of Israel.
"Who is that courageous but foolhardy venturer?" enquired the emperor.
"Tharsos, of the praetorian guard, O sovereign."
"One of my noblest and wealthiest officers!" exclaimed the emperor;
"yet let him go--he tends towards the detested Christians," added he
haughtily.
Servilius, the pagan confidant of the emperor, but the enemy of
Tharsos, was secretly delighted. "We shall soon get rid of him, and
Emerentia will be mine," said he to himself, as he leaned over to take
a satisfied, last look at the self-sacrificing nobleman below.
Pathema was struck with amazement, but inexpressibly grieved to think
that the fair form of her defender would be speedily felled to the
earth, and mangled, and devoured!
Tharsos did not stand on the defensive: he took the first step to
battle; and the people gave a deafening shout of approval. He moved
towards the formidable lion with slow but firm tread. The mysterious
light of the steadfast human eye was unbearable--the suspicious beast
rose up and skulked away, with trailing tail and with head turned
partly round to keep watch upon its enemy. Tharsos held on steadily,
purposing that if death should happen to him, it would be as far away
as possible from the eyes of the sore-tried, desolate maiden.
When near the side of the arena right opposite the emperor, the lion
howled with fear and sprang ten feet up towards the balcony, its
eye-balls gleaming just a short space below Titanus and his eager boy.
Rising up quickly, Titanus placed his hand upon the hilt of his sword.
Fain would he have leapt down to the aid of his beloved friend. Their
eyes met for a moment; and, though pale and grave, Tharsos smiled.
Baffled in its leap, the brute turned sharply round, face to face with
its determined pursuer, and uttered a terrific roar of rage. The issue
would soon be decided, and the immense concourse of people held their
breath, while Pathema turned away her head and offered up a silent
prayer to Him who has power over the beast of the field.
Tharsos now drew slowly back, while keeping his eyes towards the
enraged lion. Suddenly withdrawing his gaze, he turned and ran with
swift and bounding steps straight for the eastern extremity of the
arena, while the surprised spectators yelled their contempt after him.
Then the man strangely swayed and tottered in front of the very door
where the calm resolute woman had entered but a few minutes before.
"He plays the coward, he faints, curse him!" was heard on every hand,
as they saw him finally throw up his arms and fall.
"The charge is false, false!" exclaimed an erect, indignant figure with
a pale face up among the women. It was the voice of Coryna, but amidst
the clamour she was not heard except by those immediately around her.
"Hear ye the madwoman!" cried they, as they scoffed and laughed.
The emperor, disappointed and even ashamed, sat in scornful silence.
But Servilius, excited with malignant pleasure, laughed outright.
Then Titanus rose up and drew his glitter-sword. He stepped to the
very edge of the balcony, Carnion at his side, and the eyes of the
people catching sight of him, the loud storm of abuse instantly ceased.
"Too late, too late, and out of order!" Servilius fiercely cried,
fearing the rescue of the man he unjustly hated.
"He who calls my friend Tharsos a coward!" exclaimed Titanus in clear
ringing voice, "shall die. I challenge him to meet me next on the sand
of that arena!"
And Coryna was unspeakably relieved.
But no man would wantonly accept the challenge, for Titanus was agile
and strong, and was one of the most expert swordsmen in the Roman army.
There was, however, much excitement over this bold interruption and at
the announcement of the name of the prostrate man, whose high rank was
widely known.
The indignant Titanus was right--there was no cowardice. The multitude
had entirely misjudged the tactics of the brave Tharsos. The fallen
man lay quietly upon his back, with his face slightly toward the lion,
and with his dagger closely clinched in his strong right hand.
Coryna's feelings were strung to the highest pitch. Her suspense was
agony, but she would not have her brave brother elsewhere.
The ferocious beast, taken by surprise or freed from provocation,
suddenly quieted down. It sat on its haunches for a moment, and looked
after the fleeing man. Then it rose up, and preferring a fallen form
to an erect, it followed him with light majestic tread. It came to
within twenty feet of where he lay, and halted, sitting on its haunches
again. Rising up, it walked around him twice, looking at him curiously
all the time. Satisfied at last that it had an easy prey, it went
forward softly, like a cat. Halting, it bent down to sniff the still,
white, helpless-like figure, and to seize the flank.
The time for action had come. Swiftly Tharsos drew his arm, and with
terrific force thrust the dagger right into the would-be devourer's
heart!
With a mighty yell the lion leaped into the air, and fell heavily
across the body of its destroyer--a dangerous struggle or two, and it
was dead!
Then was the stratagem understood, and when it was coupled with the
name and rank of the self-sacrificing victor, a thundering shout of
applause filled the amphitheatre.
"Well done! brave Tharsos," said the Emperor proudly to the
distinguished noblemen around him, who were all delighted, Servilius
excepted, who vainly strove to conceal his deep displeasure.
Looking deliberately across the arena, the emperor caught Titanus' eye
and smiled. That valiant officer rose up and saluted his sovereign
with becoming dignity and grace.
"Oh father, what a grand fight," exclaimed Carnion, "and the Christian
lady is free!"
"Yes, my son," replied the trustful soldier, resting back upon the
chair for a moment with unutterable satisfaction, for the honor of his
friend was upheld, and the virtuous maiden was saved.
The vast multitude were greatly gratified in their feeling of the
sensational. Yet a few were stirred to better thoughts and high
resolves, who would never otherwise be influenced. Thus in the
providence of God does the wrath of man work out His purpose and praise.
The applause was at its height. But, strange to say, Tharsos moved
not. The officials that had gone to his aid removed the huge dead lion
from his body. Still Tharsos moved not. Something appeared to be
wrong, and the great noise stopped. The spectators leaned forward and
looked anxious. Was the dauntless destroyer himself destroyed? The
attendants turned him tenderly over--when, alas! there was a frightful
gash in his naked side, from which the blood was flowing freely into
the sand. His face and lips were white, with an expression of peace,
as if in death.
Titanus, deeply anxious, arose and hastened away to get the best
physician he could find. As he disappeared he glanced upward to the
colonnade, but Coryna, the sister, was gone.
Carnion remained to see more of the stricken man, and of the pale woman
in the centre, silent, unnoticed, and alone.
Promptly but gently the attendants lifted up Tharsos and carried him
from the arena. And as he passed from their sight the vast audience
was hushed in regret.