THE ENVOYS OF LIFE AND DEATH. 203

And now came a vital question. The trireme
bearing the fatal order had left port twenty-four
hours before. It was now far at sea, carrying its
message of cold-blooded slaughter. Could it pos-
sibly be overtaken and the message of mercy made
to fly more swiftly across the sea than that of
death? As may well be imagined, no time was lost.
A second trireme was got ready with all haste, and
amply provisioned by the envoys from Mitylene then
in Athens, those envoys promising large rewards to
the crew if they should arrive in time.

The offers of reward were not needed. The sea-
men were as eager as those of the former trireme
had been despondent. Across the sea rushed the
trireme, with such speed as trireme never made
before nor since. By good fortune the sea was
calm; no storm arose to thwart the rowers’ good
intent; not for an instant were their oars relaxed ;
they took turns for short intervals of rest, while
barley-meal, steeped in wine and oil, was served to
them for refreshment upon their seats.

Yet they strove against fearful odds. A start of
twenty-four hours, upon so brief a journey, was
almost fatal. Fortunately, the rowers of the first
trireme had no spirit for their work. They were as
slow and dilatory as the others were eager and per-
sistent. And thus time moved slowly on, and the
fate of Mitylene hung desperately in the balance.
An hour more or less in this vital journey would
make or mar a frightful episode in the history of
mankind.

Fortune proved to be on the side of mercy. The