One of the priests stepped forward, and beheld the Greek covered with blood, and still clutching his jewelled dagger.
The priest cried:
'What dost thou here on holy ground, surrounded by the hounds of the goddess and the slain around thee? Knowest thou the penalty is death? Surrender! or we let loose the hounds that they tear thee limb from limb. Surrender! we say. Thou shalt have trial, that justice may be done, and we may know whether or not thou camest hither by mischance.'
'I surrender. Not that I fear your hounds or death—I surrender because I have no right here.'
'Art thou a stranger?'
'No.'
'Who art thou, then, besmeared with the blood of the consecrated beasts?'
'I am Chios.'
'Chios!' shouted the priests. 'What doest thou here?'
'That is my business,' replied he.