138 HISTORICAL TALES.

the fleet of Mardonius off the stormy cape of Mount
Athos, and determined to avoid this danger. A
narrow neck of land connects Mount Athos with
the mainland. Xerxes ordered that a ship-canal
should be cut through this isthmus, wide and deep
enough to allow two triremes—war-ships with three
ranks of oars—to sail abreast.

This work was done by the Pheenicians, the ablest
engineers at that time in the world. A canal was
made through which his whole fleet could sail, and
thus the stormy winds and waves which hovered
about Mount Athos be avoided.

This work was successfully done, but not so the
bridge of boats. Hardly had the latter been com-
pleted, when there came so violent a storm that the
cables were snapped like pack-thread and the bridge
sweptaway. With the weakness of a man of small
mind, on hearing of this disaster Xerxes burst into a
fit of insane rage. He ordered that the heads of the
chief engineers should be cut off, but this was far
from satisfying his anger. The elements had risen
against his might, and the elements themselves must
be punished. The Hellespont should be scourged for
its temerity, and three hundred lashes were actually
given the water, while a set of fetters were cast into
its depths. It is further said that the water was
branded with hot irons, but it is hard to believe that
even Xerxes was such a fool as this would make him.

The rebellious water thus punished, Xerxes re-
gained his wits, and ordered that the bridge should
be rebuilt more strongly than before. Huge cables
were made, some of flax, some of papyrus fibre, to