-H-
OR
The Flying Dutchman.
-BY CAPTAIN MARRYAT.
t-M I t I I I I
CHAPTER XXIV. ( Continued. )
Tlio morning dawned with a smooth
sea and a bright blue sky ; the raft
nad been borne to leeward of the clus
ter of uninhabited islands of which we
spoke , and was now without hopes of
reaching them ; but to the westward
were to be seen on the horizon the re
fracted heads and trunks of cocoanut
trees , and in that direction it was re
solved that they should tow the raft.
The breakfast had been served out ,
and the men had taken to the oars ,
when they discovered a proa full of
men sweeping after them from one of
the islands to windward. That it was
a pirate vessel there could be no doubt ;
but Philip and Krantz considered that
their force was more than sufficient to
repel them , should an attack be made.
This was pointed out to them ; arms
v/ero distributed to all in the boats , as
well as to those on the raft ; and that
the seamen might not be fatigued , they
were ordered to lie on their oars , and
await the coming up of the vessel.
As soon as the pirate was within
range , having reconnoitered her an
tagonists , she ceased pulling , and com
menced firing from a small piece of
cannon which was mounted on her
bows. The grape and langridge which
she poured upon them wounded sev
eral of the men , although Philip had
ordered them to He down flat on the
raft and in the boats. The pirate ad
vanced nearer , and her fire became
more destructive , without any oppor
tunity of returning it by the Utrecht's
people. At last it was proposed , as
the only chance of escape , that the
boats should attack the pirate. This
was agreed to by Philip ; more men
were sent In the boats ; Krantz took
the command ; the raft was cast off ,
and the boats pulled away. But scarce
ly had they cleared the raft , when , as
Ly one sudden thought , they turned
round , and pulled away in the oppo
site direction. Krantz's voice was
heard by Philip , and his sword was
seen to flash through the air ; a mo
ment afterward he plunged into the
sea , and swam to the raft. It ap
peared that the people in the boats ,
anxious to preserve the money which
they had possession of , had agreed
among themselves to pull away and
leave the raft to its fate. The pro
posal for attacking the pirate had
been suggested with that view , and
as soon as they were clear of the raft ,
they put their intentions Into execu
tion. In vain had Krantz expostulated
and threatened ; they would have
taken his life ; and when he found that
his efforts were of no avail , he leaped
from the boat. "Then we are lost , I
fear , " said Philip , addressing the pilot ,
who stood near to him.
"Lost but not lost by the pirates
no harm there ! He , he ! "
The remark of Schriften was correct.
The pirates , Imagining that in taking
to their boats the people had carried
with them everything that was valu
able , instead of firing at the raft , im
mediately gave chase to the boats.
The sweeps were now out , and the proa
flew over the smooth water like a sea-
"bird , passed the raft , and was at first
evidently gaining on the boats ; but
their speed soon slackened , and as the
day passed , the boats and then the pi
rate vessel disappeared in the south
ward ; the distance between them be
ing apparently much the same as at
the commencement of the chase.
The raft being now at the mercy of
the wind and waves , Philip and Krantz
collected the carpenter's tools -which
liad been brought from the ship , and
selecting two spars from the raft , they
made every preparation for stepping
a mast and setting sail by the next
morning.
The morning dawned , and the first
objects that met their view were the
boats pulling back toward the raft ,
followed closely by the pirate. The
men had pulled the whole night , and
-were worn out with fatigue. It was
presumed that a consultation had been
leld , in which it was agreed that they
should make a sweep , so as to return
to obtain provisions and water , which
they had not on board at the time of
.their desertion. But it was fated otherwise -
wise ; gradually the men dropped their
oars , exhausted , into the bottom of
the boat , and the pirate vessel follow
ed them with renewed ardor. The
boats were captured one by one ; the
booty found was more than the pirates
anticipated , and It hardly need be said
that not one was spared. All this took
place within three miles o the raft ,
and Philip anticipated that the next
movement of the vessel would be to
ward them , but he was mistaken. Sat
isfied with their booty , and imagining
that there could be no more on the
raft , the pirate pulled away to the east
ward , toward the islands from among
which she had first made her appear
ance. Thus were those who expected
to escape , and who had deserted their
sompanions , deservedly punished ;
while those who anticipated every dis
aster from this desertion discovered
that it was the cause of their being
saved.
The remaining people on board the
raft amounted to about forty-five ;
Philip , Krantz , Schriften , Amine , the
two mates , sixteen seamen and twen
ty-four soldiers , who ha'd been em
barked at Amsterdam. Of provisions
they had sufficient for three or four
weeks ; but of water they were very
jhort , already not having sufficient for
* * H I * * * * * * S"i"l'H"HHW '
more than three days at the usual al
lowance. As soon as the mast had
been stepped and rigged , and the sails
set ( although there was hardly a
breath of wind ) , Philip explained to
the men the necessity of reducing the
quantity of water , and it was agreed
that it should be served out so as to ex
tend the supply to twelve days , the
allowance being reduced to half a pint
per day.
There was a debate at this time , as
the raft was in two parts , whether
It would not be better to cast off the
smaller one , and put all the people on
board the other ; but this proposal was
overruled , as , in the first place , al
though the boats had deserted them ,
the number on the raft had not much
diminished , and moreover , the raft
would steer much better under sail now
that it had length , than it would do
if they reduced its dimensions and al
tered its shape to a square mass of
floating wood.
For three days it was calm , the sun
poured down his hot beams upon them ,
and the want of water was severely
feit ; those who continued to drink
spirits suffered the most.
The night closed in as before ; the
stars shone bright , but there was no
moon. Philip had risen at midnight
to relieve Krantz from the steerage of
the raft. Usually the men had lain
about in every part of the raft , but
this night the majority of them re
mained forward. Philip was commun
ing with his own bitter thoughts , when
he heard a scuffle forward , and the
voice of Krantz crying out to him for
help. He quitted the helm , and seiz
ing his cutlass ran forward , where he
found Krantz down , and the men se
curing him. He fought his way to him ,
but was himself seized and disarmed.
"Cut away cut away , " was called out
by those who held him ; and In a few
seconds Philip had the misery to be
hold the after-part of the raft , with
Amine upon it , drift apart from the
one on which he stood.
"For mercy'3 sake ! my wife my
Amine ! for Heaven's sake , save her ! "
cried Philip , struggling in vain to
disengage himself. Amine also , who
had run to the side of the raft held
out her arms it was in vain they
were separated by more than a cable's
length. Philip made one more desper
ate struggle , and then fell down de
prived of sense and motion.
CHAPTER XXV.
It was not until the day had dawned
that Philip opened his eyes , and dis
covered Krantz kneeling at his side ;
at first his thoughts were scattered
and confused ; he felt that some dread
ful calamity had happened to him ,
but he could not recall to mind what
it was. At last it rushed upon him ,
and he burled his face in his hands.
"Take comfort , " said Krantz , "we
shall probably gain the shore today ,
and we shall go in search of her as
soon as we can. "
Ho offered such consolation as his
friendship could suggest , but in vain.
He then talked of revenge , and Philip
raised his head. After a few min
utes' thought , he rose up. "Yes , " re
plied he , "revenge ! revenge upon
those dastards and traitors ! Tell me ,
Krantz , how many can we trust ? "
"Half of the men , I should think ,
at least. It was a surprise. " A spar
had been fitted as a rudder , and the
raft had now gained nearer the shore
than it over had done before. The
men were in high spirits at the pros
pect , and every man was sitting on
his own store of dollars , which , in
their eyes , increased in value in pro
portion as did their prospect of escape.
Philip discovered from Krantz that
it was the soldiers and most indiffer
ent seamen who had mutinied on the
night before and cut away the other
raft , and that all the best men had
remained neutral.
"And so they will be now , I im
agine , " continued Krantz ; "the prospect - J
pect of gaining the shore has , in a '
manner , reconciled them to the treacha
cry of their companions. " a
"Probably , " replied Philip , with a
bitter laugh ; "but I know what will
rouse them. Send them here to me. "
Philip talked to the seamen whom
Krantz had sent over to him. He
pointed out to them that the other
men were traitors not to be relied up
on ; that they would sacrifice every
thing and everybody for their own
gain ; that they had already done so
for money , and that they themselves
would have no security , either on the
raft or on the shore , with such people
ple ; that they dare not sleep for fear
of having their throats cut , and that it
were better at once to get rid of those
who could not be true to each other ; a
that it would facilitate their escape , a :
and that they could divide between a
tnemselves the money which the others asi
had secured , and by which they could 1C
double their own shares. That it had 1Co :
been his intention , although he had s !
said nothing , to enforce the restoration tl
of the money for the benefit of the IT
company as soon as they had gained
a civilized port , where the authorities a :
could interfere ; but that if they con- p ;
sented to join and aid him , he would
now give them the whole of it for their
own use. w
What will not the desire of gain ef
fect ? Is it therefore to be wondered P' '
at that these' men , who were , Indeed , w
but little better than those who wpre 01
thus , in his desire for retaliation , de
nounced by Philip , consented to his
proposal ? It was agreed that if they
did not gain the .shore the others
should be attacked that very night and
tossed Into the sea.
But the consultation with Philip had
put the other party on the alert ; they ,
too , held council and kept their arms
by their sides. As the breeze died
away , they were not two miles from
the land , and once more they drifted
back Into the ocean. Philip's mind
was borne down with grief at the loss
of Amine ; but It recovered to a cer
tain degree when he thought of re
venge ; that feeling stayed him up , and
he often felt the edge of his cutlass ,
impatient for the moment of retribu
tion.
It was a lovely night ; the sea was
now smooth as glass , and not a breath
of air moved In the heavens ; the sail
of the raft hung listless down the mast ,
and was reflected upon the calm sur
face by the brilliancy of the starry
night alone. It was a night for con
templation for examination of one's
self , and adoration of the Deity ; and
here , on a frail raft , were huddled to
gether more than forty beings , ready
for combat , murder and for spoil. Each
party pretended to repose ; yet e'ach
was quietly watching the motions of
the other , with their hands upon their
weapons. The signal was to be given
by Philip ; it was to let go the halyards
of the yard , so that the sail would fall
down upon a portion of the other
party and entagle them. By Philip's
directions Schriften had taken the
helm , and Krantz remained by his side.
The yard and sail fell clattering
down , and then the work of death
commenced ; there Avas no parley , no
suspense ; each man started upon his
feet and-raised his sword. The voices
of Philip and Krantz alone were heard ,
and Philip's sword did its work. He
was nerved to his revenge , and never
could be satiated as long as one re
mained who had sacrificed Amine. As
Philip had expected , many had been
covered up and entangled by the fall
ing of the sail , and their work was
thereby made easier.
Some fell where they stood ; others
reeled back and sank down under the
smooth water ; others were pierced as
they floundered under the canvas. In
i few minutes the work of carnage was
complete. Schriften meanwhile looked
an , and ever and anon gave vent to
tils chuckling laugh his demoniacal
'He ! he ! "
The strife was over and Philip stood
igainst the mast to recover his breath.
'So far art thou revenged , my
kmine , " thought he ; "but , oh ! what
ire these paltry lives compared with
: nine ? " And now that his revenge
tvas satiated , and he could do no more ,
10 covered his face up with his hands
ind wept bitterly , while those who had
isslsted him were already collecting
: he money of the slain for dlstribu-
; ion. These men , when they found
; hat three only of their side had fal-
en , lamented that there had not been
nore , as their own share of the dol-
ars would have , , been increased.
There were now but thirteen men
jesides Philip , Krantz and Schriften
eft upon the raft. As the day dawned
he breeze again sprang up , and they
ihared out the portions of water
vhich would have been the allowance
> their companions who had fallen ,
lunger they felt not ; but the water
evived their spirits.
( To be continued. )
-1ELD COURT AT DOC SHOW ,
L Pretty Girl and the Attention Sim
Attracted by Jler Actions.
Over at the dog show on the opcn-
ng night a pretty girl followed by the
ustomary masculine throng that al-
s-ays circulates around a pretty girl
s amoth w hirls around a candle , wan-
iered through the aisles of the First
egiment armory and listened to all the
.oisy canines sing their doleful songs
f woe and wrong. She patted the
eadsof the ugliest bulldogs and twist-
d a bunch of violets into the collar
f a shaggy St. Bernard.
She pulled the tails of the kinkled
ugs and tweaked the ears of the jaun-
y fox-terriers. She righted a collar
hat had turned awry and even ven-
ured to moke friends with the blood-
ounds. The dogs were happy and
0 was the pretty girl. The delight of
tie escorting masculine throng was
ot so evident , but they pretended at
; ast that they enjoyed playing second
ddle to a clog rather than not having
chance to take part in her orchestra
t all.
One great bulldog evidently shared
ie sentiments of the men. When the
retty girl reached the cage that con-
ilned the ferocious looking brute she
jund it had no water and was bark-
ig its dissatisfaction at the turn of
ffairs in the most emphatically pro-
; stlng manner.
"The poor dog , " exclaimed the girl
1 crescendo accents of pity , and at
ace she remedied the evil by helping
er four-footed friend to some water
: olen from the neighboring cage. Aft-
r that act of mercy the dog , like the
len , was her abject victim.
It put toth paws on her shoulders
ad laid its head down affectionately ,
ad when the girl attempted to wander
ivay the dcg cried so piteously that
ie returned again and again to cora-
> rt it. "Poor thing , " exclaimed one
! the surrounding men with a whlm-
cal grimace , "poor thing. Who said
lat a dog hadn't the feelings of a
.an ? "
The pretty girl laughed and blushed
ad rewarded the speaker with the
resent of a very special smile.
"Dreadful ! That young man and his
\fe who seemed so much in love hive
; en arrested as swindlers. " "That
roves their devotion , you see. They
ere taken up with each other. " I'hil-
lelphia Bulletin.
CHAPTER I.
"Handsome ? Yes. He has the most
Innocent blue eyes in the world , and
the smile of an angel ; but he broke
his mother's heart , spent her fortune
and his own , and committed every
wickedness under the sun before he
was one-and-twenty. Yes , It is very
sad very ! And now poor old Col
onel IJranscomb is dying the ac
counts this morning were quite hope
less and Charlie is his next heir. An
other fortune for him to squander , as
he has already squandered everything
he could lay his hands on. "
"But I thought the estate was not
entailed , " remarked the lady to whom
the foregoing was addressed.
"No , it is not entailed , but the Col
onel has very strong ideas on the
subject of hereditary right. He nev
er would make a will ; he has always
believed that Charlie ultimately
would pull himself together poor old
man ; he must die in that belief. Char
lie will make clucks and drakes of
beautiful Forest Lea in no time. Oh ,
it is a sorrowful pity ! "
The speaker , a handsome well pre
served woman of fifty or thereabouts ,
with the exclusive stamp of the
"county" about her , sighed profound
ly as she concluded.
"But there is the niece the Colonel
was devoted to her , I understood , " re
marked the seron'l voice.
"Yes , absolutely devoted. Poor dear
child she will miss him terribly in
every way ! I believe the Colonel
pleased himself at one time with the
idea of a marriage between Nona and
Charlie , and threw them very much
together too much , when you consid
er what a fascinating scapegrace he is.
Sim is a very sweet girl. "
"I hope her uncle has provided for
her. She was quite dependent on
him , was she not ? "
"Yes. It is impossible to say what
he has done something , I hope. But
without a will which he certainly
has not made I should be afraid "
Hero I , Sidney Fort , the involuntary
listener to a conversation which , con
sidering the place and circumstances ,
was certainly indiscreet , stirred ,
coughed , and otherwise made the fact
of my waking presence known. The
voices , which had been somewhat
raised , dropped at once to a lower
tone.
I was the third passenger in a flrst-
'OH ! IT 13 A SOR ROWFUL PITY. "
class railway carriage , traveling from
London towards a country station in
the midland counties. I had at start
ing withdrawn Into the fartherest cor
ner of the carriage , and , being sleepy
from the previous night's burning of
the midnight oil , had disposed myself
to utilize the enforced idleness of the
journey in recouping exhausted na
ture. I believe that the two ladies ,
in the Interest of their subject , had
quite forgotten that they were not
alone. With my newspaper spread ov
er my face I looked , as to all intents
and purposes I was , up to a certain
point , a dummy. The soft murmur of
the feminine voices had had at first a
soporific effect ; but the journey was
somewhat long , and , the demands of
nature satisfied , I awoke to hear the
fag-end of a conversation which ,
strange to say , had a particular inter
est for me.
I was the junior partner , lately ad
mitted , of a firm of London solicitors.
One of my seniors was on the Conti
nent , the other was laid up with one
of the serious bouts of bronchitis
which had been the primary cause of
my initiation into the secrets of a
large and important clientele. An im
perative summons had come early that
morning for our Mr. Rowton to take
instructions for the will of a country
client. The terms of the telegram ad
mitted of no delay , and within an
hour of Its receipt I was on my way
to Euston Station , whence I wired to
"Colonel Branscombe , Forest Lea ,
Midshire , " that "Sidney Fort , of
Messrs. Rawton & Fort , " had "left by
the 11:45 train , " and would "be with
him not later than 6 p. m. "
In the absence of my principal and
the pressure at starting , I had no fur
ther knowledge of my client than the
few data furnished by the head clerk
at the office "Old family ; estate
worth fifteen thousand a year ; busi
ness in the hands of the firm since
1825. Mr. Rowton thought a great
deal of the Colonel ; rather eccentric
and arbitrary , but a gentleman down
to the ground ; quite of the old school ;
never married ; had nephews and
nieces ; " he Fisher had seen a
young gentleman at the office , a neph
ew of the Colonel's.
The aditional information conveyed
by my fellow-passengers imparted to
my expedition the Interest it had hith
erto lacked. I was no doubt about to
save Forest Lea from the hands of the
spendhrift Charlie , and possibly to en
dow a young and lovely girl with the
fortune ho had forfeited. The matter
was lifted all at once from a dry de
tail of business into a chapter of ro
mance. I am , notwithstanding my
profession , somewhat imaginative ,
and by the time the train stopped at
Westford , the station for which I was
bound , I had drawn a sufllciently fan-
cilful sketch of the position.
Little , however , did I guess how the
events and experiences of the ensuing
week were to color and influence my
own future life.
My traveling companions also
alighted at Westford. I saw them , at
tended by a maid and a footman , and
obsequiously escorted by the station
master and porters , drive off in a
wagonette with a pair of well-groomed
roans , and then I was accosted by an
elderly groom with a cockade In his
hat.
"Mr. Fort , for Colonel Branscombe's ,
Forest Lea. sir ? "
"Yes , " I replied. "How Is the Col
onel ? "
"Very bad , sir , " answered the man ,
shaking his head , and with the man
ner of a good servant who feels the
loss of a good master.
My luggage , which consisted of a
small portmanteau and a black bag ,
was put into the dog-cart in waiting
and In a few minutes I was being driv
en at an exhilarating pace through
something like six miles of a country
which , in its summer beauty of rich
foliage and delicious green pasture was
"A good master served by faithful
servants , " I soliloquized. "They are
dreading the change which spendthrift
Charlie's reign will bring. It remains
to be seen whether that reign is to be ,
or whether a fair young chatelaine is
like the St.
good Elizabeth of gra
cious memory to dispense her smiles
and nor charities in the place of the
beloved Colonel.
CHAPTER II.
The great oak doors opened noise
lessly as I mounted the wide shallow
steps. Evidently some one was on the
watch to save the clangor of the loud
bell through the silent sick-house. I
stepped from the portico Into a large
wide hall hung with antlered heads
and other trophies , telling of the Cole
nel's love for sport , and carpeted with
tiger and other skins spread on the
polished oak floor. It was altogether
an imposing and appropriate entrance
to the fine old mansion.
Here , amongst the distinctly mascu
line elements , I was not long In de
tecting the subtle signs of the pres
ence which had just pervaded my
waking dreams of Forest Lea. Set on
the ample old-fashioned window-ledge
were old china bowls heaped with rich
crimson and golden roses , and the e
wide fireplace was filled with grace
fully grouped ferns. A shady hat si
sic
wreathed with green leaves lay on a c ]
little spiral-legged table , close to a d :
large old-fashioned screen which shut If
off the staircase ; and near the hat had Ifsi
been thrown a pair of tiny gauntlet tl
gloves , which could never have fitted tlai
poor Colonel's hands. A little black- aia :
and-tan terrier , nestled in one of the
fur rugs , roused itself and came up to m
me. nestling its cold nose in my of mw
fered palm , and looking up into my
face with the wistful appeal of its so h ;
ciable nature. Evidently it was a a ;
lady's pet , neglected or forgotten in lo
the presence of sad and overwhelming loec
cares.
s ec
A grave middle-aged man-servant ech :
interrupted my observations with a
respectfttil greeting.
"Dinner will bo served at 7 o'clock ,
sir , " he said. "Will you take any re
freshments now brandy or soda , or
sherry and bitters , sir ? There Is tea
in the drawing-room still. " Then , aa
I declined all his hospitable sugges
tions , he added , "I will show you to
your room , then , if you please , sir.
The Colonel is sleeping ; the doctors
uro most anxious ho should not bo
disturbed. We had Sir Alfred Cox
down from London this morning. I
was to say that the Colonel might not
bo able to sec you for some little time.
He has had no sleep before this for
clght-and-forty hours ho has had
such violent pains and now that the
sleeping-draught has taken effect the
nifdlcal gentlemen make a great point
of "
"Oh , certainly I quite understand !
Wo must hope that this sleep will bo
a turning point in the illness , " I said
cheerfully. "Of course It is of vital
Importance that the Colonel should
not be aroused. Sleep is often the
best medicine. "
"The Colonel has been counting the
hours until you could bo here , sir. " the
man went on , as ho unpacked my
portmanteau and laid out my apparel.
He sent for the Bradshaw as soon as
your telegram came , and ordered the
dog-cart himself. lie only dropped off
as you turned into the avenue. Is that
all I can do for you , sir ? You will find
the morning papers in the library. ' "
There was a suppressed Interest anil
excitement in the manner of the man ,
who was evidently an old and confi
dential retainer. My arrival and mis
sion were , as I could see , matters of
supreme importance and curiosity to
that anxious household.
The butler was waiting for me again
in the hall as I descended the stairs.
He threw open the door of the room
on the right , and ushered me in with
the announcement :
" "
"Mr. Fort. " ' ' i
It was with a momentary and un
comfortable thought of my morning
dress that I found myself in the pres
ence of a lady a fair slim girl whose
white gown made her at once a con
spicuous point in the sombre , heavlly-
furnishc-d room. She was seated in a
large leather chair at the table in the
center of the apartment , her hands
folded over the closed volume In her
lap , and her eyes fixed upon the door.
Large limpid blue-gray eyes they were.
I saw as I came nearer , searching mine
with an anxious questioning gaze.
This then was the "Nona" of whom
my fellow passengers had spoken the
Ideal about which I had woven so many
imaginings. A very fair maiden , the
fairest , sweetest I decided on the in
stant whom it had ever been my lot
Lo meet , although the lovely eyes were
ringed with dark shadows as from
watching and weeping , and the white
gown had been put on without the ad
dition of a single flower or ornament.
She rose as I advanced towards her
and bowed gravely. Once , I thought
her hand stole out with a hesitating
gesture as if she would have offered
it to me. But it was withdrawn almost
instantly , and rested on the table beside -
side her , as she stood , a graceful droop
ing figure , with that indescribable and
exquisite grace of delicate refinement
> vhich is inherited never acquired. A
i-ery gracious chatelaine , I thought , if
: he sleeping colonel upstairs should so
, vill. And with the thought there came
i strange dumb thrill of pain , as if
.he fair vision were floating away
! rom me into the dim shadowy dis-
ance.
Some conventional remark as to the
veather was the only thing which oc-
: urred to me , and seemed for its com-
nonplaceness terribly out of harmony
vith the spirit of the occasion , es-
> ecially as It was met by another long ;
roubled , almost trembling look intc
ny face.
( To be continued. )
MARRIED TO ORDER.
low Alrxin ler thw ( Jrrit Celebrated
His Victory Over Duriu-i.
The newspaper reporters of the time
f Alexander the Great , ha l there been
ny , would have had the heaviest
[ ay's work of thir lives In covering
he interesting events that marked the
ay Alexander was married. On that
ay , says the New York Journal , au-
henticated accounts tell us , no less
han 20,202 men and women were made
.usbands and wives. Alexander had
onquered Darius of Persia , and felt
hat this great achievement was 1m-
ortant enough to be signalized In a
onspicuous manner. Imagine the
ride of a conqueror who decides that
: can be measured properly only by a
rholesale giving and taking in mar-
lage the like of wi-.ch the world has
ever seen. Alexander himself mar
led Statira , the daughter of the con-
uered king , and decreed that one
undred of his chief officers should be
nited to one hundred ladies from the
oblest Persian and Medean families ,
i addition to this , he stipulated that
) ,000 of his Greek so.uiers should
tarry 10,000 Asiatic women. When
rerything was settled a vast pavilion
as erected , the pillars of which were
x feet high. One hundred gorgeous
lambers adjoined this for the hun-
: ed noble bridegrooms , while for the
t.OOO an outer court was inciosedout-
de of which tables were spread for
ie multitude. Each pair had seats
id ranged themselves in semi-circles
ound the royal throne. Of course
te priests could not marry this vast
amber of couples in the ordinary
ay , so Alexander the Great devised a
; ry simple ceremony. He gave his
ind to Statira and kissed her an ex-
nple that all the bridegrooms fol-
wed. This ended the ceremony.
tien followed the festival , which last-
I five days , the grandeur of which
is never been equaled since.