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Lives of Alcyone

Lives of Alcyone

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The Aryan bands were moving eastwards, and though there<br />

was much about their mode <strong>of</strong> life which was distasteful to the<br />

young couple, they were nevertheless kindly treated in a kind <strong>of</strong><br />

hearty and boisterous manner. They moved on with the band for<br />

some time, though always fully intending to break away from it when<br />

they felt themselves sufficiently secure from possible pursuit or<br />

interference.<br />

Having thus sacrificed everything for the sake <strong>of</strong> love, <strong>Alcyone</strong><br />

had <strong>of</strong> course to consider how he could make a living for himself and<br />

his young wife. As they were <strong>of</strong> different nations it was necessary<br />

that they should find something to do, and somewhere to make a<br />

home, in one <strong>of</strong> these parts <strong>of</strong> the country where the two races were<br />

living together in amity. <strong>Alcyone</strong> had the good fortune to be able to<br />

reduce a personal service to Vesta, one <strong>of</strong> the leaders <strong>of</strong> the band,<br />

by an act <strong>of</strong> bravery during a night attack which was made upon a<br />

part <strong>of</strong> this very irregular army; but although for that once <strong>Alcyone</strong><br />

had saved his life, his destiny was evidently to leave this plane, for<br />

he was killed shortly afterwards in some fighting a little further to the<br />

east. In return for this service Vesta pressed upon <strong>Alcyone</strong>’ s<br />

acceptance a large chest <strong>of</strong> gold and jewels which he had acquired<br />

in the attack upon some Atlantean city in an earlier part <strong>of</strong> his<br />

march.<br />

He also demanded <strong>Alcyone</strong>’ s story, and when he heard that<br />

it was his desire to abandon the wandering life as soon as possible<br />

and settle to some occupation, he <strong>of</strong>fered him the choice <strong>of</strong> coming<br />

on with them to further conquests in the remote and unknown<br />

eastern country (probably Bengal) or <strong>of</strong> establishing himself almost<br />

immediately with recommendations to Draco, a certain relative <strong>of</strong> the<br />

31

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