'"Pull! pull!" cried the Queen, the first words she had uttered, "for your lives and Palmyra!" They gained upon us. We had six oars, they eight. But the strength of three seemed to nerve the arm of Calpurnius.
'"Immortal gods!" cried he, in inexpressible agony, "they near us!" and straining with redoubled energy his oar snapped, and the boat whirled from her course.
'"All is lost!" ejaculated Zenobia.
'A Roman voice was now heard, "Yield you, and your lives are safe."
'"Never," cried Calpurnius, and as the Roman boat struck against ours, he raised his broken oar, and aiming at him who had spoken, lost his balance and plunged headlong into the stream,
'"Save him--save him!" cried the Queen, but they heeded her not. "It is vain to contend," she cried out again; "we yield, but save the life of him who has fallen."
'The light was yet not sufficient to see but to a little distance. Nothing was visible upon the smooth surface of the water, nor any sound heard.
'"His own rash fury has destroyed him," said the Roman, who we now could discern bore the rank of Centurion.
'"We seek," said he, turning toward where the Queen sat, "we seek Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra."
'"I am Zenobia," said the Queen.