112 UISTORICAL TALES.

was sound again, and Darius could once more stand
without a twinge of pain.

The king, who had grown hopeless of a cure, was
filled with joy, and set no bounds to his gratitude.
Democedes had come before him in iron chains. As
a first reward the king presented him with two sets
of chains of solid gold. He next sent him to receive
the thanks of his wives. Being introduced into the
harem, Democedes was presented to the sultanas as
the man who had saved the king’s life, and whom
their lord and master delighted to honor. Hach of
the fair and grateful women, in reward for his great
deed, gave him a saucer-full of golden coins, which
were so many, and heaped so high, that the slave
who followed him grew rich by merely picking up
the pieces that dropped on the floor.

Nor did the generosity of Darius stop here. He
gave Democedes a splendid house and furniture,
made him eat at his own table, and showed him
every favor at his command. <As for the unlucky
Egyptian surgeons, they would all have been cruci-
fied for their lack of skill had not Democedes begged
for their lives. He might safely have told Darius
that if he began to crucify men for ignorance and
assurance he would soon have few subjects left.

But with all the favors which Darius granted, there
was one which he steadily refused to grant. And it
was one on which Democedes had set his heart. He
wanted to return to Greece. Splendor in Persia was
very well in its way, but to his patriotic heart a crust
in Greece was better than a loaf in this land of
strangers. Ask as he might, however, Darius would