CHAPTER XLI
PRINCE HUR'S COUNTERPLOT
Prince Hur, son of Azemilcus, sat in his house, which opened from thecourtyard of the palace. In figure he was undersized, like his father,with a delicate face and thin white hands, on one of which glittered agreat ruby. Instead of the mocking smile that the king was accustomedto wear, his expression was grave and serious.
With him were Esmun, chief priest of Baal-Moloch, on whose fatcountenance, with its pendulous jowls, sloth struggled with greed, andAriston, the Athenian. Ariston's thin form was thinner and his facemore worn than on the day when he watched his nephew, Clearchus, rideout of Athens, leaving him guardian of his fortune. He had made freeuse of this wealth, as he had planned, to save the remnants of his own;but mischance had continued to follow him in everything he attempted.So heavy were his losses that he rejoiced when he learned thatClearchus had been sent to Babylon a prisoner. The young man's returnto the army filled him with despair. Involved as he was, only one hoperemained. He would dispose of his great dye-works in Tyre, and theproceeds of the sale would enable him to make a last attempt to savehimself. While he was in Tyre, he also would collect the loan that hehad been forced to make to Phradates, and that the Ph[oe]nician hadnever repaid. If this plan failed, he would have to choose betweendeath and the punishment that would be visited upon the betrayal of histrust. Therefore he had come to Tyre, and there, by a final stroke ofmisfortune, he had been imprisoned by the siege.
"I fear there is not much hope for us," Prince Hur said. "Even thoughwe succeed in beating off these attacks, as we did to-day, sooner orlater we shall starve."
"Hast thou, too, lost faith in the power of Baal?" Esmun asked, in atone of reproof.
"I believe in him as much as you do yourself," the prince said.
"I may have deserved that reproach," the priest replied sadly. "To myshame, I confess it; but if I have allowed the name of Baal to belightly spoken in my presence, it was not because I did not believe. Ithought that he was able to defend himself, as indeed he is. I say toyou now that I know his power. It has been shown over and over again.If it should please him to save Tyre in her extremity, he will do it.We shall know after the sacrifice."
"There will be no sacrifice," the prince said quietly.
Esmun stared at him open-mouthed, and Ariston started sharply. TheAthenian was the first to recover himself.
"What does your Highness mean?" he asked. "Doubtless you speak injest."
"I sent for you because I am in need of your advice," the princecontinued gravely. "You are both men of the world and fitted to aid mewith your counsel; but what I am about to tell you must not berepeated, even to yourselves. Do you swear to keep the secret, nomatter what my decision may be?"
"We swear it," Ariston replied.
"And you?" the prince said to Esmun.
"By the head of Baal!" the priest declared.
"Azemilcus has resolved to deliver the city," the prince said, bendingforward and speaking in a tone scarcely above a whisper.
For an instant both his hearers were silent. Ariston comprehended in aflash that surrender would mean his ruin, since it would involve theloss of his property. Esmun was too astonished to think.
"What will the king receive in return?" the Athenian inquired.
"His life," Hur replied. "He knows well that the city must bedestroyed, and that his people will be sold into slavery."
Esmun groaned. He saw himself torn from his life of ease,Baal-Moloch's temple in ruins, and nothing left for him but years ofservitude.
"How will the surrender be made?" Ariston asked.
"The king will order the fleets out of both harbors," the princeexplained. "They will be destroyed, and care will be taken to leavethe harbor entrances unguarded."
"Does Alexander know this?" Esmun demanded.
"Not yet," said the prince. "I am to go to him to-night with thechancellor to make him the offer."
"Then you have consented to it?" the priest said.
"I was not asked to consent," the prince replied bitterly. "You knowthat the king is not in the habit of consulting me."
"Yet he proposes to take your inheritance from you!" Esmun exclaimed."If Baal intervenes, the city will be saved and you will be its king."
"Does the council know?" Ariston asked.
"It does not," Hur replied.
"There is only one course open to you," Esmun declared, roused as hehad not been since the long struggle that ended in raising him abovehis rivals and placing him in a position that gave him almost as muchpower as the king himself. "Go with the chancellor, since to refusenow would arouse suspicion. Get proof of the king's treachery and layit at once before the council and the generals. Azemilcus will bedealt with according to their will, and you will be made king in hisstead. That you may leave to me if you can obtain the proof; but itmust be strong."
"There would be no difficulty concerning the proof," the prince saiddoubtfully. "We are to bring Macedonians back with us to act as aguard for the king. They will be concealed in the palace so that theywill be able to insure his safety when the city falls. Their presencewill be proof enough."
"Would it not be better to lay the whole affair before the councilnow?" Ariston suggested.
"No," said Esmun decisively. "The king would deny everything. Hewould accuse Hur of seeking his throne, and he would be believed. Wemust have the proof."
"I do not like to raise my hand against my father," Hur saidhesitatingly.
"Tyre is in danger," Esmun said solemnly. "It is your duty to save herif you can, and this duty comes before any tie of blood. It is I,chief servant of Baal, who tell you this."
"I shall not shrink," the prince responded, with sudden decision.
The sun was setting before the three completed the details of theirplan. When Ariston left the prince, he was so wrapped in thought thathe did not recognize the brutal face of Syphax, who passed him withthree or four others of his own kind.
"Do you see that man?" the broken freebooter exclaimed, directing theattention of his companions to the retreating form. "I have asettlement to make with him. It was he who scattered my crew andbrought me to what I am. I have sought him far, and now the Fates havegiven him to me. He shall pay the reckoning!"