"There were women among those twelve Christians who were brought
from Scillita to Carthage to die," continued Timokles, "three women,
called Donata, Secunda, and Vestina. When they were brought before
the proconsul, he said to them, 'Honor our prince, and offer
sacrifice to the gods.' Donata answered, 'We give to Caesar the
honor that is due Caesar: but we adore and offer sacrifice to God
alone.' Vestina, said, 'I also am a Christian.' Secunda said, 'I
also believe in my God, and will continue. faithful to him. As for
thy gods, we will neither serve nor adore them.'

"O my master," continued Timokles, with trembling voice," thinkest
thou not that the God who so strengthened three women that they did
not shrink from death for his sake, could strengthen me to meet
death, also?"




CHAPTER III.


Pentaur looked fixedly at the lad, who stood with no air of bravado
about him, but with an expression of humble trust that the merchant
could not fathom.

"Why shouldest thou risk death?" questioned the merchant. "Death
will defeat a Christian."

"Nay, O master!" exclaimed Timokles eagerly. "Death may be glorious