They passed Daulis, and hurried on under the setting moon. Dryas was silent now, only urging his horse so fast that Eëtíon had to check him for fear of accident. In the dark they met a party of men hurrying toward Athens as if mad. Eëtíon knew what they were and Dryas guessed, and he hid his face in his cloak as they rushed by. They were Nikander’s kinsmen riding to intercept those who would withhold the good oracle from Athens.
Toward dawn the two riders neared Delphi, and at the familiar road-sights Dryas lifted his face, saying to himself:
“Safe, safe!”
“Safe?” asked Eëtíon, “where the Persians will certainly come to harry and destroy?”
“Yes, safe,” answered Dryas, “safe from worse than the Persians!” and with Greek affection he reached for Eëtíon’s hand and kissed it.
CHAPTER XXX
SHEPHERD WISDOM
Nikander had returned to his aula and sat there with face of stone. The kinsmen had gone. He himself had sent the doom upon his sons. For him Delphi was already in the dust. The Persians had no need to destroy her.
Suddenly a running step outside, and the door burst open. There in a flood of morning light came Dryas like Hermes running with outstretched arms. He fell at his father’s feet, embracing his waist, hiding his face in his lap.
“Father! Father! Father!” he cried.