with these new Roman soldiers in our gates. That were scarcely
wise.

But the boy broke out again. "So; they have seen each other," he
said; "both sides are pressing on!"

"True; and they will meet under this very portico," said Bath
Zabbai, and moved both by interest and desire this dark-eyed
Syrian girl, to whom fear was never known, standing by her
cousin's side, looked down upon the tossing sea of spears and
lances and glittering shields and helmets that swayed and surged
in the street below.

"So, Odaenathus!" said Rufinus, the tribune, reining in his horse
and speaking in harsh and commanding tones, "what meaneth this
array of armed followers?"

"Are the movements of Septimus Odaenathus, the head-man, of such
importance to the noble tribune that he must needs question a
free merchant of Palmyra as to the number and manner of his
servants?" asked Odaemathus haughtily.

"Dog of a Palmyrean; slave of a camel-driver," said the Roman
angrily, "trifle not with me. Were you ten times the free
merchant you claim, you should not thus reply. Free, forsooth!
None are free but Romans."

"Have a care, O Rufinus," said the Palmyrean boldly, "choose
wiser words if you would have peaceful ways. Palmyra brooks no
such slander of her foremost men."