"Bring me hither the wine, and I will gladly drink of it, nor waste one drop in oblation; but I must not descend to the shore, and you must be silent concerning me, for my tutor offers large rewards to any one who will disclose where I hide myself. The slaves on the coast here are ready to betray me. I have watched them sailing near the island, lured by the promise of a handful of gold, but not daring to land upon it, lest they should behold, against his will, a divine being."
"Then I will climb up hither and bring you the fruits," said Evadne.
"Nay, my bird," answered the boy, "lay them only on the altar, below, and when it is safe to descend, call me."
"If I call softly, you cannot hear me; and I cannot call loudly enough to reach you upon this hill."
"The secrets of the island are not known to you," her companion said, and arose quickly; "follow me,—I will teach you. You know not why Apollo is listening? It is for the good of the worshippers, who care not to mount the hill to adore him. Above the town stands an altar; voices uttered there are brought up hither by an echo. There the pious repaired once, and laid their gifts, and songs and the music of flutes sounded in honor of the deity, who was held too sacred to be approached. Hold me not too sacred, little one!—you shall approach without fear; but give me your voice at this altar, when your foster-father sleeps."
"But what shall I call you?" cried the laughing Evadne.
"Call Hylas. Echo has often repeated, the name, they say, in the country of Mysia, and these groves shall learn it of you! Now follow me over the floor of the temple,—but lightly! lightly! See how the god would warn us away! He nods on his pedestal; even the loud thunder may some day cause his fall; already he is half shaken down from his shrine by earthquakes."
Then, firmly, bold Hylas held trembling Evadne, who glanced for an instant down the leafy passage of echoes.
CHAPTER IV.
When the day was over, Alpheus called to him his foster-child.