Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/392

Rh The examination of the statue was brief. Directly the Northman turned, and said something in the unknown tongue; then both looked at Ben-Hur. A few more words, and they advanced towards him.

&quot;Who are you?&quot; he asked in Latin.

The Northman fetched a smile which did not relieve his face of its brutalism, and answered,

&quot;Barbarians.&quot;

&quot;This is the palace of Idernee. Whom seek you? Stand and answer.&quot;

The words were spoken with earnestness. The strangers stopped; and in his turn the Northman asked, &quot;Who are you?&quot;

&quot;A Roman.&quot;

The giant laid his head back upon his shoulders.

&quot;Ha, ha, ha! I have heard how a god once came from a cow licking a salted stone; but not even a god can make a Roman of a Jew.&quot;

The laugh over, he spoke to his companion again, and they moved nearer.

&quot;Hold!&quot; said Ben-Hur, quitting the pillar. &quot;One word.&quot;

They stopped again.

&quot;A word!&quot; replied the Saxon, folding his immense arms across his breast, and relaxing the menace beginning to blacken his face. &quot;A word! Speak.&quot;

&quot;You are Thord the Northman.&quot;

The giant opened his blue eyes.

&quot;You were lanista in Rome.&quot;

Thord nodded.

&quot;I was your scholar.&quot;

&quot;No,&quot; said Thord, shaking his head.

&quot;By the beard of Irmin, I had never a Jew to make a fighting-man of.&quot;

&quot;But I will prove my saying.&quot;

&quot;How?&quot;

&quot;You came here to kill me.&quot;

&quot;That is true.&quot;

&quot;Then let this man fight me singly, and I will make the proof on his body.&quot;

A gleam of humor shown in the Northman’s face. He