“Now they’re throwing sand over one another!” Diana exclaimed. “What’s that for, I wonder? Oh! they’re going to wrestle. Agis and that dark boy together. Do you see?”
“That’s why they put sand on themselves then,” suggested Rachel. “They’d be too slippery to hold one another without. Oh, do look! Isn’t it jolly to see them? Agis is winning! I’m sure he’s winning.”
With breathless interest the children watched the boys as they turned and twisted—all their movements swift and graceful as the movements of beautiful wild forest animals. After the wrestling they saw several races between companies of boys, and then looked on at exercises in throwing a round object something like a quoit made in lead.
It was all wonderful to see. To sit in the sunshine, to hear the voices and laughter of the boys, to watch their graceful movements, and yet to know that the scene before them was really far away—back two thousand years and more into the Past, indeed, was a strange-enough experience. Every now and then, when they realised this, it made both of the children very quiet, and even a little sad.
They forgot this impression however when, at last, the training over, Agis beckoned to them to follow him out of the gymnasium.
In a few moments he was dressed again, and as the children walked on either side of him, through squares and streets, they kept up a fire of eager questions.
“This is the last day of our training,” explained Agis. “To-morrow we start on our journey, and in three days begin the great games in Olympia. May the gods grant me patience to live till then!” he went on excitedly.
“But you haven’t yet told us what Olympia is,” urged Diana.
“Strange that you are ignorant of the Olympic Games which are renowned throughout the world,” sighed Agis. “Yet do I remember that Sheshà bade me have patience to tell you everything.