had fetched the water to refresh Sirona's parched lips.




CHAPTER XVI.

"She will attract the attention of Damianus or Salathiel or one of the
others up there," thought Paulus as he heard Sirona's call once more,
and, following her voice, he went hastily and excitedly down the
mountainside.

"We shall have peace for to-day at any rate from that audacious fellow,"
muttered he to himself, "and perhaps to-morrow too, for his blue bruises
will be a greeting from me. But how difficult it is to forget what we
have once known! The grip, with which I flung him, I learned--how long
ago?--from the chief-gymnast at Delphi. My marrow is not yet quite dried
up, and that I will prove to the boy with these fists, if he comes back
with three or four of the same mettle."

But Paulus had not long to indulge in such wild thoughts, for on the way
to the cave he met Sirona. "Where is Polykarp?" she called out from
afar.

"I have sent him home," he answered. "And he obeyed you?" she asked
again.

"I gave him striking reasons for doing so," he replied quickly.

"But he will return?"