The merchant, Pentaur, summoned Timokles, and with condescending good-nature, demanded his history.

Timokles told it.
"Why shouldest thou be a Christian ?" commented Pentaur.

"See, we come to-night to Ammonium the oasis.

Every camel-step doth lead thee farther toward Carthage! Thou wilt perish there! Carthage doth hate Christians!" Timokles looked into Pentaur's eyes.
"Yea, I know that Carthage hateth them," the lad answered.

"I heard that four years ago, when the proconsul Saturninus persecuted the Christians; and when a number were brought from the little town of Scillita to Carthage to appear before the tribunal of Saturnin, one man called Speratus spoke frankly and nobly for his brethren.