Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/141

Rh &quot;It is our Cæsar’s will, further, that you cause a hundred triremes, of the first class, and full appointment, to be despatched without delay against the pirates who have appeared in the Ægean, and that Quintus be sent to command the fleet so despatched.

&quot;Details are thine, my Cæcilius.

&quot;The necessity is urgent, as thou wilt be advised by the reports enclosed for thy perusal and the information of the said Quintus. &quot;.&quot; Arrius gave little heed to the reading. As the ship drew more plainly out of the perspective, she became more and more an attraction to him. The look with which he watched her was that of an enthusiast. At length he tossed the loosened folds of his toga in the air; in reply to the signal, over the aplustre, or fan-like fixture at the stern of the vessel, a scarlet flag was displayed; while several sailors appeared upon the bulwarks, and swung themselves hand over hand up the ropes to the antenna, or yard, and furled the sail. The bow was put round, and the time of the oars increased one half; so that at racing speed she bore down directly towards him and his friends. He observed the manœuvring with a perceptible brightening of the eyes. Her instant answer to the rudder, and the steadiness with which she kept her course, were especially noticeable as virtues to be relied upon in action.

&quot;By the Nymphæ!&quot; said one of the friends, giving back the roll, &quot;we may not longer say our friend will be great; he is already great. Our love will now have famous things to feed upon. What more hast thou for us?&quot; &quot;Nothing more,&quot; Arrius replied. &quot;What ye have of the affair is by this time old news in Rome, especially between the palace and the Forum. The duumvir is discreet; what I am to do, where go to find my fleet, he will tell on the ship, where a sealed package is waiting me. If, however, ye have offerings for any of the altars to-day, pray the gods for a friend plying oar and sail somewhere in the direction of Sicily. But she is here, and will come to,&quot; he said, reverting to the vessel. &quot;I have interest in her masters; they will sail and fight with me. It is not an easy thing to lay ship side on a shore like this; so let us judge their training and skill.&quot;

&quot;What, is she new to thee?&quot;