Theos stared at it, dazzled and stricken with a half-blind breathless wonder,—­was ever a ship like this he thought?—­a ship that sparkled all over as though it were carven out of one great burning jewel? ...  Golden hangings, falling in rich, loose folds, draped it gorgeously from stem to stern,—­gold cordage looped the sails,—­on the deck a band of young gals clad in white, and crowned with flowers, knelt, playing softly on quaintly shaped instruments,—­and a cluster of tiny, semi-nude boys, fair as young cupids, were grouped in pretty reposeful attitudes along the edge of the gilded prow holding garlands of red and yellow blossoms which trailed down to the surface of the water beneath.

As a half-slumbering man may note a sudden brilliant glare of sunshine flashing on the wall of his sleeping-chamber, so Theos at first viewed this floating pageant in confused, uncomprehending bewilderment, ... when all at once his stupefied senses were roused to hot life and pulsing action,—­with a smothered cry of ecstasy he fixed his straining, eager gaze on one supreme, fair Figure,—­the central Glory of the marvellous picture! ...

A Woman or a Goddess?—­a rainbow Flame in mortal shape?—­a spirit of earth, air, fire, water? ... or a Thought of Beauty embodied into human sweetness and made perfect? ...  Clothed in gold attire, and girdled with gems, she stood, leaning indolently against the middle mast of the vessel, her great, sombre, dusky eyes resting drowsily on the swarming masses of people, whose frenzied roar of rapture and admiration sounded like the breaking of billows.

Presently, with a slow, solemn smile on her haughtily curved lips, she extended one hand and arm, snow-white and glittering with jewels, and made an imperious gesture to command silence.  Instantly a profound hush ensued.  Lifting a long, slender, white wand, at the end of which could be plainly seen the gleaming silver head of a Serpent, she described three circles in the air with a perfectly even, majestic motion, and as she did this, her marvellous eyes turned toward Theos, and dwelt steadily upon him.

He met her gaze fully, absorbing into his inmost soul the mesmeric spell of her matchless loveliness,—­he saw, without actually realizing the circumstance, that the whole vast multitude around him had fallen prostrate in an attitude of worship,—­and still he stood erect, drinking in the warmth of those dark, witching, sleepy orbs that flashed at him half-resentfully, half-mockingly, . . and then, . . the beauty-burdened ship began to sway gently, and move onwards,—­she, that wondrous Siren-Queen was vanishing,—­vanishing!—­she and her kneeling maidens, and music, and flowers,—­vanishing ...  Where?

With a start he sprang from his post of observation,—­he felt he must go after her at all risks,—­he must find out her place of abode,—­her rank,—­her title,—­her name! ...  All at once he was roughly seized by a dozen or more of hands,—­loud, angry voices shouted on all sides..  “A traitor! ... a traitor!” ...  “An infidel!”