THE CONQUEROR OF PIRATES
“I AM a Roman!”
“A Roman, sir? We beg your pardon, sir. O, kind Roman, forgive us for making you prisoner!”
With this cry the pirates fell on their knees, and smote their thighs with the palms of their hands. Some ran to tie his shoe-buckle; others brought him the toga, or gown, that had been dragged off his shoulders.
It was only done in mockery. These wild sea-robbers were at war with Rome and all the world. They had no fear of Romans.
Presently the prisoner was led to a ladder at the side of the big galley.
“Go in peace,” said the pirates, with a sneer.
The Roman shrank from stepping down into the water. He was pushed forward, and fell into the sea and was drowned.
These pirates came from Cilicia, a province of Asia Minor, where they had whole villages and towns in their possession, as well as castles on the hilltops. Large numbers of persons who were discontented with Roman rule joined the roving warriors of the sea, and their galleys swarmed all over the Mediterranean. They made sudden attacks on cities on the coast, and at one place
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