Page:The Song of the Sirens.djvu/108



"Here," said the second ephor sourly, "are many long words, worthy of an Athenian. A Spartan should have put that more briefly."

"We need," said the third ephor severely, "not flouts at each other nor floods of long-winded epigrammatic antitheses. We need a shining light on the situation."

"If you want to see a shining light," broke in the fourth ephor, "look at that ugly mug across the square. I have heard of Clearchos that in a fight his men called his sour phiz a shining light against the enemy. A shining light it is now surely."

"This is an undignified and frivolous interruption," exclaimed the second ephor.

"Have we discussed Clearchos?" cut in the first ephor softly, with the ghost of a smile.

"An able man enough," said the second ephor, "but too glad of the peace and of his return home."

"I should have said that he longs for more fighting," said the third ephor. "He was venturesome enough all through the war. If ever a man sought danger, he did. He throve on perils and uniformly came off safe with glory. He seemed to love risk, yet husbanded his men, laid plans with foresight and disposed his attacks with cool judgment. He often flew in the face of death."