BOYS OF LONG AGO

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1931, Page 6 (Supplement)

BOYS OF LONG AGO

-LYSANDER. Lysander had crept away from the house to watch the fleet saiLfbr Sicily. He wae a rich orphan left in charge of the State," and, as he watched the fleet of one .hundred triremes—lovely ships with three banks of roars—hie heart ached for love of .them. He was no scholar; the old Greek under whom he studied was dry as the books he pored, oyer, and, to Lysander, as uninteresting. .. “Athens requires' mariners as well as philosophers,” he /thought, “Oh, to go to. Sicily! To listen to the chanter singingstirring music to? the oarmen to keep the rhythm of the longoars—to command'such a ship as ——” Lysander strained his eyes to see the flag on the ship nearest the . shore, for the sign , upon the flag would be the name iof the ship. It was a magnificent vessel) painted red and'gold, and, as the flag fluttered for a moment in the early morning breeze, Lysander beheld a quail painted upon it. “A quail,” he muttered. “The ship

“Boys of Long Ago.” . “Lysander strained his eyes to see the flag on the ship.”

of the great Diomedes, ..and dedicated to the Goddess Athena. I know that bowls of wine stand upon the deck, and soon Diomedes will dip his golden cup into them and make offering to the gods. Then all the people will pray, and, at a given signal, the ship will slide away—away to victory.” Silence fell on the immense crowd that watched with Lysandpr for the signal, and out of the red and gold ship flew a quail—the tame quail Diomedes kept in the folds of his garments near his heart. Lysander saw it, and he understood the horror that Diomedes must feel at that moment. His quail, his emblem of victory, was deserting him before he left his native shore!

With a cry, Lysander chased the bird as it flew over his headland caught it. Dashing to the ehore, the boy sprang into a boat and was rowed in all haste to the red and gold ship where Diomedes was waiting. “Boy,” said the general, as the frightened quail snuggled close to his heart again, “Ask me a 'boon and I will grant it.”

“Take me with you,” murmured Lysander. ~ ’>• ■

Now Diomedes was a great man and he knew that much would be forgiven him. So' when he gave the signal for departure, when the chanter, burst into song, and the oars dipped, Lysander, the rich orphan of the State, and but a boy of twelve years, concealed beneath the general’s cloak! ■