Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/369

Rh, you will remember, the wager concluded with Messala last night, and stated that I left another which, if taken, was to be delivered to me in writing to-day before the race began. Here it is.&quot;

Simonides took the tablet and read the memorandum carefully.

&quot;Yes,&quot; he said, &quot;their emissary came to ask me if you had so much money with me. Keep the tablet close. If you lose, you know where to come; if you win&quot;—his face knit hard—&quot;if you win—ah, friend, see to it! See the signers escape not; hold them to the last shekel. That is what they would with us.&quot;

&quot;Trust me,&quot; replied the purveyor.

&quot;Will you not sit with us?&quot; asked Simonides.

&quot;You are very good,&quot; the other returned; &quot; but if I leave the consul, young Rome yonder will boil over. Peace to you; peace to all.&quot;

At length the recess came to an end.

The trumpeters blew a call at which the absentees rushed back to their places. At the same time, some attendants appeared in the arena, and, climbing upon the division wall, went to an entablature near the second goal at the west end, and placed upon it seven wooden balls; then returning to the first goal, upon an entablature there they set up seven other pieces of wood hewn to represent dolphins.

&quot;What shall they do with the balls and fishes, O sheik?&quot; asked Balthasar.

&quot;Hast thou never attended a race?&quot;

&quot;Never before; and hardly know I why I am here.&quot;

&quot;Well, they are to keep the count. At the end of each round run thou shalt see one ball and one fish taken down.&quot;

The preparations were now complete, and presently a trumpeter in gaudy uniform arose by the editor, ready to blow the signal of commencement promptly at his order.

Straightway the stir of the people and the hum of their conversation died away. Every face near by, and every face in the lessening perspective, turned to the east, as all eyes settled upon the gates of the six stalls which shut in the competitors.

The unusual flush upon his face gave proof that even