If he should be slain! God of Abraham forefend! The hopes and dreams so lately come, were they only hopes and dreams?
Mother and sister--house--home--Holy Land--was he not to see them, after all?
The tumult thundered above him; he looked around; in the cabin all was confusion--the rowers on the benches paralyzed; men running blindly hither and thither; only the chief on his seat imperturbable, vainly beating the sounding-board, and waiting the orders of the tribune--in the red murk illustrating the matchless discipline which had won the world.
The example had a good effect upon Ben-Hur.

He controlled himself enough to think.

Honor and duty bound the Roman to the platform; but what had he to do with such motives then?
The bench was a thing to run from; while, if he were to die a slave, who would be the better of the sacrifice?
With him living was duty, if not honor.

His life belonged to his people.

They arose before him never more real: he saw them, their arms outstretched; he heard them imploring him.