For three days he lay in his strange prison. He grew weak from hunger and thirst. He expected to die from starvation.
Suddenly he was startled by a noise close by him. Something was moving among the rocks at the bottom of the chasm. He watched quietly, and soon saw a large fox coming towards him.
He lay quite still till the animal was very near. Then he sprang up quickly and seized it by the tail.
The frightened fox scampered away as fast as it could; and Aristomenes followed, clinging to its tail. It ran into a narrow cleft which he had not seen before, and then through a long, dark passage which was barely large enough for a man's body.
Aristomenes held on. At last he saw a ray of light far ahead of him. It was the sunlight streaming in at the entrance to the passage. But soon the way became too narrow for his body to pass through. What should he do? He let go of the fox, and it ran out. Then with great labor he began to widen the passageway. Here the rocks were smaller, and he soon loosened them enough to allow him to squeeze through. In a short time he was free and in the open air.
Some days after this the Spartans heard strange news: "Aristomenes is again at the head of the Greek army." They could not believe it.
THE BOMB
Did you ever hear of King Charles the Twelfth, of Sweden? He lived two hundred years ago, and was famous for his courage in defending his country.
One day he was in the midst of a great battle. The small house in which he had taken shelter was almost between the two armies.
He called to one of his officers and bade him sit down and write a short order for him.