CHAPTER XXIV.
MARO AND TYRUS.
Having beaten off the two Greeks, neither of the boys had a thought ofsurrendering the girl. They were determined to protect her, no matterwhat happened, until they could get word to Cavendish, who, sheasserted, was somewhere in Athens.
Tyrus made no objection when he saw the lads and the old professordeparting with the girl in their midst. He sat up, staring after them, awicked look on his face.
Barely had Zenas, the boys, and the girl disappeared from view when Maroreappeared amid the ruins of the Parthenon and ran swiftly to the spotwhere Tyrus sat.
"Why do you sit thus?" he demanded. "Did you not see them taking Flaviaaway?"
"I saw them," was the gruff answer.
"Then why did you permit it?"
"Why did you permit it?"
"You are her uncle."
"You are her lover."
"But you have the power."
"It is, indeed, little power I had after being dashed against this slabof marble."
"But yours is the authority."
"They are Americans."
"What of that?"
"Americans recognize no authority but that of might. They are wonderfulfighters."
"They fight like fiends!" exclaimed Maro. "Who could think that thoseboys would dare attack us! And I was armed with a knife."
"Little good it did you," returned Tyrus, with a touch of scorn. "I hadno weapon, and I would have mastered one of them had not the old manattacked me, scratching and clawing like a cat."
"But you are going to let them carry Flavia away?"
"You have as much right to stop them as I have."
"No, no!" almost shouted Maro, in great exasperation. "You have theright, for you are her uncle. You must do it!"
"I like not your language, Maro. No man has ever told me I must do athing."
"But you let them walk away with her?"
"Because the young man, strong and able to battle for his rights, fledand sought shelter in hiding. Maro, I sadly fear I have been muchmistaken in you. I fear you are a coward."
The younger man flushed with mingled anger and shame.
"What was I to do?" he demanded, seeking to justify himself in the eyesof Tyrus. "I saw that you were stretched prone upon the ground, and Ifeared you had been slain. I was disarmed, and that terrible Americanboy was hitting me so fast that the blows could not be counted. I knewthat, in another moment, I would have all three of them upon me. I fledto save my life."
"You saved it," said Tyrus, still with that biting touch of scorn. "Yousaved your life, but it may be that you have lost Flavia."
"Never!" grated Maro. "I will follow and take her from them!"
"Alone?" asked Tyrus, with that same manner. "You ran from one of them,but now you propose to follow and conquer all three of them. Indeed,Maro, your words and your behavior are inconsistent."
"We are losing time!" exclaimed Maro.
"We? Why, I thought you were going to do it quite alone."
"It is you who must lodge the complaint against them, as you did againstthe Englishman, for you are the uncle and guardian of Flavia."
"Oh, so you advise that we seek the assistance of the law?"
"It is the better way."
"In truth I doubted if you actually intended to attack those Americanfighters, even though you spoke so boldly. You have had quite enough ofthat, Maro. You still insist that Flavia must be your bride, even thoughyou know now that she scorns you and would prefer death?"
"She is my light, my life! I must have her! You have given me your wordthat she shall be mine."
"But I had no thought that she would make such a terrible resistance.She has ever been a good and dutiful girl since her father left her inmy hands. I knew she was averse to you, Maro, but I fancied you couldovercome her aversion, or that she would dutifully submit at my command.She has in her the spirit of her father's family. He married my sistereven though I hated him and sought to prevent the union. Maro, he lovedher, which I hold to his credit. He was a good husband to her, and henearly died of grief when she passed from earth and left little Flavia.It was for Flavia that he lived. Otherwise I believe he would have takenhis life that he might join her. But when he met reverses and lost mostof his little fortune, he felt that bad fortune had placed a blight onhim while he remained in his native land. He found an opportunity to goto India, and he left Flavia with me, charging me to be like a father toher. It is now said by this Englishman that he has prospered in life,and by this Englishman he sends a message which tells me to let Flaviareturn to him in care of the Englishman."
"A trick! a trick!" cried Maro fiercely. "The letter was a forgery!"
"How do you know?"
"The Englishman and Flavia met before he presented that letter."
"Which is true."
"She fell in love with him."
"Her behavior seems to denote it," confessed Tyrus.
"She knew I wished to marry her and that you favored me."
"Go on."
"The Englishman smiled on her. She was deceived. She told him of herfather. Perhaps she gave him some letters from her father. Either theEnglishman forged the letter, or he employed an expert to accomplish it.In this manner he means to steal her from you and from me."
"It is possible you speak the truth."
"I know I speak the truth! I feel it here in my heart! He is deceivingher. He would take her away, pretending that it is his intention toconduct her to her father; but in truth he has no such intention, andwhen he becomes tired of her he will desert her. I am right, Tyrus. Shewill be left to die in some foreign land by this young dog of anEnglishman, whose father is rich and who has money to fling about with alavish hand. It is your duty--and mine--to save her from such a fate!Arouse yourself, Tyrus! Bestir yourself, and let's do something withoutdelay. The Englishman has been placed beneath arrest. It is our nextmove to enter complaint against the Americans and have them arrestedalso. It can be done."
Tyrus bowed gravely.
"It can be done," he agreed; "and, as you say, it may be our duty to seethat it is done."
"Then delay not. Every moment is precious."
"Give me your hand," said the elder man.
Maro assisted him to rise.
"It was a terrible shock I received," muttered Tyrus, moving hisshoulders and making a wry face. "It is most remarkable that my neck wasnot broken. Even now to move at all causes me discomfort, and to-morrowI fancy I will be exceedingly lame."
"Think not of yourself," urged Maro, burning with impatience and seekingto pull Tyrus onward. "Think of Flavia and your duty to her. Hasten!"
"Wait a little," said the elder man. "I am dizzy. My head reels. It is asingular sensation, for all my life I have been strong as the horse."
Indeed, he swayed and might have fallen but for the supporting arm ofthe young man.
"Oh, these Americans!" he muttered. "Even mere boys, scarce escaped fromthe nursery, seem to have the courage, skill and strength of men. What awonderful people they must be!"
"Bah! I admire them not, for ever it is that an American and anEnglishman will unite against one of any other nation. They speak onelanguage, and there is between them a bond of sympathy stronger thanthey themselves dream. Has the Astrologer of Minerva not said that someday they will unite and rule the world. I admire them not, I tell you!Come, Tyrus, they will escape with Flavia, and we----"
"We will find them, never fear. They shall soon be placed in confinementand kept there until Flavia is yours. I think I can walk now."
"Then hasten, hasten!" urged the impatient and baffled lover.