In  the  green  room  of  the  amphitheatre  a  little  band  of  gladiators
were  assembled.  The  foam  of  conflict  yet  lingered  on  their  lips,  the
scowl  of  battle  yet  hung  upon  their  brows,  and  the  large  knobs  on  their
profiles  indicated  that  it  had  been  a  busy  day  with  them  in  the  arena.
There  was  an  embarrassing  silence  of  about  five  minutes,  when
Spartacus,  gently  laying  his  chew  of  tobacco  on  the  banister,  stepped
forth  and  addressed  them:

'^  Mr,  Chairman f  Ladies  and  Gentleme7i: — Ye  call  me  chief,  and
ye  do  well  to  call  him  chief  who  for  twelve  long  years  has  met  in  the
arena  every  shape  of  man  or  beast  that  the  broad  empire  of  Rome  could
furnish,  and  yet  has  never  squealed.  I  do  not  say  this  egotistically,
but  simply  to  show  that  I  am  the  star  thumper  of  the  entire  outfit.
**  If  there  be  one  among  you  who  can  say  that  ever  in  public  fight,
or  private  brawl,  my  actions  did  belie  my  words,  let  him  stand  forth
and  say  it,  and  I  will  spread  him  around  over  the  arena,  till  the  coroner
will  have  to  soak  him  out  of  the  ground  with  benzine.   If  there  be  three  in


BILL  NTS.  327

all  your  company  dare  face  me  on  the  bloody  sands,  let  them  come,  and
I  will  construct  upon  their  physiognomy  such  cupolas  and  cornices  and
dormer  windows  and  Corinthian  capitals,  and  entablatures,  that  their
own  masters  would  pass  them  by  in  the  broad  light  of  high  noon
unrecognized.
