Reverently they drank of the spring. How unbelievably sweet after the stale water of the ship. “It tastes like our own Castalia water,” she said. “Oh, Mistress, it _is_ Castaly,” spoke the Delphic slave. “I’d know Castalia water anywhere. The dear nymph has come under the sea to greet us here.” And Theria believed him. “Eëtíon, come, look! Is not the hill defensible from every side? Is not the plain near enough for tillage? You know so much better than I. Is it not better to be here hidden among the hills than down on the shore where the enemy will find us too soon?” She was serious (no laughter now) and sharp as a hawk. “Yes, yes,” said Eëtíon. Busily, carefully they searched the place. Then they halted as if at some command. The mist had been drawing off, and suddenly borne upon the clouds the glorious snowy crest of Ætna stood in the sky, its white steam floating from it as if it itself would float away into nothingness. Then far below the rugged coast-line trembled into view and all the blue sea. Theria closed her eyes at the pain of the too-great beauty. “The gods have spoken,” said Eëtíon softly. “We will go back and tell our people. We have found the site of our city.” CHAPTER XLVIII TOWN MAKERS How eagerly the colonists heard the story. How impatiently they hurried up to the place themselves. Some were at first not satisfied with the site—those who had always lived directly upon the seashore. But in the council which met under the trees the Delphian mountain dwellers prevailed. Next day all began to carry their goods to Theria’s hill and started their work. First must come the wall. All laboured at this, slave and free; for the thing was of moment. Huts and shelters of branches must serve the people for this first while. Then the temple of Apollo was begun at once and of marble. In this work Eëtíon was perfectly happy. He it was who selected the temple-site. With true Greek instinct he made the temple the focus of the landscape, the place toward which everything centred, hill and vale and reverent climbing path. It was Eëtíon who later modelled the sculptures of the pediment and the bronze image of the youthful Apollo which was to stand within. Indeed the town was a place of youth. No grey heads anywhere, no blasted hopes nor pent-up desires. And when these are absent no one can believe that they ever will come! So well did the sequestered situation serve them that their enemy, the Catanan neighbours, found them not until months had passed. And when they did find them, the new colonists drove them off in a quick fight. Theria’s hours were full. Those hours which at home used to drag in hated vacancy. The colonists themselves were Theria’s constant care. To one she gave ardent praise, to another, merited rebuke.