CHAPTER
I. [THREE FRIENDS MEET]
II. [WARNING FROM THE GODS]
III. [ARISTON LAYS A PLOT]
IV. [THE VOICE OF DEMOSTHENES]
V. [THE BANQUET]
VI. [SYPHAX EARNS HIS REWARD]
VII. [THE RESPONSE OF THE ORACLE]
VIII. [THE THUNDERBOLT FALLS]
IX. [THE DOOM OF THEBES]
X. [CHARES BARTERS HIS SWORD]
XI. [THAIS]
XII. [MENA READS A LETTER]
XIII. [THE UNQUENCHABLE FIRE]
XIV. [ACROSS THE HELLESPONT]
XV. [THAIS AND ARTEMISIA]
XVI. [IN THE CAMP OF THE MERCENARIES]
XVII. [THE TRAGEDY OF THE MARSH]
XVIII. [GREEK AND BARBARIAN]
XIX. [THE ROUT OF THE SATRAPS]
XX. [MENA MAKES A DISCOVERY]
XXI. [PHRADATES TRIUMPHS]
XXII. [THE VISION OF DANIEL, THE VICEROY]
XXIII. [IN THE WHIRLWIND'S TRACK]
XXIV. [THE GORDIAN KNOT]
XXV. [BESSUS COMES TO BABYLON]
XXVI. [THE GREAT KING IS ANGRY]
XXVII. [NATHAN KEEPS HIS WORD]
XXVIII. [BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY]
XXIX. [THE SLUICE GATE]
XXX. [LEONIDAS UNDERTAKES A MISSION]
XXXI. [ALEXANDER IS SURPRISED]
XXXII. [THE WORLD AT STAKE]
XXXIII. [THE CHESTNUT MARE]
XXXIV. [IN THE PAVILION OF THE QUEENS]
XXXV. [PHRADATES MAKES A WAGER]
XXXVI. [TYRE ACCEPTS THE CHALLENGE]
XXXVII. [THE JEST OF KING AZEMILCUS]
XXXVIII. [MENA REVEALS A SECRET]
XXXIX. [JOEL BRINGS BAD NEWS]
XL. [THE GAP OF DEATH]
XLI. [PRINCE HUR'S COUNTERPLOT]
XLII. [A TRAITOR IN PURPLE]
XLIII. [THI KING TAKES HIS REVENGE]
XLIV. [THE REVOLT OF THE ISRAELITES]
XLV. [MOLOCH CLAIMS HIS SACRIFICE]
XLVI. [THE PASSING OF A GOD]
XLVII. [SYPHAX SQUARES HIS ACCOUNT]
XLVIII. [THAIS GIVES A FEAST]
XLIX. [CHARES FINDS REST]
L. [PROMISES FULFILLED]
LI. [AMID FRAGMENTS OF EMPIRE]

THE GOLDEN HOPE

CHAPTER I

THREE FRIENDS MEET

Athens was rousing herself from sleep. The beams of the morning sun bathed the rugged sides of Mount Hymettus and lightened the dark foliage that clothed the nearer wooded slopes of Lycabettus. The low, flat-roofed houses of the city were still nothing more than blurred masses of gray in the shadow; but presently a ray touched the point of Athene's spear, and the flood of orange light flowed over the Acropolis. Its temples and statues were enveloped in a radiance which fused the rich, harmonious colors of column and cornice and melted the massive outlines into a resplendent whole, rising immortal from the gloom at its base.

Thin curls of smoke mounted here and there above the housetops, straight up toward the limitless turquoise vault of the sky. The vivifying freshness of the new-born day was in the air.

There was a clatter of hoofs in the Street of Pericles, and two young men, followed by three mounted servants, swung into view.

"By Zeus, Leonidas!" cried the foremost of the riders, drawing rein and pointing to the Acropolis, "that is worth riding all night to see!"

"You mean the sunrise?" the other asked, also coming to a halt. "Pshaw! You may see that any day without sitting up for it."