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diff --git a/44083-tei/44083-tei.tei b/44083-tei/44083-tei.tei new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e660c68 --- /dev/null +++ b/44083-tei/44083-tei.tei @@ -0,0 +1,11185 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> +<!DOCTYPE TEI.2 SYSTEM "http://www.gutenberg.org/tei/marcello/0.4/dtd/pgtei.dtd"> +<TEI.2 lang="en"> + <teiHeader> + <fileDesc> + <titleStmt> + <title>The Count of the Saxon Shore</title> + <author><name reg="Church, Alfred John">Alfred John Church</name></author> + </titleStmt> + <publicationStmt> + <publisher>Project Gutenberg</publisher> + <date value="2013-10-31">October 31, 2013</date> + <idno type='etext-no'>44083</idno> + <availability> + <p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere + at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. + You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under + the terms of the Project Gutenberg License online at + www.gutenberg.org/license</p> + </availability> + </publicationStmt> + <sourceDesc> + <bibl> +<title>The Count of the Saxon Shore.</title> + <author><name reg="Church, Alfred John">Alfred John Church</name></author> +<imprint><pubPlace>London</pubPlace> +<publisher>Seeley, Service & Co.</publisher></imprint> +</bibl> + </sourceDesc> + </fileDesc> + <encodingDesc> + </encodingDesc> + <profileDesc> + <langUsage> + <language id="it" /> + <language id="fr" /> + <language id="en" /> +<language id="la" >Latin</language> + </langUsage> + </profileDesc> + <revisionDesc> + <change> + <date value="2013-10-32">October 31, 2013</date> + <respStmt> + <resp>Produced by sp1nd, Stefan Cramme, and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by +The Internet Archive)</resp> + </respStmt> + <item>Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1</item> + </change> + </revisionDesc> + </teiHeader> + + <pgExtensions> + <pgStyleSheet> + .ill { margin-left: 2 } + .italic { font-style: italic } + .small { font-size: 75% } + .smaller { font-size: 100% } + .smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps } + head { text-align: center } + figure { text-align: center } + lg { margin-left: 2 } + .w80 { } + .w100 { } + @media pdf { + .w80 { width: 80%; page-float: 'htp' } + .w100 { width: 100%; page-float: 'htp' } + } + </pgStyleSheet> +<pgCharMap formats="txt"> + <char id="U0x2009"> + <charName>thinsp</charName> + <desc>THIN SPACE</desc> + <mapping></mapping> + </char> + </pgCharMap> + </pgExtensions> + +<text lang="en"> +<front> +<div> +<divGen type="pgheader" /> +</div> +<div> +<divGen type="encodingDesc" /> +</div> +<div> +<pb/> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: The Burning of the Villa.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="frontis"/><figure url="images/i_002.jpg" rend="w80"><index index="fig" level1="The Burning of the Villa"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>The Burning of the Villa.</hi></head> +<figDesc>The Burning of the Villa</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<pgIf output="html"> +<then><p><figure url="images/cover.jpg"><figDesc>Cover image</figDesc></figure></p></then></pgIf> +</div><titlePage rend="page-break-before: always; text-align: center"> +<pb/><anchor id='Pgi'/> +<docTitle> + <titlePart type="main" rend="font-size: xx-large">The <hi rend='smallcaps'>Count</hi> +<lb/>of the <hi rend='smallcaps'>Saxon Shore</hi></titlePart> +<lb/> +<titlePart type="sub"><hi rend='italic'>or</hi><lb/> +<hi rend="font-size: x-large">The Villa in VECTIS</hi></titlePart> +<lb/><lb/> +<titlePart type="sub"><hi rend='smallcaps; italic; font-size: large'>A Tale of the Departure of the +Romans from Britain</hi></titlePart> +</docTitle> +<lb/><lb/> +<byline>BY THE<lb/> +<docAuthor rend="font-size: large"><hi rend='smallcaps'>Rev.</hi> ALFRED J. CHURCH, M.A.</docAuthor> +<lb/><hi rend='italic'>Author of “Stories from Homer”</hi> +<lb/><lb/>WITH THE COLLABORATION OF +<lb/>RUTH PUTNAM<lb/> +</byline> +<lb/><lb/><lb/> +<titlePart><hi rend='italic'>Fifth Thousand</hi></titlePart> +<lb/><lb/><lb/> +<docImprint> +<pubPlace rend="font-size: large">London</pubPlace><lb/> +<publisher rend="font-size: large">SEELEY, SERVICE & CO. LIMITED</publisher><lb/> +<pubPlace>38 <hi rend='smallcaps'>Great Russell Street</hi></pubPlace> +</docImprint> + +</titlePage><div rend="page-break-before: always; text-align: center"> +<pb/><anchor id='Pgii'/> + +<p rend="small"> +Entered at Stationers’ Hall<lb/> +By SEELEY & CO. +</p> + +<p rend="small"><hi rend='smallcaps'>Copyright by G. P. Putnam’s Sons</hi>, 1887<lb/> +(For the United States of America).</p> + +</div><div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb/><anchor id='Pgiii'/> +<index index="toc" level1="Preface"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Preface"/> +<head>PREFACE.</head> + +<p> +<q>Count of the Saxon Shore</q> was a title bestowed +by Maximian (colleague of Diocletian in the +Empire from 286 to 305 <hi rend='small'>A.D.</hi>) on the officer whose +task it was to protect the coasts of Britain and Gaul +from the attacks of the Saxon pirates. It appears +to have existed down to the abandonment of Britain +by the Romans. +</p> + +<p> +So little is known from history about the last years +of the Roman occupation that the writer of fiction +has almost a free hand. In this story a novel, but, +it is hoped, not an improbable, view is taken of an +important event—the withdrawal of the legions. +This is commonly assigned to the year 410, when +the Emperor Honorius formally withdrew the +Imperial protection from Britain. But the usurper +Constantine had actually removed the British army +two years before; and, as he was busied with the +conquest of Gaul and Spain for a considerable time +after, it is not likely that they were ever sent back. +</p> + +<signed rend="text-align: right">A. J. C.</signed> +<dateline rend="text-align: right">R. P.</dateline> + +<pb/><anchor id='Pgiv'/> +</div><div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb/><anchor id='Pgv'/> +<index index="toc" level1="Contents"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="Contents"/> +<head>CONTENTS.</head> + +<pgIf output="pdf"><then><divGen type="toc"/></then> +<else> +<table rend="tblcolumns: 'r lw(38m) r'"> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><hi rend="small">CHAP.</hi></cell> +<cell></cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><hi rend="small">PAGE</hi></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">I.</cell> +<cell>A BRITISH CÆSAR</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg001">1</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">II.</cell> +<cell>AN ELECTION</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg013">13</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">III.</cell> +<cell>A PRIZE</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg021">21</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">IV.</cell> +<cell>THE VILLA IN THE ISLAND</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg032">32</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">V.</cell> +<cell>CARNA</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg047">47</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">VI.</cell> +<cell>THE SAXON</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg057">57</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">VII.</cell> +<cell>A PRETENDER’S DIFFICULTIES</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg070">70</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">VIII.</cell> +<cell>THE NEWS IN THE CAMP</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg083">83</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">IX.</cell> +<cell>THE DEPARTURE OF THE LEGIONS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg094">94</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">X.</cell> +<cell>DANGERS AHEAD</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg107">107</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XI.</cell> +<cell>THE PRIEST’S DEMAND</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg115">115</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XII.</cell> +<cell>LOST</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg124">124</ref></cell> +</row> + <pb/><anchor id='Pgvi'/><row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XIII.</cell> +<cell>WHAT DOES IT MEAN?</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg135">135</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XIV.</cell> +<cell>THE PURSUIT</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg144">144</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XV.</cell> +<cell>THE PURSUIT (<hi rend='italic'>continued</hi>)</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg152">152</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XVI.</cell> +<cell>THE GREAT TEMPLE</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg164">164</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XVII.</cell> +<cell>THE BRITISH VILLAGE</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg173">173</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XVIII.</cell> +<cell>THE PICTS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg182">182</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XIX.</cell> +<cell>THE SIEGE</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg194">194</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XX.</cell> +<cell>CEDRIC IN TROUBLE</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg207">207</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXI.</cell> +<cell>THE ESCAPE</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg216">216</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXII.</cell> +<cell>A VISITOR</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg224">224</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXIII.</cell> +<cell>THE STRANGER’S STORY</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg234">234</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXIV.</cell> +<cell>NEWS FROM ITALY</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg245">245</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXV.</cell> +<cell>CONSULTATION</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg256">256</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXVI.</cell> +<cell>FAREWELL!</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg266">266</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXVII.</cell> +<cell>MARTIANUS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg271">271</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXVIII.</cell> +<cell>A RIVAL</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg281">281</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXIX.</cell> +<cell>AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg293">293</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell rend="text-align: right">XXX.</cell> +<cell>AT LAST</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="Pg306">306</ref></cell> +</row> +</table> +</else> +</pgIf> + +</div><div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb/><anchor id='Pgvii'/> +<index index="toc" level1="List of Illustrations"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="List of Illustrations"/> +<head>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</head> + +<pgIf output="pdf"><then><divGen type="fig"/></then> +<else> +<table rend="tblcolumns: 'lw(45m) r'"> + <row> +<cell>THE BURNING OF THE VILLA</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="frontis"><hi rend='italic'>Frontispiece</hi></ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell></cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><hi rend="small">PAGE</hi></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>CONSTANTINE ELECTED EMPEROR</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig018">18</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>THE <hi rend='italic'>PANTHER</hi> AND THE SAXON PIRATES</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig028">28</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>CEDRIC AT THE FORGE</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig058">58</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>JAVELIN THROWING</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig078">78</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>THE DEPARTURE OF THE LEGIONS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig104">104</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>BRITISH CONSPIRATORS </cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig112">112</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>THE CAPTURE OF CARNA</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig128">128</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>THE SACRIFICE</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig166">166</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>CEDRIC AND THE PICT</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig196">196</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>CEDRIC’S FURY</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig212">212</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>CEDRIC’S ESCAPE</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig222">222</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>CLAUDIAN’S TALE</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig234">234</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>THE COUNT RECEIVING THE LETTER OF HONORIUS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig252">252</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>CARNA AND MARTIANUS</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig276">276</ref></cell> +</row> + <row> +<cell>CARNA ON THE HILLSIDE</cell> +<cell rend="text-align: right"><ref target="fig304">304</ref></cell> +</row> +</table> +</else> +</pgIf> + +<pb/><anchor id='Pgviii'/> + +</div> +</front> +<body rend="page-break-before: right"> + <pb n='1'/><anchor id='Pg001'/> + +<p rend="text-align: center; font-size: xx-large; italic">THE COUNT OF THE SAXON SHORE.</p> + <div type="chapter" n="1"> + <index index="toc" level1="I. A British Cæsar"/> + <index index="pdf" level1="I. A British Caesar"/> + +<head>CHAPTER I.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">A BRITISH CÆSAR.</hi></head> + +<p> + <q>Hail! Cæsar Emperor, the starving salute thee!</q><note place="foot">A reference to the well-known salutation of the gladiators + as they passed the Emperor in his seat at the Public Games. + <q>Ave Cæsar Imperator! Morituri te salutant.</q> <hi rend='italic'>Hail! Cæsar + Emperor, the doomed to death salute thee.</hi></note> +and the speaker made a military salute to a silver +coin, evidently brand-new from the mint (which did +not seem, by the way, to turn out very good work), +and bearing the superscription, <q>Gratianus Cæsar +Imperator Felicissimus.</q> He was a soldier of middle +age, whose jovial face did not show any sign of the +fate which he professed to have so narrowly escaped, +and formed one of a group which was lounging about +the <foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>Quæstorium</foreign>, or, as we may put it, the paymaster’s + office of the camp at the head of the Great Harbour.<note place="foot">Now known all over the world as Portsmouth Harbour.</note> +<pb n='2'/><anchor id='Pg002'/>A very curious medley of nationalities was that group. +There were Gauls; there were Germans from the +Rhine bank, some of them of the pure Teuton type, +with fair complexions, bright blue eyes, and reddish +golden hair, and remarkably tall of stature, others +showing an admixture of the Celtic blood of their +Gallic neighbours in their dark hair and hazel eyes; +there were swarthy Spaniards, fierce-looking men +from the Eastern Adriatic, showing some signs of +Greek parentage in their regular features and graceful +figures; there were two or three who seemed to +have an admixture of Asian or even African blood in +them; it might be said, in fact, there were representatives +of every province of the Empire, Italy only +excepted. They had been just receiving their pay, +long in arrear, and now considerably short of the +proper amount, and containing not a few coins which +the receivers seemed to think of doubtful value. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Let me look at his Imperial Majesty,</q> said +another speaker; and he scanned the features of the +new Cæsar—features never very dignified, and certainly +not flattered by the rude coinage—with something +like contempt. <q>Well, he does not look +exactly as a Cæsar should; but what does it matter? +This will go down with Rufus at the wine-shop and +Priscus the sausage-seller, as well as the head of the +great Augustus himself.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah!</q> said a third speaker, picking out from +<pb n='3'/><anchor id='Pg003'/>a handful of silver a coin which bore the head of +Theodosius, <q>this was an Emperor worth fighting +under. I made my first campaign with him against +Maximus, another British Cæsar, by the way; and +he was every inch a soldier. If his son were like +him<note place="foot">Honorius and Arcadius, who ruled over the Western and + Eastern Empires respectively, were the weak sons of the + vigorous Theodosius.</note> things would be smoother than they are.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Do you think,</q> said the second speaker, after +first throwing a cautious glance to see whether any +officer of rank was in hearing—<q>do you think we +have made a change for the better from Marcus?<note place="foot">Marcus was the first of three usurpers successively saluted + Emperor by the legions of Britain.</note> +He at all events used to be more liberal with his +money than his present majesty. You remember he +gave us ten silver pieces each. Now we don’t even +get our proper pay.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Marcus, my dear fellow,</q> said the other speaker, +<q>had a full military chest to draw upon, and it was +not difficult to be generous. Gratianus has to squeeze +every denarius out of the citizens. I heard them +say, when the money came into the camp yesterday, +that it was a loan from the Londinium merchants. +I wonder what interest they will get, and when they +will see the principal again.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Hang the fat rascals!</q> said the other. <q>Why +<pb n='4'/><anchor id='Pg004'/>should they sleep soft, and eat and drink the best of +everything, while we poor soldiers, who keep them +and their money-bags safe, have to go bare and +hungry?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Come, come, comrades,</q> interrupted the first +soldier who had spoken; <q>no more grumbling, or +some of us will find the centurion after us with his +vine-sticks.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The group broke up, most of them making the +best of their way to spend some of their unaccustomed +riches at the wine-shop, a place from which they had +lately kept an enforced absence. Three or four of +the number, however, who seemed, from a sign that +passed between them, to have some secret understanding, +remained in close conversation—a conversation +which they carried on in undertones, and +which they adjourned to one of the tents to finish +without risk of being disturbed or overheard. +</p> + +<p> +The camp in which our story opens was a +square enclosure, measuring some five hundred +yards each way, and surrounded by a massive +wall, not less than four feet in thickness, in +the construction of which stone, brick, and tile +had, in Roman fashion, been used together. +The defences were completed by strong towers +of a rounded shape, which had been erected at +frequent intervals. The camp had, as usual, its +four gates. That which opened upon the sea—for +<pb n='5'/><anchor id='Pg005'/>the sea washed the southern front—was famous in +military tradition as the gate by which the second +legion had embarked to take part in the Jewish War +and the famous siege of Jerusalem. Vespasian, +who had begun in Britain the great career which +ended in the throne, had experienced its valour +and discipline in more than one campaign,<note place="foot">Vespasian, appointed by Claudius in <hi rend='small'>A.D.</hi> 52 to the command + of the second legion, had made extensive conquests in Britain + adding, among other places, the Isle of Wight (Vectis) to the + Empire.</note> and had +paid it the high compliment of making a special +request for its services when he was appointed to +conduct what threatened to be a formidable war. +This glorious recollection was proudly cherished in +the camp, though more than three centuries had +passed, changing as they went the aspect of the +camp, till it looked at least as much like a town as +a military post. The troops were housed in huts +stoutly built of timber, which a visitor would have +found comfortably furnished by a long succession of +occupants. The quarters of the tribune and higher +centurions were commodious dwellings of brick; and +the headquarters of the legate, or commanding +officer, with its handsome chambers, its baths, and +tesselated pavements, might well have been a mansion +at Rome. There was a street of regular shape, in +which provisions, clothes, and even ornaments could +<pb n='6'/><anchor id='Pg006'/>be bought. Roman discipline, though somewhat +relaxed, did not indeed permit the dealers to remain +within the fortifications at night, but the shops were +tenanted by day, and did a thriving business, not +only with the soldiers, but with the Britons of the +neighbourhood, who found the camp a convenient +resort, where they could market to advantage, besides +gossiping to their hearts’ content. The relations +between the soldiers and their native neighbours +were indeed friendly in the extreme. The legion had +had its headquarters in the camp of the Great +Harbour for many generations, though it had occasionally +gone on foreign service. Lately, too, the +policy which had recruited the British legion with +soldiers from the Continent, had been relaxed, partly +from carelessness, partly because it was necessary to +fill up the ranks as could best be done, and there was +but little choice of men. Thus service became very +much an inheritance. The soldiers married British +women, and their children, growing up, became +soldiers in turn. Many recruits still came from Gaul, +Spain, and the mouth of the Rhine, and elsewhere, +but quite as many of the troops were by this time, +in part or in whole, British. +</p> + +<p> +Another change which the three centuries and a +half since Vespasian’s time had brought about was in +religion. The temple of Mars, which had stood near +the headquarters, and where the legate had been +<pb n='7'/><anchor id='Pg007'/>accustomed to take the auspices,<note place="foot">The observation of omens, or signs, supposed to indicate the +future, was one of the duties of a commanding officer.</note> was now a Christian +Church, duly served by a priest of British birth. +</p> + +<p> +About a couple of hours later in the day a shout of +<q>The Emperor! the Emperor!</q> was raised in the +camp, and the soldiers, flocking out from the mess-tents +in which most of them were sitting, lined in a +dense throng the avenue which led from the chief +gate to headquarters. +</p> + +<p> +Gratianus, who was followed by a few officers of +superior rank and a small escort of cavalry, rode +slowly between the lines of soldiers. His reception +was not as hearty as he had expected to find. He +had, as the soldiers had hinted, made vast exertions to +raise a sum of money in Londinium—then, as now, +the wealthiest municipality in the island. Himself a +native of the place, and connected with some of its +richest citizens, he had probably got together more +than any one else would have done in like circumstances. +But all his persuasions and promises, even +his offer of twenty per cent. interest, had not been +able to extract from the Londinium burghers the full +sum that was required; and the soldiers, who the +day before would have loudly proclaimed that they +would be thankful for the smallest instalment, were +now almost furious because they had not been paid +in full. A few shouts of <q>Hail, Cæsar! Hail, +<pb n='8'/><anchor id='Pg008'/>Gratianus! Hail, Britannicus!</q> greeted him on the +road to his quarters; but these came from the front +lines only, and chiefly from the centurions and +deputy-centurions, while the great body of the +soldiers maintained an ominous silence, sometimes +broken by a sullen murmur. +</p> + +<p> +Gratianus was not a man fitted to deal with sudden +emergencies. He was rash and he was ambitious, +but he wanted steadfast courage, and he was +hampered by scruples of which an usurper must +rid himself at once if he hopes to keep himself safe +in his seat. He might have appealed frankly to the +soldiers—asked them what it was they complained +of, and taken them frankly into his confidence; or +he might have overawed them by an example of +severity, fixing on some single act of insubordination +or insolence, and sending the offender to instant +execution. He was not bold enough for either +course, and the opportunity passed, as quickly as +opportunities do in such times, hopelessly out of his +reach. +</p> + +<p> +The temper of the soldiers grew more excited and +dangerous as the day went on. For many weeks +past want of money had kept them sober against +their will, and now that the long-expected pay-day +had come they crowded the wine-shops inside and +outside the camp, and drank almost as wildly as an +Australian shepherd when he comes down to the town +<pb n='9'/><anchor id='Pg009'/>after a six months’ solitude. As anything can set +highly combustible materials on fire, so the most +trivial and meaningless incident will turn a tipsy +mob into a crowd of bloodthirsty madmen. Just +before sunset a messenger entered the camp bringing +a despatch from one of the outlying forts. One of +those prodigious lies which seem always ready to +start into existence when they are wanted for mischief +at once ran like wild-fire through the camp. +Gratianus was bringing together troops from other +parts of the province, and was going to disarm and +decimate the garrison of the Great Camp. The unfortunate +messenger was seized before he could make +his way to headquarters, seriously injured, and +robbed of the despatch which he was carrying. Some +of the centurions ventured to interfere and endeavour +to put down the tumult. Two or three who were +popular with the men were good-humouredly disarmed; +others, who were thought too rigorous in +discipline, were roughly handled and thrown into +the military prison; one, who had earned for himself +the nick-name of <q>Old Hand me the other,</q><note place="foot">When one of the vine-sticks used in administering corporal +punishment to the Roman soldiers was broken on the culprit’s +back, he would at once call for another. A milder disciplinarian +would probably consider that when the stick was broken the +punishment might end.</note> was +killed on the spot. The furious crowd then rushed +to headquarters, where Gratianus was entertaining +<pb n='10'/><anchor id='Pg010'/>a company of officers of high rank, and clamoured +that they must see the Emperor. He came out and +mounted the hustings, which stood near the front of +the buildings, and from which it was usual to address +gatherings of the soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +For a moment the men, not altogether lost to the +sense of discipline, were hushed into silence and +order by the sight of the Emperor as he stood on the +platform in his Imperial purple, his figure thrown +into bold relief by the torches which his attendants +held behind him. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What do you want, my children?</q> he said; but +there was a tremble in his voice which put fresh +courage into the failing hearts of the mutineers. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Give us our pay, give us our arrears!</q> answered +a soldier in one of the back rows, emboldened to +speak by finding himself out of sight. +</p> + +<p> +The cry was taken up by the whole multitude. +<q>Our pay! Our pay!</q> was shouted from thousands +of throats. +</p> + +<p> +Gratianus stood perplexed and irresolute, visibly +cowering before the storm. At this moment one of +the tribunes stepped forward and whispered in his +ear. What he said was this: <q>Say to them, <q>Follow +me, and I will give you all you ask and more.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +It was a happy suggestion, one of the vague promises +that commit to nothing, and if the unlucky usurper +could have given it with confidence, with an air that +<pb n='11'/><anchor id='Pg011'/>gave it a meaning, he might have been saved, at least +for a time. But his nerve, his presence of mind was +hopelessly lost. <q>Follow me—where? Whither am +I to lead them?</q> he asked, in a hurried, agitated +whisper. +</p> + +<p> +His adviser shrugged his shoulders and was silent. +He saw that he was not comprehended. +</p> + +<p> +Gratianus continued to stand silent and irresolute, +with his helpless, despairing gaze fixed upon the +crowd. Then came a great surging movement from +the back of the crowd, and the front ranks were +almost forced up the steps of the platform. The +unlucky prince turned as if to flee. The movement +sealed his fate. A stone hurled from the back of the +crowd struck him on the side of the face. Half +stunned by the blow, he leaned against one of the +attendants, and the blood could be seen pouring +down his face, pale with terror, and looking ghastly +in the flaming torchlight. The next moment the +attendant flung down his torch and fled—an example +followed by all his companions. Then all was in +darkness; and it only wanted darkness to make a +score of hands busy in the deed of blood. +</p> + +<p> +As Gratianus lay prostrate on the ground the first +blow was aimed by a brother of his predecessor, +Marcus, who had been quietly waiting for an opportunity +of vengeance. In another minute he had +ceased to live. His head was severed from the body +<pb n='12'/><anchor id='Pg012'/>and fixed on the top of a pike. One of the murderers +seized a smouldering torch, and, blowing it into +flame, held it up while another exhibited the bleeding +head, and cried, <q>The tyrant has his deserts!</q> But +by this time the mad rage of the crowd had subsided. +The horror of the deed had sobered them. Many +began to remember little acts of kindness which the +murdered man had done them, and the feeling of +wrong was lost in a revulsion of pity. In a few +moments more the crowd was scattered. Silent and +remorseful the men went to their quarters, and +the camp was quiet again. But another British +Cæsar had gone the way of a long line of unlucky +predecessors. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="2" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='13'/><anchor id='Pg013'/> +<index index="toc" level1="II. An Election"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="II. An Election"/> +<head>CHAPTER II.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">AN ELECTION.</hi></head> + +<p> +The camp next day was covered with gloom. The +soldiers moved silent and with downcast faces along +the avenues, or discharged in a mechanical way their +routine duties. The guards were turned out, the +sentries relieved, and the general order of service +maintained without any action on the part of +the officers—at least of those who held superior +rank. These remained in the seclusion of their +tents; and it may be said that those who were +conscious of being popular were almost as much +alarmed as those who knew that they were disliked. +If the latter dreaded the vengeance of those whom +they had offended, the others were scarcely less +alarmed by the possibility of being elected to the +perilous dignity which had just proved fatal to +Gratianus. The country people, whose presence +generally gave an air of cheerfulness and activity +to the camp, were too much alarmed to come. The +<pb n='14'/><anchor id='Pg014'/>trading booths inside the gates were empty, and only +a very few stalls were occupied in the market, which +was held every day outside them. +</p> + +<p> +The funeral of the late prince was celebrated with +some pomp. The soldiers attended it in crowds, and +manifested their grief, and, it would seem, their +remorse, by groans and tears. They were ready +even to give proofs of their repentance by the summary +execution of those who had taken an active part +in the bloody deed. But here, one of the centurions, +whose cheerful, genial manners made him an unfailing +favourite with the men, had the courage +to check them. <q>No, my men,</q> said he; <q>we +were all mad last night, and we must all take the +blame.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Two days passed without any incident of importance. +On the third the question of a successor began +to be discussed. One of the other garrisons might +be beforehand with them, and they would have either +to accept a chief who would owe his best favours to +others, or risk their lives in an unprofitable struggle +with him. In the afternoon a general assembly of +the troops was held, the officers still holding aloof, +though some of them mixed, <foreign lang="it" rend='italic'>incognito</foreign>, so to speak, in +the crowd. +</p> + +<p> +Of course, the first difficulty was to find any one +who would take the lead. At last the genial centurion, +who has been mentioned above as a well-<pb n='15'/><anchor id='Pg015'/>established favourite with the soldiers, was pushed +to the front. His speech was short and sensible. +<q>Comrades,</q> he said, <q>I doubt whether what I have +to say will please you; but I shall say it all the +same. You know that I always speak my mind. We +have not done very well in the new ways. Let us +try the old. I propose that we take the oath to +Honorius Augustus.</q> +</p> + +<p> +A deep murmur of discontent ran through the +assembly, and showed that the speaker had presumed +at least as far as was safe on his popularity +with the troops. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Does Decius,</q> cried a burly German from the +crowd—Decius was the name of the centurion—<q>does +Decius recommend that we should trust to the +mercy of Honorius? Very good, perhaps, for himself; +for the giver of such advice could scarcely fail +of a reward; but for us it means decimation<note place="foot"><q>Decimation</q> was a common military punishment in cases +of mutiny or bad behaviour on the field of battle. Every tenth +man, taken by lot, was put to death.</note> at the +least.</q> +</p> + +<p> +A shout of applause showed that the speaker had +expressed the feelings of his audience. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I propose that we all take the oath to Decius +himself!</q> said a Batavian; <q>he is a brave man and +an honest, and what do we want more?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The good Decius had heard undismayed the angry +<pb n='16'/><anchor id='Pg016'/>disapproval which his loyal proposal had called +forth; but the mention of his name as a possible +candidate for the throne overwhelmed him with +terror. His jovial face grew pale as death; the +sweat stood in large drops upon his forehead; he +trembled as he had never trembled in the face of an +enemy. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Comrades,</q> he stammered, <q>what have I done +that you should treat me thus? If I have offended +or injured you, kill me, but not this.</q> +</p> + +<p> +More than half possessed by a spirit of mischief, +the assembly answered this piteous appeal by continuous +shouts of <q>Long live the Emperor Decius!</q> +</p> + +<p> +The good man grew desperate. He drew his +sword from the scabbard, and pointed it at his own +heart. <q>At least,</q> he cried, <q>you can’t forbid me +this escape.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The bystanders wrested the weapon from him; +but the joke had gone far enough, and the man was +too genuinely popular for the soldiers to allow him to +be tormented beyond endurance. A voice from the +crowd shouted, <q>Long live the Centurion Decius!</q> +to which another answered, <q>Long live Decius the +subject!</q> and the worthy man felt that the danger +was over. +</p> + +<p> +A number of candidates, most of whom were probably +as little desirous of the honour as Decius, were +now proposed in succession. +</p> + +<pb n='17'/><anchor id='Pg017'/> + +<p> +<q>I name the Tribune Manilius,</q> said one of the +soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +The name was received with a shout of laughter. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Let him learn first to be Emperor at home!</q> cried +a voice from the back of the assembly, a sally which +had considerable success, as his wife was a well-known +termagant, and his two sons the most frequent +inmates of the military prison. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I name the Centurion Pisinna.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Very good, if he does not pledge the purple,</q> for +Pisinna was notoriously impecunious. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I name the Tribune Cetronius.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Very good as Emperor of the baggage-guard.</q> +Cetronius had, to say the least, no high reputation +for personal courage, and was supposed to prefer the +least exposed parts on the field. +</p> + +<p> +A number of other names were mentioned only to +be dismissed with more or less contumely. Tired of +this sport—for it really was nothing more—the crowd +cried out for a speech from a well-known orator of +the camp, whose fluency, not unmixed with shrewdness +and humour, had gained him a considerable +reputation among his comrades. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Comrades,</q> he began, <q>if you have not yet found +a candidate worthy of your suffrages, it is not because +such do not exist among you. Can it be believed that +Britain is less worthy to produce the Emperor than +Gaul, or Spain, or Thrace, or even the effeminate +<pb n='18'/><anchor id='Pg018'/>Syria? Was it not from Britain that there came forth +the greatest of the successors of Augustus, the Second +Romulus, Flavius Aurelius Constantinus?</q><note place="foot">It would seem that the myth which made the Empress +Helena, the mother of Constantine, into a British princess, had +already grown up. She was, in fact, the daughter of a tavern-keeper, +and in no way connected with Britain.</note> +</p> + +<p> +The orator was not permitted to proceed any +further. The name Constantinus ran like an electric +shock through the whole assembly, and a thousand +voices took up the cry, <q>Long live Constantinus, +Emperor Augustus!</q> while all eyes were turned to +one of the back rows of the meeting, where a soldier +who happened to bear that name was standing. +Some of his comrades caught him by the arm, hurried +him to the front, and from thence on to the +hustings. He was greeted with a perfect uproar of +applause, partly, of course, ironical, but partly the +expression of a genuine feeling that the right man +had been found, and found by some sort of Divine +assistance. The soldiers were, as has been said, a +strange medley of men, scarcely able to understand +each other, and alike only in being savage, ignorant, +and superstitious. They had been unlucky in choosing +for themselves, and now it might be well to have +the choice made for them. And at least the new man +had a name which all of them knew and reverenced, +as far as they reverenced anything. +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: Constantine elected Emperor.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig018"/><figure url="images/i_029.jpg" rend="w100"><index index="fig" level1="Constantine elected Emperor"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>Constantine elected Emperor.</hi></head> +<figDesc>Constantine elected Emperor</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<pb n='19'/><anchor id='Pg019'/> +<p> +Whether he had anything but a name might have +seemed perhaps somewhat doubtful. He had reached +middle age, for he had two sons already grown up, +but had never risen above the rank of a private soldier. +It might be said, perhaps, that he had shown +some ability in thus avoiding promotion—not always +a desirable thing in troublous times; but there was +the fact that he was nearly fifty years of age, and was +not even a deputy-centurion. On the other hand, he +was a respectable man, ignorant indeed, for, like most +of his comrades, he could neither read nor write, but +with a certain practical shrewdness, so good-humoured +that he had never made an enemy, known +to be remarkably brave, a great athlete in his youth, +and still of a strength beyond the average. +</p> + +<p> +His sudden and strange elevation did not seem to +throw him in the least off his balance. He had been +perfectly content to go without promotion, and now +he seemed equally content to receive the highest promotion +of all. He stood calmly facing the excited +mob, as unmoved as if he had been a private soldier +on the parade ground. A slight flush, indeed, might +have been seen <anchor id="corr019"/><corr sic="tomount">to mount</corr> to his face when the cloak +of imperial purple was thrown over his shoulders, +and the peaked diadem put upon his head. He must +have been less than man not to have felt some thrill +either of fear or pride at the touch of what had brought +two of his comrades to their graves within the space +<pb n='20'/><anchor id='Pg020'/>of less than half a year; but he showed no other +sign of emotion. +</p> + +<p> +The officers, seeing the turn things had taken, had +now come to the front, and the senior tribune, taking +the new Emperor by the hand, led him to the edge of +the hustings, and said, <q>Comrades, I present to you +Aurelius Constantinus, chosen by the providence of +God and the choice of the army to be Emperor of +Britain and the West. The Blessed and Undivided +Trinity order it for the best.</q> A ringing shout of +approval went up in response. The tribunes then +took the oath of allegiance to the new Emperor in +person. These again administered it to the centurions, +and the centurions swore in great batches of +the soldiers. The new-made prince meanwhile stood +unmoved, it might almost be said insensible, so +strange was his composure in the face of his sudden +elevation. All that he said—the result, it seemed, of +a whisper from one of his sons—were a few words, +which, however, had all the success of a most eloquent +oration. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Comrades, I promise you a donative<note place="foot">A <foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>donative</foreign> was a distribution of money made to the soldiers +on such occasions as the accession of an Emperor.</note> within the +space of a month.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The assembly broke up in great good-humour, and +the newly-made Emperor, attended by the officers, +went to take possession of headquarters. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="3" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='21'/><anchor id='Pg021'/> +<index index="toc" level1="III. A Prize"/><index index="pdf" level1="III. A Prize"/> +<head>CHAPTER III.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">A PRIZE.</hi></head> + +<p> +It was a bright morning some three weeks after the +occurrences related in the last chapter, when a +squadron of four Roman galleys swept round the +point which is now known as the South Foreland. +The leader of the four, all of which, indeed, lay so +close together as to be within easy hailing distance, +bore on its mainmast the <foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>Labarum</foreign>, or Imperial +standard, showing on a ground of purple a cross, a +crown, and the sacred initials, all wrought in gold. +It was the flagship, so to speak, of the great Count +himself, one of the most important lieutenants of the +Empire, whose task it was to guard the shores of +Britain and Northern Gaul from the pirate swarms +that issued from the harbours of the North Sea and +the Baltic. The Count himself was on board, coming +south from his villa on the eastern shore—for the +stations of which he had the charge extended as far +as the Wash—to his winter residence in the sunny +island of Vectis. +</p> + +<pb n='22'/><anchor id='Pg022'/> + +<p> +The Count was a tall man of middle age, and wore +over his tunic a military cloak reaching to the hips, +and clasped at the neck with a handsome device in +gold, representing a hunting-dog with his teeth fixed +in a stag. His head was covered with a broad-brimmed +hat of felt. The only weapon that he +carried was a short sword, which, with its plain hilt +and leather scabbard, was evidently meant for use +rather than show. His whole appearance and bearing, +indeed, were those of a man of action and energy. +His eyes were bright and piercing; his nose showed, +strongly pronounced, the curve which has always +been associated with the ability to command; the +contour of his chin and lips, as far as could be seen +through a short curling beard and moustache, worn +as a prudent defence against the climate, betokened +firmness. Still, the expression of the face was not +unkindly. As a great writer says of one whom +Britain had had good reason in earlier days both to +fear and to love, <q>one would easily believe him to +be a good man, and willingly believe him to be great.</q> +</p> + +<p> +At the time when our story opens he was standing +in conversation with the helmsman, a weather-beaten +old sailor, whose dark Southern complexion had been +deepened by the sun and winds of more than fifty +years of service into an almost African hue. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The wind will hardly serve us as well as it has,</q> +said the Count, as his practised eye, familiar with +<pb n='23'/><anchor id='Pg023'/>every yard of the coast, perceived that they were +well abreast of the extreme southern point of the +coast. +</p> + +<p> +<q>No, my lord,</q> said the old man, <q>we shall have +to take as long a tack as we can to the south. There +is a deal of west in the wind—more, I think, than there +was an hour since. Castor and Pollux—I beg your +lordship’s pardon, the blessed Saints—defend us from +anything like a westerly gale.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah! old croaker,</q> replied the Count, with a +laugh, <q>I verily believe that you will be half disappointed +if we get to our journey’s end without some +<anchor id="corr023"/><corr sic="(quote mark missing)">mishap.</corr></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Good words, good words, my lord,</q> said the old +man, hastily crossing himself, while he muttered +something, which, if it could have been overheard, +would have been scarcely suitable to that act of +devotion. <q rend="post: none">Heaven bring us safe to our journey’s +end! Of course it is your lordship’s business to give +orders, and ours to go to the bottom, if it is to be so. +But I must say, saving your presence, that it is +against all rules of a sailor’s craft as I have known +it, man and boy, for nigh upon threescore years, to +be at sea near about a month after the autumn +equinox.</q> +</p> + +<lg> +<l>’Never let your keel be wet,</l> +<l>When the Pleiades have set;</l> +<l>Never let your keel be dry,</l> +<l>When the Crown is in the sky.’</l> +</lg> + +<pb n='24'/><anchor id='Pg024'/> + +<p> +<q rend="pre: none">That is what my father used to say, and his fathers +before him, for I do not know how many generations, +for we have always followed the sea.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Very well for them, perhaps,</q> said the Count, +<q>in the days when a man would almost as soon go +into a lion’s den as venture out of sight of land. +But the world is too busy to let us waste half our +year on shore.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, yes, I know all about that,</q> answered the +old man, who was privileged to have the last word +even with so great a personage as the Count; <q>but +there is a proverb, <q>Much haste, little speed,</q> and I +have always found it quite as true by sea as by +land.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the proper signals had been given to +the rest of the squadron, and the whole four were +now heading south, with a point or two to the west, +the <name type="ship">Panther</name>—for that was the name of the flagship—still +slightly leading the way, with her consorts in +close company. In this order they made about twelve +miles, the wind freshening somewhat as they drew +further away from the British shore, and, being nearly +aft, carrying them briskly along. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Fine sailing, fine sailing,</q> said the old helmsman, +drawn almost in spite of himself into an exclamation +of delight, as the <name type="ship">Panther</name>, rushing through +the water with an almost even keel, began to widen +the gap between herself and her nearest follower. +<pb n='25'/><anchor id='Pg025'/>The short waves, which just broke in sparkling foam, +the brilliant sunshine, almost bringing back summer +with its noonday heat, and the sea with a blue which +recalled, though but faintly, the deep tint of his +native Mediterranean, combined to gladden the old +man’s soul. <q>But we need not put about now,</q> he +said to himself. <q>If this wind holds we shall fetch +Lemanis<note place="foot">Lymne, in Kent, now some miles inward, on the edge of +Romney Marsh.</note> without requiring to tack.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He was about to give the necessary orders to trim +the sails, when he was stopped by a shout from the +look-out man at the bow, <q>A sail on the starboard +side!</q> Just within the range of a keen sight, in the +south-western horizon, the sunlight fell on what was +evidently a sail. But the distance was too great to +let even the keenest sight distinguish what kind of +craft it might be, or which way it was moving. The +Count, who had gone below for his mid-day meal, +was of course informed of the news. He came at +once upon deck, and lost no time in making up his +mind. +</p> + +<p> +<q>If she is an enemy,</q> he said to the old helmsman, +<q>she will be eastward bound; though I never +knew a pirate keep the sea quite so late in the year. +If she is a friend she will probably be sailing westward, +or even coming our way—but it does not +matter which. If she has anything to tell us, we +<pb n='26'/><anchor id='Pg026'/>shall be sure to hear it sooner or later. But it will +never do to let a pirate escape if we can help it. +Any one who is out so late as the middle of October +must have had good reason for stopping, and can +hardly fail to be worth catching. Quintus, put her +right before the wind, and clap on every inch of +canvas.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The course of the squadron was now changed to +nearly due south-east. All eyes, of course, were +bent on the strange craft, and before an hour had +passed it was evident that the Count had been right +in his guess. There were four ships; they were long +and low in the water, of the build which was only +too well known along the coasts of Gaul and Britain, +where no river or creek, if it gave as much as three or +four feet of water, was safe from their attack. In short, +they were Saxon pirates, and were now moving eastward +with all the speed that sails and oars could give +them. The question that every one on board the +<name type="ship">Panther</name> was putting to himself with intense interest +was, <q>Shall we be able to intercept them?</q> For +the present the Count’s ship had the advantage of +speed, thanks to the wind abaft the beam. But a +stern chase would be useless. On equal terms the +pirates were at least as quick as their pursuers. +The light, too, of the autumn day would soon fail, +and with the light every chance of success would +be gone. +</p> + +<pb n='27'/><anchor id='Pg027'/> + +<p> +For a time it seemed as if the escape of the pirate +was certain. <q>Curse the scoundrels!</q> cried the +Count, as he paced impatiently up and down the +after deck. <q>If it would only come on to blow in +real earnest we should have them. Anyhow, I +would sooner that we should all founder together +than that they should get off scot free.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The <name type="ship">Panther</name>, which had left her consorts about a +mile in the rear, was now near enough for her crew +to see distinctly the outlines of the pirate ships, to +mark the glitter of the shields that were ranged +along the gunwales, and to catch the rhythmic rise +and fall of the long sweeping oars. The Saxons +were evidently straining every nerve to make good +their escape, and it seemed scarcely possible that +they could fail. Then came a turn of fortune—the +very thing, in fact, that the Count had prayed for. +For a time—only a very few moments—the wind +freshened to something like the force of a gale. The +masts of the <name type="ship">Panther</name> were strained to the utmost of +their strength; they groaned and bent like whips +under the sudden pressure on the canvas, but the +seasoned timber stood the sudden call upon it +bravely. How the Count blessed himself that he +had never passed over a piece of bad workmanship +or bad material! The good ship took a wild plunge +forward, but nothing gave way. But the last of the +four pirates was not so fortunate. She had one tall +<pb n='28'/><anchor id='Pg028'/>mast, carrying a fore-and-aft sail, so large as to be +quite out of proportion to her size. The wind +struck her nearly sideways, and she heeled over till +her keel could almost be seen. For a moment it +was doubtful whether she would not capsize. Then +the mast gave. The vessel righted at once, but only +to lie utterly helpless on the water, with all her +starboard oars hopelessly entangled with the canvas +and rigging. What the Count would have done had +his ship been entirely in hand it is difficult to say. +No speedier or more effective way of dealing with +the enemy than running her down could have been +practised. The <name type="ship">Panther</name> had three or four times the +tonnage of her adversary, whose lightness and low +bulwarks made her easily accessible to this kind of +attack. Nor would the pirates have a chance of +showing the desperate valour which the Roman +boarding-parties had learnt to respect and almost to +fear. The only argument on the other side would +have been that prisoners and booty would probably +be lost. But, as a matter of fact, the Count had no +opportunity of weighing the <hi rend='italic'>pros</hi> and <hi rend='italic'>cons</hi> in the +matter. The <name type="ship">Panther</name>, driving as she was straight +before the wind, was practically unmanageable. She +struck the pirate craft with a tremendous crash +amidships, and cut her almost literally in half. One +blow, and one only, did the pirates strike at their +conquerors. When escape had become manifestly +<pb n='29'/><anchor id='Pg029'/>impossible by the fall of the mast, the Saxon warriors +had dropped their oars, and seizing their bows had +discharged a volley of arrows against the Roman +ship. The hurry and confusion of the moment did +not favour accurate aim, and most of the missiles +flew wide of the mark; but one seemed to have been +destined to fulfil the helmsman’s expectations of evil +to come. It struck the old man on the left side, +inflicting a fatal wound. In the first confusion of the +shock the incident was not noticed, for the brave +fellow stuck gallantly to the tiller, propping himself +up against it while he kept the <name type="ship">Panther</name> steadily +before the wind. In fact, loss of blood had brought +him nearly to his end before it was even known that +he had been wounded. Then, in a moment, the +Count was at his side. +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: The Panther and the Saxon Pirate.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig028"/><figure url="images/i_041.jpg" rend="w100"><index index="fig" level1="The Panther and the Saxon Pirate"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>The Panther and the Saxon Pirate.</hi></head> +<figDesc>The Panther and the Saxon Pirate</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +<q>Carry him to my own cabin,</q> he said. +</p> + +<p> +The old man raised his hand in a gesture that +seemed to refuse the service which half a dozen stout +sailors were at once ready to render him. <q>Nay,</q> +said he, <q>it is idle; this arrow has sped me. But +let me die here, where I can see the waves and the +sky. I have known them, man and boy, threescore +years—aye, and more, for my father would take me on +his ship when I was a tiny chap of three feet high. +Nay, no cabin for me; ’tis almost as bad as dying +in one’s bed.</q> +</p> + +<p> +His voice grew feeble. The Count stopped, and +<pb n='30'/><anchor id='Pg030'/>asked whether there was anything that he could do +for him. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay,</q> said the old man, <q>nothing; I have +neither chick nor child. ’Tis all as well as I could +have wished. But mark, my lord, I was right about +sailing in October. Any one that knows the sea +would be sure that trouble must come of it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The next moment he was past speaking or hearing. +</p> + +<p> +It was his privilege, we must remember, to have +the last word. +</p> + +<p> +The <name type="ship">Panther</name> meanwhile had been brought to the +wind. Her consorts, too, had come up, and a search +was made for any survivors of the encounter that +might be still afloat. Some had been killed outright +by the concussion; others had been so hurt that they +could make no effort to save themselves. They +would not, however, have made it if they could. +Those that had escaped uninjured evidently preferred +drowning to a Roman prison. With grim resolution +they straightened their arms to their sides and went +down. Only two survivors were picked up. These, +evidently twins from their close resemblance to each +other, were found clinging to a fragment of timber. +One had been grievously hurt, the other had not +suffered any injury. +</p> + +<p> +The wounded man, who had received an almost +fatal blow upon the head, had lost the power to +move, and was holding on to life more than half +un<pb n='31'/><anchor id='Pg031'/>consciously; and his brother, moved by that passionate +love so often found between twins, had +sacrificed himself—that is, the honour which he +counted dearer than life—to save him. Had he had +only himself to think of, he would have been the first +to go down a free man to the bottom of the sea; but +his brother was almost helpless, and he could not +leave him. +</p> + +<p> +When it was evident that all further search would +be useless, the squadron set their sails for Lemanis, +which, thanks to a further change in the wind to the +northward, they were able to reach before midnight. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="4" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='32'/><anchor id='Pg032'/> +<index index="toc" level1="IV. The Villa in the Island"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="IV. The Villa in the Island"/> +<head>CHAPTER IV.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE VILLA IN THE ISLAND.</hi></head> + +<p> +Count Ælius was a man of the best Roman type, +a man of <q>primitive virtue,</q> as the classical writers +would have put it, though this virtue had been +softened, refined, and purified by civilizing and instructing +influences, of which the old Roman heroes—the +Fabiuses, the Catos, the Scipios—had known +nothing. In the antiquity of his lineage there was +scarcely a man in the Empire who could pretend +to compare with him. For the most part, the old +houses from which had come the Consuls and Dictators +of the Republic had died out. The old nobility +had gone, and the new nobility had followed it. +The great name of Fabius, saved by an accident from +extinction, when its three hundred gallant sons, +each of them <q>fit to command an army,</q> perished +in one day by the craft of the Etruscan foe, had +passed away. There was no living representative +of the conqueror of Carthage, or of the conqueror +<pb n='33'/><anchor id='Pg033'/>of Corinth. Even the <foreign lang="fr" rend='italic'>parvenus</foreign> of the Empire had in +their turn disappeared. The generals and senators, +both of the old Rome and of the new,<note place="foot">Constantinople.</note> bore +names which would have sounded strange and +barbarous to Cicero or even to Tacitus. An Ælius +then, one who claimed to trace his descent to a time +even earlier than the legendary age, to a race which +was domiciled in Italy long before even Æneas had +brought thither the gods of Troy, was an almost +singular phenomenon in a generation of new men. +And nothing less than this was the pedigree claimed +by the Ælii. Their remotest ancestor—the Count +never could hear an allusion to it without a smile—was +the famous cannibal king who ruled over the +<anchor id="corr033"/><corr sic="Lasetrygones">Laestrygones</corr>, a tribe of Western Italy,<note place="foot">His capital is said to have been near the ancient Caieta and +modern Gaieta.</note> and from +whose jaws the prudent Ulysses so narrowly escaped. +The pride of ancient descent is not particular as +to the character of a progenitor, so he be sufficiently +remote; and one branch of the Ælii had +always delighted to recall by their surname their +connection with this man-eating hero. But the race +had not lacked glories of its own in historical times. +They had had soldiers, statesmen, and men of letters +among them. One of them had been made immortal +by the friendship of Horace. Another, an adopted +<pb n='034'/><anchor id='Pg034'/>son, it was true, better known by the famous name +of Sejanus, had nearly made himself master of the +throne of the Cæsars. About a hundred years later +this crowning glory of human ambition had fallen to +it in the person of Hadrian, third in the list of the +<q>five good Emperors</q>;<note place="foot">The <q>five</q> are, Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, +and Marcus Aurelius, whose united reigns extended from 97 to +180 <hi rend='small'>A.D.</hi>—a period of peace and prosperity such as Rome never +enjoyed again.</note> though indeed there were +purists in the matter of genealogy who stoutly denied +that this great soldier and scholar had any of the real +Ælian blood in him. +</p> + +<p> +The Count’s father had held civil office at Carthage, +and the young Ælius had there, for a short time, +been a pupil of Aurelius Augustinus, then known +as an eloquent teacher of rhetoric, afterwards to +become the most famous doctor of the Western +Church. But his bent was not for the profession +of the law, and his father, though disappointed at his +preference for a soldier’s career, would not stand in +his way. His first experience of warfare was gained +on a day of terrible disaster. His father’s influence +had secured him a position which seemed in every +way desirable. He was attached to the staff of +Trajanus, a general of division in the army of the +Emperor Valens. By great exertions, travelling +night and day, at the hottest period of the year, the +<pb n='35'/><anchor id='Pg035'/>young Ælius contrived to report himself to his commander +on the eve of the great battle of Adrianople. +He had borne himself with admirable courage and +self-possession during that terrible day, more disastrous +to the Roman arms than even Cannæ itself. +He had helped to carry the wounded Emperor to a +cottage near the field of battle, and had barely +escaped with his life, cutting his way with desperate +resolution through the enemy, when this place of +refuge was surrounded and burnt by the barbarians. +After this unfortunate beginning he betook himself +for a time to the employments of peace, obtaining an +office under Government at Milan, where he renewed +his acquaintance with his old teacher, Augustine. +Then another opening, in what was still his favourite +profession, presented itself. The young soldier’s +gallant conduct on the disastrous day of Adrianople +had not been forgotten by some who had witnessed +it, and when Stilicho, then the rising general of the +Empire, was looking about for officers to fill posts +upon his staff, the name of Ælius was mentioned to +him. Under Stilicho he served with much distinction, +and it was on Stilicho’s recommendation +that he was appointed to the post which, when our +story opens, he had held for nearly twenty years. +</p> + +<p> +His position during this period had been one of +singular difficulty. The tie between the Empire +and Britain was very loose. More than once during +<pb n='36'/><anchor id='Pg036'/>Ælius’ tenure of office it had seemed to be broken +altogether. Pretender after pretender had risen +against the central power, and had declared his +province independent, and himself an Emperor. +The Count of the Saxon Shore had contrived to +keep himself neutral, so to speak, during these +troubles. His own office, that of defending the +eastern and southern shores of the island against the +attacks of the Saxon pirates, he had filled with remarkable +vigilance and skill. And the usurpers had +been content to leave him undisturbed. His sailors +were profoundly attached to him, and any attempt +to interfere with him would have thrown a considerable +weight into the opposite scale. And he and his +work were necessary. Whether Britain was subject +to Rome or independent of it, it was equally important +that its coasts should not be harried by +pirates. If Ælius would provide for this—and he +did provide for it, with an almost unvarying success—he +might be left alone, and not required to give in his +allegiance to the new claimant of the throne. This +allegiance he never did give in. He was always the +faithful servant of those who appointed him, and, +whoever might happen to be the temporary master +of Britain, regularly addressed his despatches and +reports to the central authority in Italy. On the +other hand, he did not feel himself bound to take +direct steps towards asserting that authority in the +<pb n='37'/><anchor id='Pg037'/>island. He had to keep the pirates in check, and +that was occupation quite sufficient to keep all his +energies employed. Thus, as has been said, he +observed a kind of neutrality, always loyal to the +Roman Emperor, but willing to be on friendly terms +with the rebel generals of Britain as long as they +left him alone, let him do his work of defending the +coast, and did not make any demands upon him +which his conscience would not allow him to satisfy. +</p> + +<p> +Having thus sketched the career of the Count, we +must now say something about the house, which +now—it was early in the afternoon of the day following +the events described in the last chapter—was +just coming into sight. +</p> + +<p> +The villa was the Count’s private property, and +had been purchased by him immediately on his +arrival in the island, for a reason which will be given +hereafter. It was a handsome house, and complete +in its way, with all that was necessary for a comfortable +residence, but not one of the largest of its kind. +Indeed, it may be said that what may be called the +<q>living</q> part of it was unusually small for the +dwelling of so distinguished a person as the Count. +It had been found large enough by its previous +owners, men of moderate means and, it so happened, +of small families; and the Count, feeling that his +occupation of it might be terminated at any time, +had not cared to add to it. Its situation was +re<pb n='38'/><anchor id='Pg038'/>markably pleasing. Behind it was a sheltering range +of hills,<note place="foot">The hills that run as far as Arreton and the valley of the +Medina.</note> keeping off the force of the south-westerly +winds, and then richly covered with wood. It was +not too near the sea, the Romans not finding that +the ceaseless disturbance of rising and falling tides +was an element of pleasure, though they could not +get too close to their own tideless Mediterranean; +but it was within an easy distance of the Haven.<note place="foot">Brading Haven.</note> +The convenience of this neighbourhood had indeed +been one of the Count’s reasons for selecting this +spot. But if the harsh, grating sound of the waves +upon the shingle did not reach the ears of the +dwellers in the villa, and the force of the sea winds +was somewhat broken for them by intervening cliffs, +they still enjoyed all the freshness and vitality of an +air that had come across many a league of water. +The climate, too, was genial, mild without being too +soft, mostly free from damp, though not exempt from +occasional mist, seldom troubled by frost or snow, +and, on the whole, not unlike some of the more +temperate regions of Italy. +</p> + +<p> +The villa, with its belongings, occupied three sides +of a square, or rather rectangle, and was built nearly +to the points of the compass. The eastern side of +the square was open, thus giving a prospect +sea<pb n='39'/><anchor id='Pg039'/>wards. The western contained the principal living +rooms. The northern, too, was partly occupied by +bed-chambers and sitting-rooms, for which there +was no room in the comparatively small portion +which had been originally intended for the residence +of the owner and his family. Some of the workmen +employed lived in cottages outside the villa enclosure. +The southern was devoted to storehouses, workshops, +and all the miscellaneous buildings which +made a Roman villa, as far as possible, an establishment +complete in itself. The open space was +occupied by a pretty garden, which will be more +particularly described hereafter.<note place="foot">The villa consisted, it will be seen, of the three parts which +were commonly found in establishments of this kind. These +were called respectively the <foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>Urbana</foreign>, containing the rooms in +which the family resided, and including also the garden +terraces, &c.; the <foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>Rustica</foreign>, occupied by slaves and workmen +but in this case, as will be seen, partly used for another purpose; +and the <foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>Fructuaria</foreign>, containing cellars for wine, &c., barns, +granaries, and storehouses of various kinds.</note> +</p> + +<p> +The eastward front of the villa was occupied for +the greater part of its length by a colonnade or +corridor. A low wall of about four feet in height +separated this from the garden; above the wall it was +open to the air; but an overhanging roof helped +greatly to shelter it, while the view into the garden +was unimpeded. The floor was adorned with a +handsome tesselated pavement, the principal device +<pb n='40'/><anchor id='Pg040'/>of which was a representation of the favourite subject +of Orpheus attracting beasts and birds by his +lyre. The proprietor from whom the Count had +purchased the villa had brought it from Italy. He +was a Christian of artistic tastes, and, like his fellow-believers, +had delighted to trace in the old myth a +spiritual meaning, the power of the teaching of +Christ to subdue to the Divine obedience the savage, +animal nature of man. He had displaced for it the +original design, which, indeed, was nothing better +than a commonplace representation of dancing +figures which had satisfied the earlier owners. The +artist had included among the listeners animals, +some of which, as the monkey, the Thracian minstrel +could hardly have seen, and, with a certain touch of +humour, he had adorned the monkey’s head with a +Phrygian cap, like that which Orpheus himself +wore, to indicate probably that the monkey is the +caricature of man. The inner wall was ornamented +with a bold design of Cæsar’s first landing in +Britain, worked in fresco. Seats and tables were +arranged along it at intervals, and the whole corridor +was thus made to furnish a pleasant promenade in +winter and a charming resort when the weather was +warm. +</p> + +<p> +At the south end of the corridor was the Count’s +own apartment, or study, as it would be called in a +modern house. One window looked into the corridor, +<pb n='41'/><anchor id='Pg041'/>into which a door also opened; another, which was +built out into the shape of a bow, so as to catch as +much of the sun as the aspect allowed, looked into +the garden. Part of it was formed of lattices, which +admitted of being completely closed when the weather +required such protection; the rest was glazed with +glass, which would have seemed rough to the present +generation, but was quite as good as most people +were content to have in their houses fifty years ago. +The pavement was tesselated, and presented various +designs, a Bacchante, and a pair of gladiators among +them. These, however, were commonly covered with +thick woollen rugs, the villa being chiefly used as a +winter residence. The Count had not forgotten his +early studies, and some handsome bookcases contained +his favourite authors, among which were to +be found the great classic poets of Rome, Tacitus, +for whom he had a special regard, some writers on +the military art, Cato and Columella on agriculture, +and, not least honoured, though some, at least, of +their contents had but little interest for him—for, +sincere Christian as he was, he cared little for +controversy—the numerous treatises of his friend +and teacher, Augustine. Behind this room was a +simple furnished bed-chamber, showing in an almost +bare simplicity the characteristic tastes of a soldier. +</p> + +<p> +At the other end of the corridor was a door +leading to the principal chamber in this part of the +<pb n='042'/><anchor id='Pg042'/>villa. This measured altogether close upon forty feet +in length, but it was divided, or rather could be divided, +into two by columns which stood about halfway down +its longer sides, and between which a curtain could be +hung. When the chamber was occupied in summer +it might be used as a whole; in the winter the +smaller part, which looked out into the garden, could +be shut off from the rest by drawing the curtain, and +so made a comfortable room, warmed from below by +hot air from the furnace, which had been constructed +at the western end of the northern wing of the villa. +Much artistic skill had been expended on the pavements +of the apartment, and the smaller chamber +was very richly decorated in this way. In the +middle was a large head of Medusa, and the rest +was filled with beautifully-worked scenes illustrating +the pleasures of a pastoral life. It was the custom +of the Count’s family to use the larger portion of the +whole chamber as a dining-room, the smaller as a +ladies’ boudoir. On the rare occasion of some large +entertainment being given, the whole was thrown +into one. +</p> + +<p> +The ladies of the family, of whom we shall hear +more hereafter, had their own apartments at the +western end of the north wing, part of which was +shut off for their occupation and for their immediate +attendants. A covered way connected this with the +portion occupied by the Count. +</p> + +<pb n='43'/><anchor id='Pg043'/> + +<p> +It would be needless to describe the rest of the +villa. It was like the houses of its kind, houses +which the Romans erected wherever they went in as +close an imitation as they could make of what they +were accustomed to at home. +</p> + +<p> +The garden, however, must not be wholly passed +over. Spacious and handsome as it was, it in part +presented a stiff and unnatural appearance, looking, +in fact, somewhat theatrical, as contrasted with the +pastoral sunniness of the landscape. A Roman gardener +had been brought from Rome—one skilled in all +the arts of his craft. It was he who had terraced the +slope with so much regularity, had planted stiff box +hedges—and, above all, it was his taste which led him +to cut and train box and laburnum shrubs into fantastic +imitations of other forms. The poor trees were +forced to abandon their own natural shapes, and to pose +as vases, geometrical figures, and animals of various +kinds. There was even a ship of box surrounded +by a broad channel of water, so that the spectator, +making large demands on his imagination, might +imagine that the little mock vessel was moored on a +still sheet of water. Among the box trees were stone +fountains badly copied from classic models. But +these had not remained in their bare crudity. The +loving British ivy had crept close around them, and +added a grace which the sculptor had failed to give. +The Roman gardener would have liked to banish +<pb n='44'/><anchor id='Pg044'/>this intruder, or to at least train it into the positions +prescribed by horticultural rules, but he had been +bidden to let it run at its own sweet will; and so it +had, and had flourished, well nursed by the soft and +humid atmosphere. +</p> + +<p> +Scattered at regular intervals through the green +were flower-beds stocked with plants, which were +either native to the island, or had been brought +hither with great care from the capital. There were +roses in several varieties, strange-shaped orchids, +which had been found growing wild at lower levels +of the island, and adopted into this civilized garden +to ornament it with their unique beauty. Gay +geraniums and other flowers made throughout the +summer bright patches of colour in striking contrast +to the dark green. +</p> + +<p> +These beds were enclosed by borders. Between +these enclosures were curiously-cut letters of growing +box, which perpetuated—at least for the life-time of +the shrub—the gardener’s own name or that of his +master, or classic titles, to serve as designations for +certain portions of the place. In the midst of the +garden several luxuriant oaks and graceful elms had +been allowed to retain in their native freedom the +shapes into which they had been growing for so +many years. They cast wide shadows, and gave a +softened aspect to the unnatural shapes of the +trained growths. +</p> + +<pb n='45'/><anchor id='Pg045'/> + +<p> +Beyond the floral division of the garden was +another enclosure for pear and apple trees. They +stood on a green sward, soft as velvet, and of a +deeper hue than Italian suns permit to the grass on +which they smile. Here, too, were foreign embellishments. +The monotony of the uniform rows +of fruit trees was varied by pyramids of box, and the +whole orchard was surrounded by a belt of plane +trees. +</p> + +<p> +A circle of oaks had been left at the summit of one +of the terraces. Thick hedges were planted between +the trees, making a dense wall, in which openings +were cut for the view, so that the vista was visible, +like a picture set in a dark frame. This green room, +roofed by the sky, was paved with a mosaic of the +bright coloured chalk from the cliffs at the western +end of the island, and contained an oblong basin of +water shaped like a table. The water flowed +through so gently that the surface always seemed +at rest, and yet never grew warm. Couches were +placed at this fountain table, and from time to time +repasts were served here, certain viands being placed +in dishes shaped like swans or boats, which floated +gracefully on the watery surface. The more solid +meats were placed on the broad marble edges of the +basin. +</p> + +<p> +This sylvan retreat seemed made for a meeting +of naiads and nereids. In short, the spot was so +<pb n='46'/><anchor id='Pg046'/>sheltered, the outlook over sea and land both near +and across the strait so fair, that one could well +believe even Pliny’s famed Tuscan garden, which +may have suggested some features of this British +one, was not more happily placed. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="5" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='47'/><anchor id='Pg047'/> +<index index="toc" level1="V. Carna"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="V. Carna"/> +<head>CHAPTER V.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">CARNA.</hi></head> + +<p> +When Ælius had come, some eighteen years before +the beginning of our story, to take up his command +on the coast of Britain, he had brought with him +his young wife. This lady, always delicate in +health, had not long survived her transplantation to +a northern climate. Six months after her arrival in +Britain she had died in giving birth to a daughter. +The child was entrusted to the care of a British +woman, wife of the sailing master of one of the +Roman ships, who had reared her together with her +own daughter. When little Ælia was but a few +weeks old her foster-mother had become a widow, +her husband having met with his death in a desperate +encounter with one of the Saxon cruisers. This +misfortune had been followed by another, the loss of +her two elder children, who had been carried off by +a malarious fever. The widow, thus doubly bereaved, +had thankfully accepted the Count’s offer that she +<pb n='48'/><anchor id='Pg048'/>should take the post of mother of the maids in his +household. Her foster-daughter, a feeble little thing, +whom she had the greatest difficulty in rearing, was +as dear to her as was her own child, and the new +arrangement ensured that she should not be separated +from her. For ten years she was as happy +as a woman who had lost so much could hope to be. +She had the pleasure of seeing her delicate nursling +pass safely through childhood, and grow into a +handsome, vigorous girl. Then her own call came; +and feeling that her earthly work was done, she had +been glad to meet it. The Count, who was a frequent +visitor to her deathbed, had no difficulty in promising +her that the two children should never be separated. +Indeed he could not have divided the pair even had +he wished. Every wish of the ten-year-old Ælia +was as a law to him, and Ælia would have simply +broken her heart to lose her playmate and sister +Carna. +</p> + +<p> +The two friends were curiously unlike in person +and disposition. Ælia was a Roman of the Romans. +Her hair was of a shining blue-black hue, and so abundant +that when unbound it fell almost to her knees. +Her black eyes, soft and lustrous in repose, and +shaded with lashes of the very longest, could give an +almost formidable flash when anything had roused +her to anger. Her complexion was a rich brown, +relieved by a slight ruddy tinge; her features regular, +<pb n='49'/><anchor id='Pg049'/>less delicately carved, indeed, than the Greek type, +but full of expression, which was tender or fiery, +according to her mood. Her figure was somewhat +small, but beautifully formed. If Ælia was unmistakably +Roman, Carna showed equally clearly one of +the finest British types. She was tall, overtopping her +companion by at least a head; her hair, which fell in +curls about her shoulders, was of a glossy chestnut; +her eyes of the very deepest blue; her complexion, +half-way between blonde and brunette, mantled with +a delicate colour, which deepened, when her emotions +were touched, into an exquisite blush; her forehead +was somewhat low, but broad, and with a rare +promise both of artistic power and of intelligence; +her nose would have been pronounced by a casual +observer to be the most faulty feature in her face; +and it is true that its outline was not perfect. But +the same observer, after a brief acquaintance, would +probably have retracted his censure, and owned that +this feature suited the rest of her face, and would have +been less charming if it had been more perfect. Ælia +was impulsive and quick of temper, honest and affectionate, +but not caring to go below the surface of +things, and without a particle of imagination. Carna, +on the other hand, seemed the gentlest of women. +Those blue eyes of hers were ready to express affection +and pity; but no one—not even Ælia, who could +be exceedingly provoking at times—had ever seen a +<pb n='50'/><anchor id='Pg050'/>flash of anger in them. But her nature had depths +in it that none suspected to be there; it was richly +endowed with all the best gifts of her Celtic race. +She had a world of her own with which the gay +Roman girl, whom she loved so dearly, and with +whom she seemed to share all her thoughts, had +nothing to do. Music touched her soul in a way of +which Ælia, who could sing very charmingly, and +play with no little expression on the <foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>cithara</foreign>, had no +conception. And though she had never written, or +even composed, a verse, and possibly would never +write or compose one, she was a poetess. At present +all her soul was given to religion, religion full of the +imagination and enthusiasm which has made saints +of so many women of her race. The good British +priest, to whose flock she belonged, a worthy man +who eked out his scanty income<note place="foot">The British bishops were notoriously poor, and their clergy +were doubtless still more slenderly provided for.</note> by working a small +farm, was perplexed by her enthusiasm. She was not +satisfied with the duties of adorning the little church +where he ministered, and its humble altar-cloths +and vestments, by the skill of her nimble fingers, +of aiding the chants with the rich tones of her beautiful +voice, of ministering to the sick. She performed +these, indeed, with devotion, but she demanded more, +and the good man did not know how to satisfy her. +In addition to her other gifts Carna had that of being +<pb n='51'/><anchor id='Pg051'/>a born nurse. It was her first impulse to fly to the help +of anything—whether it was man, or beast, or bird—that +was sick or hurt, just as it was Ælia’s impulse, +though she mastered it at any strong call of duty, to +avoid the sight of suffering. She had now heard that +a prisoner had been brought in desperately wounded, +and she could not rest till she knew whether she +could do anything for the poor creature’s soul or +body. Ælia was as scornful as her love for her foster-sister +allowed her to be. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My dearest Carna,</q> she cried, <q>what on earth +can make you trouble yourself in this fashion about +this miserable creature? They are the worst plagues +in this world, these Saxons, and it would be a blessing +to the world if it were well quit of the whole race +of them! A set of pagan dogs!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, sister,</q> said Carna, her eyes brimming with +tears, <q>that is the worst of it. A pagan, who has +never heard of the Blessed Lord, and now, they say, +he is dying! What shall we do for him?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But surely,</q> returned the other, <q>he is no +worse off than his threescore companions who went +to the bottom the other day.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>God be good to them,</q> said Carna, <q>but then +we did not know them, and that seems to make a +difference. And to think that this poor creature +should be so near to the way and not find it. But I +must go and see him.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='52'/><anchor id='Pg052'/> + +<p> +<q>It will only tear your poor, tender heart for no +purpose. You had far better come and talk to +father.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Carna was not to be persuaded, but hurried to the +chamber to which the wounded man had been borne. +</p> + +<p> +It was evident at first sight that the end was not +far off. The dying Saxon lay stretched on a rude +pallet. He was a young man, who could scarcely +have seen as many as twenty summers, for the down +was hardly to be seen on his upper lip and chin. +His face, which was curiously fair for one who had +followed from infancy an outdoor life, was deadly +pale, a pathetic contrast with the red-gold hair which +fell in curly profusion about it. His eyes, in which +the fire was almost quenched, were wide open, and +fixed with an unchanging gaze upon a figure that +stood motionless at the foot of the bed. This was +his brother, who had been permitted by the humanity +of the Count to be present. They had been exchanging +a few sentences, but the dying man was +now too far gone to speak, and the two could only +look their last farewell to each other. It was a pitiful +thing to see the twins, so like in feature and form, +but now so different, the one, prisoner as he was, full +of life and strength, the other on the very threshold +of death. +</p> + +<p> +By the side of the wounded man stood the household +physician, a venerable-looking slave, who had +<pb n='53'/><anchor id='Pg053'/>acquired such knowledge of medicine and surgery +as sufficed for the treatment of the commoner +ailments and accidents. This case was beyond his +skill, or indeed the skill of any man. He could do +nothing but from time to time put a few drops of +cordial between the sufferer’s lips. Next to the +physician stood the priest, and his skill, too, seemed to +be at fault. A messenger, sent by Carna, had warned +him that a dying man required his ministrations, but +had added no further particulars, and the worthy +man, who was busy at the time in littering down his +cattle, had hastily changed his working dress for his +priestly habiliments, and had come ready, as he +thought, to administer the last consolations of the +Church to a dying Christian. The case utterly perplexed +him. He had tried the two languages with +which he was familiar, and found them useless. No +one had been able to understand a single word of the +dialogue which had passed between the brothers. +The dying stranger was as hopelessly separated from +him and the means of grace that he could command +as if he had been a thousand miles away. +He could not even venture—for his theology was of +the narrowest type—to commend to the mercy of God +the passing soul of this unbaptized heathen. +</p> + +<p> +Carna understood the situation at a glance. She +saw death in the Saxon’s face; she saw the hopeless +perplexity in the expression of the priest. +</p> + +<pb n='54'/><anchor id='Pg054'/> + +<p> +<q>Father,</q> she cried, <q>can you do nothing, nothing +at all for this poor soul?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My daughter,</q> said the priest, <q>I am helpless. +He knows nothing; he understands nothing.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Can you not baptize him?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Baptize him without a profession of repentance, +without a confession of faith! Impossible!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Will you let him perish before your eyes without +an effort to save him?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Child,</q> said the priest, with some impatience in +his tone, <q>I have told you that I am helpless. It +was not I that brought these things about.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The girl cast an agonized look about the room, as +of one that appealed for help, and seized a crucifix +that hung upon the wall. She threw herself upon +her knees by the bedside, and after pressing the +symbol of Redemption passionately to her lips, held +it to the mouth of the dying man. The Saxon, on +his first entrance into the room, had removed his +look from his brother and fixed it steadfastly on this +beautiful apparition. Clad in white from head to +foot, with a golden girdle about her waist, her eyes +shining with excitement, her whole face transfigured +by a passion of pity, she seemed to him a vision from +another world, one of the Walhalla maidens of +whom his mother had talked to him in days gone by. +His lips closed feebly on the crucifix which she held +to them; a smile lighted up his fading eyes, and he +<pb n='55'/><anchor id='Pg055'/>muttered with his last breath <q>Valkyria.</q> The girl +heard the word and remembered without understanding +it. The next moment he was dead, and one of +the women standing by stepped forward and closed +his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +Carna burst into a passion of tears. +</p> + +<p> +<q>He is gone,</q> she cried, amidst her sobs, <q>he +is gone, and we could not help him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The priest was silent. He had no consolation to +offer. Indeed, but that he recognized the girl’s saintliness—a +saintliness to which he, worthy man as he +was, had no pretensions—he would have thought her +grief foolish. But the old physician could not keep +silence. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Pardon me, lady,</q> he said, <q>if I seem to reprove +you. I pray you not to suffer your zeal for the salvation +of souls to overpower your faith. Do you +think that the All-Father does not love this poor +stranger as well as you, nay, better than you can love +him? that He cannot care for him as well? that +you, forsooth, must save him out of His hands? Nay, +my daughter—pardon an old man for the word—do +not so distrust Him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You are right, father, as always,</q> said the girl. +<q>I have been selfish and faithless. I was angry, I +suppose, to find myself baffled and helpless. You +must set me a penance, father,</q> she added, turning +to the priest. +</p> + +<pb n='56'/><anchor id='Pg056'/> + +<p> +The Saxon meanwhile had contrived by his gestures +to make his guards understand that he wished to +take his farewell of his dead brother. They allowed +him to approach the bed. He stooped and kissed the +lips of the dead, and then, choking down the sobs +which convulsed his breast, turned away, seemingly +calm and unmoved. But as he passed Carna he contrived +to catch with his manacled hands one of the +flowing sleeves of her white robe, and to lift the +hem to his lips. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="6" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='57'/><anchor id='Pg057'/> +<index index="toc" level1="VI. The Saxon"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="VI. The Saxon"/> +<head>CHAPTER VI.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE SAXON.</hi></head> + +<p> +It was not easy to know what should be done with +the survivor of the two Saxon captives. The villa +had no proper provision for the safe custody of +prisoners; and the problem of keeping a man under +lock and key, without a quite disproportionate +amount of trouble, was as difficult as it would be in +the ordinary country house of modern times. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I shall send him to the camp at the Great +Harbour,</q> said the Count, a few days after the scene +described in our last chapter. <q>It is quite impossible +to keep him unless we chain him hand and foot, or +set half a dozen men to guard him; and even then +he is such a giant that he might easily overpower +them. At the camp they have got a prison, and +stocks which would hold him as fast as death.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Carna’s face clouded over when she heard the +Count’s determination, but she said nothing. The +lively Ælia broke in— +</p> + +<pb n='58'/><anchor id='Pg058'/> + +<p> +<q>My dear father, you will break poor Carna’s +heart if you do anything of the kind. She is bent +on making a convert of the noble savage. And anyhow, +whatever else she may induce him to worship, +he seems ready, from what I have seen, to worship +her. And besides, what harm can he do? He has +no arms, and he can’t speak a word of any language +known here. If he were to run away he would +either be killed or be starved to death.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, Carna,</q> said the Count, with a smile, +<q>what do you say? Will you stand surety for this +young pagan? Or shall I make him your slave, and +then, if he runs away, it will be your loss?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I hope,</q> said the girl, <q>that you won’t send +him to the camp, where, I fear, they hold the lives +of such as he very cheap.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> replied the Count, <q>we will keep him +here, at all events for the present, and I will give +the bailiff orders to give him something to do in the +safest place that he can think of.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Accordingly the young Saxon was set to work at +the forge attached to the villa, and proved himself a +willing and serviceable labourer. No more suitable +choice, indeed, could have been made. That he was +a man of some rank at home everything about him +seemed to show—nothing more than his hands, +which were delicate, and unusually small in proportion +to his almost gigantic stature. But the +<pb n='59'/><anchor id='Pg059'/>greatest chief among his people would not have +disdained the hammer and anvil. Was not Thor a +mighty smith? And was it not almost as much a +great warrior’s business to make a good sword as to +wield it well when it was made? So the young +man, whose mighty shoulders and muscular arms +were regarded with respect and even astonishment +by his British fellow-workmen, laboured with a will, +showing himself no mean craftsman in the blacksmith’s +art. Sometimes, as he plied the hammer, he +would chant to himself, in a low voice, what sounded +like a war-song. Otherwise he remained absolutely +silent, not even attempting to pick up the few +common words which daily intercourse with his +companions gave him the opportunity of learning. +There was an air of dignity about him which seemed +to forbid any of the little affronts to which a prisoner +would naturally be exposed; his evidently enormous +strength, too, was a thing which even the most +stupid of his companions respected. Silent, self-contained, +and impassive, he moved quietly about his +daily tasks; it was only when he caught a glimpse +of Carna that his features were lighted up for a moment +with a smile. +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: Cedric at the Forge.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig058"/><figure url="images/i_073.jpg" rend="w100"><index index="fig" level1="Cedric at the Forge"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>Cedric at the Forge.</hi></head> +<figDesc>Cedric at the Forge</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +The idea of opening up any communication with +him seemed hopeless, when an unexpected, but still +quite natural, way out of the difficulty presented +itself. An old peddler, who was accustomed to +<pb n='60'/><anchor id='Pg060'/>supply the inmates of the villa with silks and +jewellery, and who sometimes had a book in his +pack for Carna, paid in due course one of his periodical +visits. The old man was a Gaul by birth, a +native of one of the States on the eastern bank of +the Rhine, and in youth he had been an adventurous +trader, extending his journeys eastward and northward +as far as the shores of the Baltic. The +risk was great, for the Germans of the interior +looked with suspicion on the visits of civilized +strangers; but, on the other hand, the profits were +considerable. Amber, in pieces of a size and clearness +seldom matched on the coasts of Gaul and +Britain, and beautiful furs, as of the seal and the +sea-otter, could be bought at very low prices from +these unsophisticated tribes, and sold again to the +wealthy ladies of Lutetia<note place="foot">Lutetia Parisiorum, now Paris.</note> and Lugdunum<note place="foot">Now Lyons.</note> at a very +considerable advantage. In these wanderings +Antrix—for that was the peddler’s name—had +acquired a good knowledge of the language—substantially +the same, though divided into several +dialects—spoken by the German tribes; and, indeed, +without such knowledge his trading adventures +would have been neither safe nor profitable. As he +approached old age Antrix had judged it expedient +to transfer his business from Gaul to Britain. Gaul +<pb n='61'/><anchor id='Pg061'/>he found to be a dangerous place for a peaceable +trader, having lost more than once all the profits of +a journey, and, indeed, a good deal more, by one of +the marauding bands by whom the country was +periodically overrun. Britain, or at least the +southern district of Britain, was certainly safer, and +it was this that for the last ten years he had been +accustomed to traverse, till he had become a well-known +and welcome visitor at every villa and settlement +along the coast. +</p> + +<p> +Here then chance, or, as Carna preferred to think, +Providence, had provided an interpreter; and it so +happened that, whether by another piece of good +fortune, or an additional interposition, his services +were made permanently useful. The old man had +found his journeys becoming in the winter too +laborious for his strength, and it was not very +difficult to persuade him to make his home in the +villa for two or three months till the severity of the +season should have passed. Every one was pleased +at the arrangement. Antrix was an admirable teller +of tales, and his had been an adventurous life, full +of incident, with which he knew how to make the +winter night less long. The Count saw a rare +opportunity, such as had never come to him before, +of learning something about the hardy freebooters +whom it was his business to overawe; and Carna +had the liveliest hopes of making a proselyte, if she +<pb n='62'/><anchor id='Pg062'/>could only make herself, and the message in which +she had so profound a faith, understood. +</p> + +<p> +The young Saxon’s resolution and pride did not +long hold out against the unexpected delight of being +able once more to converse in his own language, and +he soon began to talk with perfect freedom—for, +he had no idea of having anything to conceal—about +his home and his people. He was the son, +they learnt from him, of the chief of one of the Saxon +settlements near the mouth of the Albis.<note place="foot">The Elbe.</note> The people +lived by hunting and fishing, and, more or less, by +cultivating the soil. But life was hard. The settlements +were crowded; game was growing scarce, and +had to be followed further afield every year; the +climate, too, was very uncertain, and the crops +sometimes failed altogether. In short, they could +not live without what they were able to pick up in +their expeditions to richer countries and more temperate +climates. On this point the young Saxon was +perfectly frank. The idea that there was anything +of which a warrior could possibly be ashamed in +taking what he could by the strong hand had evidently +never crossed his mind. To rob a neighbour +or fellow-tribesman he counted shameful—so much +could be gathered from expressions that he let drop; +as to others, his simple morality was this—to keep +what you had, to take what others could not keep. +<pb n='63'/><anchor id='Pg063'/>The Count found him curiously well informed on +what may be called the politics of Europe. He +was well aware of the decay of the Roman power. +Kinsmen and neighbours of his own had made their +way south to get their share in the spoil of the +Empire. Some, he had heard, had stopped to take +service with the enemy; some had come back with +marvellous tales of the wealth and luxury which +they had seen. About Britain itself he had very +clear views. The substance of what he said to the +Count was this: <q>You won’t stop here very long. +My father says that you have been weakening your +fleet and armies here for years past, and that you +will soon take them away altogether. Then we shall +come and take the country. It will hardly be in his +time, he says. Perhaps it may not be in mine. It +is only you that hinder us; it is only you that we +are afraid of. We shall have the island; we must +have it. Our own country is too small and too +barren to keep us.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Of his own adventures the young Saxon had little +to say. This was the first voyage that he and his +brother had taken. Their father was in failing health, +and their mother, who had but one other child, a girl +some ten years younger, had kept them at home, till +she had been unwillingly persuaded that they were +losing caste by taking no part in the warlike excursions +of their countrymen. <q>We had a fairly successful +<pb n='64'/><anchor id='Pg064'/>time,</q> went on the young chief, with the absolute unconsciousness +of wrong with which a hunter might +relate his exploits; <q>took two merchantmen that had +good cargoes on board, and had a right royal fight +with the people of a town on the Gallic coast. We +killed thirty of them; and only five of our warriors +went to the Walhalla. Then we turned homeward, +but our ship struck on a rock near some islands far +to the west,<note place="foot">Probably the Channel Islands, always a dangerous place for +navigation.</note> and had almost gone to the bottom. +With great labour we dragged her ashore, and set to +work repairing her; but our chief smith and carpenter +had fallen in the battle, and we were a long time in +making her fit for sea. This was the reason why +we were going home so late, and also why we +lagged behind our comrades when you were chasing +us. By rights we were the best crew and had the +swiftest ship, but she had been clumsily mended, and +dragged terribly in the water.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Count listened to all this with the greatest +interest, and plied the speaker with questions, all of +which he answered with perfect frankness. He found +out how many warriors the settlement could muster, +what were the relations with their neighbours, whether +there had been any definite plans for a common expedition. +On the whole, he came to the conclusion +that though there was no danger of an overpowering +<pb n='65'/><anchor id='Pg065'/>migration from this quarter such as Western and +Southern Europe had suffered from in former times, +these sea-faring tribes of the East would be an increasing +danger to Britain as years went on. Personally +the prospect did not concern him greatly; +his fortunes were not bound up with the island. Still +he loved the place and its people; it troubled him to +see what dark days were in store for them. And +taking a wider view—for he was a man of large sympathies—he +was grieved to see another black cloud in +an horizon already so dark. Would anything civilized +be left, he thought to himself, when every part of +Europe has been swept by these hosts of barbarians? +</p> + +<p> +Before long another source of interest was discovered +in the young Saxon. The Count happened +to overhear him chanting to himself, and though he +could not distinguish the words, he recognized in the +rhythm something like the camp-songs that he had +often listened to from German warriors in Stilicho’s +camp. Here again the peddler’s services as an interpreter +were put in requisition, and though the old +man’s Latin, which went little beyond his practical +wants as a trader, fell lamentably short of what was +wanted, enough was heard to interest the villa family, +which had a literary turn, very much. What the +young man had sung to himself was an early Saga, +a curious romance<note place="foot">Perhaps something like the early Saxon poem which we +know under the name of Beowulf.</note> of heroes fighting with monsters, +<pb n='66'/><anchor id='Pg066'/>as unlike as can be conceived to anything to be found +in Roman poetry—verse in its rudest shape, but still +making itself felt as a real poet’s work. +</p> + +<p> +Lastly, Carna, now that she had found a way of +communicating her thoughts, threw herself with +ardour into the work of proselytizing the stranger. +Here the peddler was more at home in his task as +interpreter. Carna used the dialect of South Britain, +with which he was far more familiar than he was with +Latin—it differed indeed but little from his native +speech. The topics too were familiar, for he had +been brought up in the Christian faith, and though he +scarcely understood the girl’s zeal, he was quite +willing to help her as much as he could. +</p> + +<p> +Carna found her task much more difficult than she +had expected. She had thought in her simple faith +that it would be enough for her to tell to the young +heathen the story of the Crucified Christ for him to +fall down at once and worship. He listened with +profound attention and respect. This, perhaps, he +would have accorded to anything that came from her +lips; but, beyond this, the story itself profoundly +interested him. But it must be confessed that there +was a good deal in it which did not commend itself +to his warrior’s ideal of what the God whom he could +worship should be. He was a soldier, and he could +scarcely conceive of anything great or good that +was outside a soldier’s virtues. The gods of his own +<pb n='67'/><anchor id='Pg067'/>heaven, Odin and Thor and Balder, were great conquerors, +armed with armour which no mortal blow +could pierce, wielders of sword and hammer which +were too heavy for any mortal arm to wield. He +could bow down to them because they were greater, +immeasurably greater than himself, in the qualities +and gifts which he most honoured. Now he was +called upon to receive a quite different set of ideas, to +set up a quite different standard of excellence. The +story of the Gospels touched him. It roused him +almost to fury when he heard how the good man who +had gone about healing the sick and feeding the hungry +had been put shamefully to death by His own +countrymen, by those who knew best what He had +done. If Carna had bidden him avenge the man +who had been so ungratefully treated, he would have +performed her bidding with pleasure. But to worship +this Crucified One, to depose for Him Odin, Lord of +Battles—that seemed impossible. +</p> + +<p> +Still he was impressed, and impressed chiefly by +the way in which the preacher seemed to translate +into her own life the principles of the faith which she +tried to set forth to him. She had told him that this +Crucified One had died for him. He could not understand +why He should have done so, why He should +not have led His twelve legions of angels against the +wicked, swept them off from the face of the earth, +and established by force of arms a kingdom of justice. +<pb n='68'/><anchor id='Pg068'/>Still the idea of so much having been given, so much +endured for his sake touched him, especially when he +saw how passionately in earnest was this wonderful +creature, this beautiful prophetess, as, with the German +reverence for women, he was ready to regard +her, how eager she was to do him good, how little, as +he could not but feel, she thought of herself in comparison +with others. +</p> + +<p> +As long as Carna dwelt on these topics she made +good way; when she wandered away from them, as +naturally she sometimes did, she was not so successful. +One day it unluckily occurred to her that she +would appeal to his fears. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Do not refuse to listen,</q> she said to him, <q>for if +He is infinitely good to those who love Him, He can +also be angry with those who love Him not.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What will He do with them?</q> asked the young +Saxon. +</p> + +<p> +<q>He will send them to suffer in everlasting fire.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah!</q> answered the youth, <q>I have heard from +our wise men of such a place into which Odin drives +cowards, and oath-breakers, and such as are false to +their friends. But they say it is a place of everlasting +cold, and this indeed seems to me to be worse +than fire.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes,</q> said Carna, <q>there is such a place of torment, +and it is kept not only for the wicked, as you +say, but for all who do not believe.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='69'/><anchor id='Pg069'/> + +<p> +<q>Will the Lord Christ then banish thither all who +do not own Him as their Master, and call themselves +by His name?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes—and think how terrible a thing it would be +if it should happen to you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And that is why you are so anxious to persuade +me?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And why you were so troubled about my brother +when you could not make him understand before he +died?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes. Oh! it was dreadful to think he should +pass away when safety was in his reach.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And you think that the Lord Christ has sent him +to that place because he did not know Him?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I fear that it must be so.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Then He shall send me also. For how am I +better because I have lived longer? No—I will be +with my brother, whom I loved, and with my own +people.</q> +</p> + +<p> +And neither for that day nor for many days to come +would he speak again on this subject. Carna was +greatly troubled; but she began to think whether +there might not be something in what the young man +had said. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="7" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='70'/><anchor id='Pg070'/> +<index index="toc" level1="VII. A Pretender’s Difficulties"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="VII. A Pretender's Difficulties"/> +<head>CHAPTER VII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">A PRETENDER’S DIFFICULTIES.</hi></head> + +<p> +Our story must now go back a little, and take up +the course of events at the camp, where the look +of affairs was not promising. The donative promised +by Constantine on the day of his election had been +paid, but this had been done only after the greatest +exertions in wringing money out of unlucky traders, +farmers, and even peasants, who had been already +squeezed almost dry. All that had any coin left +were beginning to bury it,<note place="foot">Possibly the reason why so much buried money belonging +to the later days of the Roman occupation of Britain has been +found.</note> and though the collectors +of taxes, or loans, or gifts, or whatever else the +frequent requisition of money might be called, had +ingenious ways of discovering or making their owners +give up these hoards, it was quite evident that very +little more could be got out of Britain. The military +chest meanwhile was becoming alarmingly empty, +<pb n='71'/><anchor id='Pg071'/>and though money was still found somehow for the +larger camps, some of the less important garrisons had +been left for months with almost nothing in the way of +pay. What was to be done was a pressing question, +which had to be answered in some way within a few +days. If it was not so answered, it was tolerably +plain that Constantine would meet the fate of Marcus +and Gratianus. The Emperor himself (if we are to +give him this title) seemed to be very little troubled +by the prospect, and remained stolidly calm. His +elevation indeed had made the least possible difference +to him. He drank a better kind of wine, and +perhaps a little more—for his cups had been limited +by his means—but he did not run into excess. He was +still the same simple, contented, good-natured man +that he had always been. But his sons were of +another temper, though curiously differing from each +other. Constans the elder was an enthusiast, almost +a fanatic, a man of strong religious feeling, who +would have followed the religious life if it had been +possible, and who now, finding himself possessed of +power, had schemes of using it to promote his +favourite schemes. Julian the younger had ambitions +of a more commonplace kind. But both the brothers +were agreed in holding on to the power that had +been so strangely put into their father’s hands, +hands which, as he had very little will of his own, +were practically theirs. +</p> + +<pb n='72'/><anchor id='Pg072'/> + +<p> +A council was held at which Constantine, his two +sons, and three of the officers of highest rank were +present, and the urgent question of the day was +anxiously debated. +</p> + +<p> +Julian began the discussion. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The army,</q> he said, <q>must be employed, or it +will find mischief to do at home which all of us will +be sorry for.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I have some one to introduce to your Majesty,</q> +said one of the officers present, <q>who may have +something to say which will influence your decision. +He is from Ierne,<note place="foot">Ireland. A similar incident is mentioned by Tacitus in his +life of Agricola. An Irish petty king, driven from his throne +by internal troubles, came to the Roman general and promised, +if he were restored, to bring the island under the dominion of +Rome. This is the first notice of the country that occurs in +history.</note> and brings me a letter from the +commander at Uriconium. He came last night.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Let him enter,</q> said Constantine, with his usual +dull phlegmatic voice. +</p> + +<p> +The tribune went to the door of the chamber, and +despatched a message to his quarters. In a few +minutes the stranger was introduced into the council. +He was a man verging upon middle age, somewhat +short of stature, with a great bush of fiery-red hair, +which stood up from his head with a very fierce look, +a long, shaggy beard of the same colour, eyes of the +deepest blue, very bright and piercing, but with a +<pb n='73'/><anchor id='Pg073'/>wandering and unsteady look in them, and a ruddy +complexion which deepened to an intense colour on +his cheek bones and other prominent parts of his face. +Around his neck he wore a heavy twisted collar of +remarkably red gold. Massive rings of the same +metal adorned his fingers. His dress was of undyed +wool, and very rudely shaped, a curious contrast +to the richness of his ornaments. He was followed +into the room by an interpreter, a young native of +Northern Britain, who had been carried off by Irish +pirates from one of the ecclesiastical schools. He +had been taught Latin before his captivity, and, while +a captive, had made himself acquainted with the Irish +language, which indeed did not differ very much +from that spoken in Britain.<note place="foot">This was exactly what had happened not many years before +to St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland.</note> His task of interpreter +was not by any means an easy one to fulfil. The +Prince broke out into a rapid torrent of complaint, +invective, and entreaty, which left the young man, +who was not very expert in either of the languages +with which he had to deal, hopelessly behind. Then +seeing that he was not followed, he turned on his +unlucky attendant and dealt him a blow upon the +ear that sent him staggering across the room. Then +he seemed to remember himself, and began to tell +his story again at a more moderate rate of speed, +though he still from time to time, when he came to +<pb n='74'/><anchor id='Pg074'/>some peculiarly exciting part in the tale of his +wrongs, broke out into a rapid eloquence that +baffled all interpretation. The upshot of the story +was this— +</p> + +<p> +He was, or rather had been, a small king in South-eastern +Ireland,<note place="foot">Probably somewhere near Wexford.</note> the eldest of four brothers, having +succeeded his father about ten years before. There +had been a quarrel about the division of some +property. The Prince was a little obscure in his +description of the property; indeed it was a matter +about which he was shrewd enough to say as little +as possible. But his hearers had no difficulty in +presuming that it consisted of spoil carried off from +Britain. The quarrel had come to blows. All the +nation had been divided into parties in the +dispute. Finally he had been compelled by his ungrateful +subjects to fly for his life. Would the +Emperor bring him back? He was liberal, even +extravagant, in his offers. He would bring the +whole island under his dominion. (As a matter of +fact, his dominions had never reached more than +seventy miles inland, and he had contrived to make +himself so hated during his ten years’ reign that he +had scarcely a friend or follower left.) And what an +island it was! There never was such a place. The +sheep were fatter, the cows gave more milk than in +any other place in the whole world. And there was +<pb n='75'/><anchor id='Pg075'/>gold too, gold to be had for the picking up; and +amber on the shores, and pearls in the rivers. In +short, it was a treasure-house of wealth, which was +waiting for the lucky first-comer. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Are you a Christian?</q> asked Constans. +</p> + +<p> +The exiled chief would have gladly said that he +was, and indeed for a moment thought of the +audacious fiction that his attachment to the new +faith had been one of the causes of his expulsion. +He was, in fact, a savagely bigoted pagan, and had +dealt very roughly with one or two missionaries who +had ventured into his neighbourhood. But he +reflected that the falsehood would infallibly be +detected, and would inevitably do him a great deal +of harm. +</p> + +<p> +<q>No!</q> he exclaimed; <q>would that I were. But +there is nothing that I so much desire if only I +could attain to that blessing. But I promise to be +baptized myself, and to have every man, woman, and +child within my dominions baptized within a month, +if you will only bring me back to them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Even Constans thought this zeal to be a little +excessive. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And how many men can you bring into the +field?</q> asked the more practical Julian; <q>and what +money can you find for the pay of the soldiers?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The stranger was taken aback at these direct +questions. +</p> + +<pb n='76'/><anchor id='Pg076'/> + +<p> +<q>All my subjects, all my treasures are yours,</q> he +said, after a pause. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I don’t believe,</q> said one of the tribunes in Latin +to Julian, <q>that he has any subjects besides this +wretched interpreter, or any treasure beyond what he +wears on his neck and his fingers.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Shall he withdraw?</q> said Julian to his father. +</p> + +<p> +Constantine, who never spoke when he could avoid +speaking, answered by a nod, and the Irish Prince +withdrew. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Let us have nothing to do,</q> said the practical +Julian, <q>with these Irish savages. They may cut +their own throats, and welcome, without our helping +them. The men, too, would rebel at the bare +mention of Ierne. It is out of the world in their +eyes, and I think they are about right. And as to +the gold and pearls, I don’t believe in them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Perhaps you are right,</q> <anchor id="corr076"/><corr sic="asid">said</corr> Constans; <q>but it +would be a great work to bring over a new nation to +the orthodox faith.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Julian answered with a laugh. <q>My good brother, +we are not all such zealous missionaries as you. I +am afraid that preaching is not exactly the work +which our friends the soldiers are looking out for.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What does your Majesty say to an expedition to +chastise those thieving Picts? They grow more +insolent every day.</q> +</p> + +<p> +This was the suggestion of one of the tribunes. +</p> + +<pb n='77'/><anchor id='Pg077'/> + +<p> +<q>What is to be got?</q> was Julian’s answer. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Glory!</q> answered the tribune. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Glory! What is that?—the men want pay and +plunder. These bare-legged villains haven’t so much +as a rag that you can take from them, and they have +a shrewd way of giving at least as many hard blows +as they take. No!—we will leave the Picts alone, +and only too thankful if they will do the same for us!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The Count of the Shore has not yet taken the +oath to his Majesty,</q> said an officer who had not +spoken before. <q>We might give some employment +to the men in bringing him to reason.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Constantine spoke for the first time since the +council had begun its sitting—<q>The Count is a +good man and does his business well. Leave him +alone.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Other suggestions were made and discussed without +any sensible approach to a conclusion, and the +council broke up, but with an understanding that it +should meet again with as little delay as possible. +</p> + +<p> +On the afternoon of that very day an incident +occurred which convinced every one—if further conviction +was needed—that delay would certainly be +fatal. +</p> + +<p> +A party of soldiers was practising javelin throwing, +and Constantine, who had been particularly expert +in this exercise in his youth, stood watching the +game. He had stepped up to examine the mark +<pb n='78'/><anchor id='Pg078'/>made by one of the weapons on the wooden figure +at which the men were throwing, when a javelin +passed most perilously near his head and buried itself +in the wood. It could not have been an accident; +no one could have been so recklessly careless as to +throw under the circumstances. Constantine was +as imperturbable as usual. Without a sign of fear +or anger, he said, <q>Comrades, you mistake; I am +not made of wood,</q> and, signing to his attendants, +walked quietly away. The incident, however, made +a great impression upon him, and a still greater +upon his sons. +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: Javelin throwing.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig078"/><figure url="images/i_095.jpg" rend="w80"><index index="fig" level1="Javelin throwing"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>Javelin throwing.</hi></head> +<figDesc>Javelin throwing</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +The consultation was renewed and prolonged far +into the night, and, as no conclusion was reached, +continued on the next day. About noon an unexpected +adviser appeared upon the scene. +</p> + +<p> +A message was brought into the council-chamber +that a merchant from Gaul had something of importance +to communicate to the Emperor. The +man was admitted, after having been first searched +by way of precaution. His dress was sober in cut +and colour, and he had a small pack such as the +wandering dealers in jewellery and similar light +articles were accustomed to carry. Otherwise he +was little like a trader; indeed, it did not need a very +acute or practised hand to detect in him a soldier’s +bearing, and even that of one who was accustomed +to command. +</p> + +<pb n='79'/><anchor id='Pg079'/> +<p> +<q>You have something to tell us?</q> said Julian. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, I have,</q> said the stranger, <q>but let me first +show you my credentials.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He spoke in passable Latin, but with a decided +accent, which, strongly marked as it was, was not +recognized by any of those present. At the same time +he produced from a silken purse, which he wore like +a girdle round his waist, a small square of parchment. +It was a letter written in a minute but very +clear hand, and it had evidently been put for the +security of the bearer, who could thus more easily +dispose of it in case of need, into the smallest +possible compass. This was handed to Constantine, +who, in turn, passed it on to his elder son Constans, +he being the only one present who could read and +write with fluency. It ran thus: +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2; margin-bottom: 2"> +<q><hi rend='italic'>Alaric, the son of Baltha, King of the Goths, +Emperor of the World, to Marcus, Emperor of Britain +and the West, greeting.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +A grim smile passed over Constantine’s face as he +heard this address. He muttered to himself, +<q><q>Marcus,</q> indeed! Those who write to the +Emperor of Britain must have speedy <anchor id="corr079"/><corr sic="(quote mark missing)">letter-carriers.</corr></q> +The letter proceeded thus: +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2; margin-bottom: 2"> +<q><hi rend='italic'>I desire friendship and alliance with the nations who +are wearied and worn out with the oppressions and cruelties +of Rome, and for this purpose send this present by my +<pb n='80'/><anchor id='Pg080'/>trusty kinsman and counsellor Atualphus, to you who are, +I understand, asserting against the common tyrant of the +world the liberty of Britain and the West. I have not +thought it fit to trust more to writing, but commend to +you the bearer hereof, the aforesaid Atualphus, who is +acquainted with the mind and purpose of myself and of +my people, and with whom you may conveniently concert +such plans as may best serve our common welfare. Farewell. +Given at my camp at Æmona.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Marcus is no more,</q> said Julian. <q>He was +unworthy of his dignity. You are in the presence of +the most excellent Constantine, Emperor of Britain.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It matters not,</q> said the Goth, with a haughty +smile. <q>My lord the king will treat as willingly +with one as with another, so he be an enemy of +Rome!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And what does he propose? What would he +have us do?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Make common cause with him against Honorius +and Rome.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What shall we gain thereby?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Half of the Empire of the World.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>How shall that be?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The King will march into Italy and attack the +Emperor in his own land. The Emperor will withdraw +all the legions that he yet controls for his own +defence. With them the King will deal. Then +<pb n='81'/><anchor id='Pg081'/>comes your opportunity. What does it profit you to +remain in this island, where nothing is to be won +either of glory or of riches. Cross over into Gaul +and Spain, which, wearied with oppression and +desiring above all things to throw off the Roman +yoke, will gladly welcome you. Your Cæsar shall +reign on this side of the Alps and the Pyrenees. +The future may bring other things, but that may +suffice for the present.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The plan, so bold, and yet, it would seem, so +feasible, and presenting a ready escape out of a +situation that seemed hopeless, struck every one +present with a delighted surprise. Even the phlegmatic +Constantine was roused. <q>It shall be done,</q> +he said. +</p> + +<p> +Some further conversation followed, which it is +not necessary to relate. Ways and means were +discussed. Questions were asked about the strength +and temper of the forces in Gaul and Spain, about +the feeling of the towns, and a hundred other matters, +with all of which Atualphus showed a curiously +intimate knowledge. When the Goth retired from +the council, he left very little doubt or hesitation +behind him. +</p> + +<p> +<q>They are heretics—these Goths,</q> grumbled +Constans; <q>obstinate Arians every one of them, I +told——</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You shall convert them, my brother,</q> answered +<pb n='82'/><anchor id='Pg082'/>Julian, <q>when you are Bishop of Rome. When we +divide the West between us, that shall be your +portion.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It shall be done,</q> said Constantine again, as he +rose from his chair. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="8" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='83'/><anchor id='Pg083'/> +<index index="toc" level1="VIII. The News in the Camp"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="VIII. The News in the Camp"/> +<head>CHAPTER VIII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE NEWS IN THE CAMP.</hi></head> + +<p> +That afternoon a banquet, which was as handsomely +set out as the very short notice permitted, was given +to all the officers in the camp. When the tables +were removed,<note place="foot">With us tables are cleared after a meal; with the Romans +they seem to have been actually removed.</note> Constantine, who had been carefully +primed by his sons with what he was to say, addressed +his guests. His words were few and to the +point. <q>Britain,</q> he said, <q>has been long enough +ruled by others. It is now time that she should +begin herself to rule. It was the error of those who +went before me to be content with the limits of this +island. But here there is not enough to content us. +Beyond the sea, separated from us by only a few +hours’ journey, lie wealthy provinces which wait for +our coming. A kindlier sky, more fertile fields, +richer and fairer cities than ours are there. We +have only to show ourselves, in short, to be both +<pb n='84'/><anchor id='Pg084'/>welcomed and obeyed. Half the victories which we +have won here to no profit over poverty-stricken +barbarians would have sufficed to give us riches even +beyond our desires. Henceforth let us use our arms +where they may win something for us beyond empty +honour and wounds. Follow me, and within a year +you shall be masters both of Gaul and Spain.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The younger guests received this oration with +shouts of applause; visions of promotion and prize-money, +and even of the spoil of some of the wealthy +cities of the mainland floated before them. The older +men did not show this enthusiasm. Many of them +were attached to Britain by ties that they were very +loth to break. They had little to hope, but much to +fear, from a change. Still, they saw the necessity for +doing something; another year such as that which +had just passed would thoroughly demoralize the +army of Britain. Legions that get into the habit +of making emperors and killing them for their pastime +must be dealt with by vigorous remedies, and the +easiest and best of these was active service. In any +case it would have been impolitic to show dissent. +Many feigned, therefore, a joy which they did not +feel, and shouted approval when the Senior Tribune +exclaimed, <q>Comrades, drink to our chief, Constantine +Augustus, Emperor of Britain and the West.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The revel was kept up late into the night, the young +Goth distinguishing himself by the marvellous depth +<pb n='85'/><anchor id='Pg085'/>of his draughts and the equally marvellous strength +of his head. +</p> + +<p> +The Emperor retired early from the scene, and +Constans, who had little liking for these boisterous +scenes, followed his example, as did most of the older +men. One of these, the cheery centurion, who has +been mentioned more than once, we may follow to his +home. +</p> + +<p> +Outside the camp had grown up a village of considerable +size, though it consisted for the most part +of humble dwellings. There were two or three +taverns, or rather drinking-shops, where the soldiers +could carouse on the thin, sour wine of the British +vineyards, or, if the length of their purses permitted, +on metheglin, a more potent drink, made from the +fermentation of honey. A Jew, driven by the restless +speculation of his race, had established himself in a +shop where he sold cheap ornaments to the soldiers’ +wives, and advanced money to their husbands on the +security of their pay. A tailor displayed tunics and +cloaks, and a shoemaker sold boots warranted to +resist the cold and wet of the island climate. There +were a few cottages occupied by the grooms and +stablemen who attended to the horses employed in +the camp, by fishermen who plied their trade in the +neighbouring waters, and other persons of a variety of +miscellaneous employments in one way or other connected +with the camp. But just outside the main +<pb n='86'/><anchor id='Pg086'/>street, at the end nearest to the camp, stood a house +of somewhat greater pretensions. It was indeed a +humble imitation of the Roman villa, being built +round three sides of an irregular square, which was +itself occupied by a grass plot and a few flower beds. +It was to this that the Centurion Decius bent his +steps after the conversation related in the last chapter. +It was evidently with the reluctant step of the +bearer of bad news that he proceeded on his way. +As soon as he entered the enclosure his approach +was observed from within. Two blooming girls, +whose ages may have been seventeen and fifteen +respectively, ran gaily to meet him. A woman some +twenty-five years older, but still youthful of aspect +and handsome, followed at a more sober pace. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What is the matter, father?</q> cried the elder of +the girls, who had been quick to perceive that all was +not right. +</p> + +<p> +The centurion held up his hand and made a signal +for silence. <q>Hush,</q> he said; <q>I have something to +tell you, but it must not be here. Let us go indoors.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Shall the children leave us alone?</q> said the +centurion’s wife, who had now come up. +</p> + +<p> +<q>No,</q> he answered, wearily, <q>let them be with us +while they can,</q> he added in a low voice, which only +the wife’s ears, made keenly alive by affection and +fear, could catch. +</p> + +<p> +The gaiety of the young people was quenched, +<pb n='87'/><anchor id='Pg087'/>for, without having any idea of what had happened, +they could see plainly enough that something was +disturbing their parents; and it was with fast beating +hearts that they waited for his explanation. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Our happy days here are over, my dearest,</q> said +the centurion, drawing his wife to him, and tenderly +kissing her, as soon as they were within doors. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You mean,</q> said she, <q>that the order has come.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes,</q> he answered, <q>we are to leave as soon +as the transports can be collected. The resolution +was made to-day and will be announced to the +army to-morrow. It is no secret, I suppose, or will +not be for <anchor id="corr087"/><corr sic="(single quote mark)">long.</corr></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And where are we to go?</q> cried the elder of the +girls, whose face brightened as the thought of seeing +a little more of the world, of a home in one of the +cities of Gaul, possibly in Rome itself, flitted across +her mind. +</p> + +<p> +The poor centurion changed colour. The girl’s +question brought up the difficulty which he knew had +to be faced, but which he would gladly have put off +as long as he could. +</p> + +<p> +<q>We shall go to Gaul, certainly; where I cannot +say,</q> he answered, after a long pause, and in a +hesitating voice. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, how delightful!</q> cried the girl; <q>exactly +the thing that Lucia and I have been longing for. +And Rome? Surely we shall go to Rome, father? +<pb n='88'/><anchor id='Pg088'/>Are you not glad to hear it, mother? I am sure +that we are all tired of this cold, foggy place.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The mother said nothing. If she did not exactly +see the whole of the situation, she had at least an +housewife’s horror of a move. The poor father moved +uneasily upon his chair. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The legion will go,</q> he said, <q>but your mother +and you——</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, Lucius,</q> cried the poor wife, <q>you do not, +cannot mean that we are not to go with you!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nothing is settled,</q> he replied, <q>it is true; but +I am much troubled about it. <hi rend='italic'>You</hi> might go, though +I do not like the idea of your following the camp; but +these dear girls—and yet they cannot be separated +from you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The unhappy wife saw the truth only too clearly. +If the times had been quiet, she might herself have +possibly accompanied the legion in its march southward; +but even then she could not have taken her +daughters with her, her daughters whom she never +allowed to go within the precincts of the camp, +except on the one day, the Emperor’s birthday, when +all the officers’ families were expected to be present +at the ceremony of saluting the Imperial likeness. +And this had of late been omitted when it was +difficult to say from day to day what Emperor the +troops acknowledged. The centurion had spoken +only too truly; the legion might go, but they must +<pb n='89'/><anchor id='Pg089'/>stay behind. She covered her face with her hands +and wept. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Lucia,</q> cried the elder girl to her sister, <q>we +will enlist; we will take the oath; I should make +just as good a soldier as many of the Briton lads +they are filling up the cohorts with now; though you, +I must allow, are a little too small,</q> she added, ruefully, +as she looked at her sister’s plump little +figure, too hopelessly feminine ever to admit the +possibility of a disguise. <q>Cheer up, mother,</q> she +went on, <q>we shall find a way out of the difficulty +somehow.</q> And she threw her arms round the +weeping woman, and kissed her repeatedly. +</p> + +<p> +There was silence for a few minutes, broken at last +by the timid, hesitating voice of the younger girl. +</p> + +<p> +<q>But must you go, father?</q> she said. <q>Surely +they don’t keep soldiers in the camp for ever. And +have you not served long enough? You were in the +legion, I have heard you say, before even Maria was +born.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My child,</q> said the centurion, <q>it is true that +my time is at least on the point of being finished. +Yet I can’t leave the service just now. Just because +I am the oldest officer the Legate counts on me, and +I can’t desert him. It would be almost as bad as +asking for one’s discharge on the eve of a battle. +And besides, though I don’t like troubling your +young spirits with such matters, I cannot afford it. +<pb n='90'/><anchor id='Pg090'/>Were I to resign now I should get no pension, or +next to none. But in a year or two’s time, when +things are settled down, I hope to get something +worth having—some post, perhaps, that would give +me a chance of making a home for you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +A fifth person, who had hitherto taken no part in +the conversation, and whose presence in the room +had been almost forgotten by every one, now broke in, +with a voice which startled the hearers by its unusual +clearness and precision. Lena, mother of the centurion’s +wife, had nearly completed her eightieth +year. Commonly, she sat in the chimney corner, +unheeding, to all appearances, of the life that went +on about her, and dozing away the day. In her +prime, and even down to old age, she had been a +woman of remarkable activity, ruling her daughter’s +household as despotically as in former days she had +ruled her own. Then a sudden and severe illness +had prostrated her, and she had seemed to shrink at +once into feebleness and helplessness of mind and +body. Her daughter and granddaughters tended her +carefully and lovingly; but she seemed scarcely to +take any notice of them. The only thing that ever +seemed to rouse her attention was the sight of her +son-in-law when he chanced to enter the chamber +without disarming. The shine of the steel brought +a fire again into her dim, sunken eyes. It was +probably this that had now roused her; and her +<pb n='91'/><anchor id='Pg091'/>attention, once awakened, had been kept alive by +what she heard. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And at whose bidding are you going?</q> she said, +in a startlingly clear voice to come from one so +feeble; <q>this Honorius, as he calls himself, a feeble +creature who has never drawn a sword in his life! +Now, if it had been his father! He was a man to +obey. He did deserve to be called Emperor. I +saw him forty years ago—just after you were born, +daughter—when he came with his father. A splendid +young fellow he was; and one who would have his +own way, too! How he gave those turbulent Greeks +at Thessalonica their deserts! Fifteen thousand of +them!<note place="foot">Theodosius ordered a massacre at Thessalonica on account +of some offence offered to him by the populace of that city.</note> That was an Emperor worth having!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh! mother,</q> cried her daughter, horrified to +see the old woman’s ferocity, softened, she had +hoped, by age and infirmity, roused again in all +its old strength. <q>Oh! mother, don’t say such +dreadful things. That was an awful crime in +Theodosius, and he had to do penance for it in +the church.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ay,</q> muttered the old woman, <q>I can fancy it +did not please the priests. But why,</q> she went on, +raising her voice again, <q>why does not Britain have +an Emperor of her own?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='92'/><anchor id='Pg092'/> + +<p> +<q>So she has, mother,</q> said the centurion. <q>You +forget our Lord Constantine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Our Lord Constantine!</q> she repeated. <q>Who +is Constantine? Why, I remember his mother—a +slave girl—whom the Irish pirates carried off from +somewhere in the North. Constantine’s father +bought her, and married her. Why should he be +Emperor? I could make as good a one any day out +of a faggot stick.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Peace, dear mother,</q> said the centurion, soothingly, +afraid that her words might have other +listeners. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Why not you,</q> went on the old woman, unheeding; +<q>you are better born.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I, Emperor!</q> cried the centurion. <q>Speak good +words, dearest mother.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> said the old woman, dropping her voice +again, <q>they are poor creatures now-a-days.</q> And +she relapsed into silence, looking again as wholly +indifferent to the present as if the strange outburst +of rage and impatience which her family had just +witnessed had never taken place. +</p> + +<p> +The family discussed the position of affairs anxiously +till far into the night. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And what will happen,</q> said the wife, <q>when the +legions are gone?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>There will be a British kingdom, I suppose; +and, if it were united, it might stand. But it +<pb n='93'/><anchor id='Pg093'/>will not be united. It will be every man for himself.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And how about the Saxons and the Picts? If the +legions hardly protected us from them, how will it be +when they are gone?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The centurion’s look grew gloomier than ever. <q>I +know,</q> he said, <q>the prospect is a sad one. But +I hope that for a year you will be fairly safe; and +after that I shall hope to send for you. Or you +might go over to Gaul. But I hope to see the Count +of the Shore about these matters. He will give me +the best advice. Here, of course, you can hardly +stay, even if you cared to do it; and some place +must be found. Meanwhile, make all the preparations +you can for a move.</q> +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="9" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='94'/><anchor id='Pg094'/> +<index index="toc" level1="IX. The Departure of the Legions"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="IX. The Departure of the Legions"/> +<head>CHAPTER IX.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE DEPARTURE OF THE LEGIONS.</hi></head> + +<p> +The resolution to leave Britain was announced at +a general meeting of the soldiers on the following +day, and was received by it with tremendous enthusiasm. +To most who were present, Gaul seemed a +land of promise. It was from Gaul that almost every +article of luxury that they either had or wished to +have was imported, and some of the necessities of +life, as notably wine, were known to be both better +and cheaper there than in Britain. Comfortable +quarters in wealthy cities, which were ready to be +friendly, or could easily be brought to reason if they +were not; easy campaigns, not against naked Picts, +but against civilized enemies who had something +to lose; and when the time of service was over, a +snug little farm, with corn land, pasture, and vineyard, +and a hard-working native to till it—such were +the dreams which floated through the soldiers’ minds; +and they were ready to go anywhere with the man +<pb n='95'/><anchor id='Pg095'/>who promised to make them into realities. Older +and more prudent men who knew that there were two +sides to the question, and the unadventurous, who +were well content to stay where they were, could not +resist the tide of popular feeling, and concealed, if +they did not abandon, their doubts and scruples. As +money was scarce, the men volunteered to forego +their pay till it could be returned to them with large +interest in the shape of prize-money. They even +gave up to the melting pot the silver ornaments from +their arms and from the trappings of their horses. +The messengers who were sent with the tidings of the +proposed movement to the other camps—which were +now mainly to be found in the southern part of the +island—found the troops everywhere well disposed, +and within a few days every military station was alive +with the stir and bustle of preparations for a move. +</p> + +<p> +One of the most pressing cares of the new leaders +of the army was the securing the means of transport. +There was a great number of merchant ships, indeed, +which could be pressed into the service, and which +would perform it very well if only the passage in the +Channel could be made without meeting opposition. +The question to be considered was whether they +could reckon upon this, or would the fleet, which +was still supposed to acknowledge the authority of +Honorius, prevent them from crossing. The chief +person to be reckoned with in this matter was, of +<pb n='96'/><anchor id='Pg096'/>course, the Count of the Shore, and a despatch was +immediately sent to him. It was the production of +Constans, and ran thus— +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +<q rend="post: none"><hi rend='italic'>Constantine, Emperor of Britain and the West, to +Lucius Ælius, Count of the Saxon Shore, greeting.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend="post: none"><hi rend='italic'>Having been called to Empire by the unanimous voice +of the People and Army of Britain, and desiring to give +deliverance from tyranny and protection from violence to +other provinces besides this my Island of Britain, I purpose +to transport such forces as it may be necessary to use +for this purpose to the land of Gaul. I call upon you +therefore, having full confidence in your loyalty, to give +me such assistance as may be in your power, for the accomplishment +of this end, and promise you, on the other hand, +my favour and protection. Farewell.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-bottom: 2"> +<q><hi rend='italic'>Given at the Camp of the Great Harbour.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +The Count received this communication about ten +days after his arrival at the villa. The writer would +scarcely have been pleased at the comments which +he made as he read it. +</p> + +<p> +<q><q>Constantine, Emperor.</q> How many more Emperors +are we to have in this unlucky island? <q>Of +Britain and the West.</q> And I doubt whether he can +call a foot of ground his own fifty miles from the +camp. <q>To deliver other provinces from oppression +and violence.</q> Why not begin by trying his hand at +home? <q>Full confidence in my loyalty.</q> Truly +<pb n='97'/><anchor id='Pg097'/>valuable praise from so excellent a judge in the +matter. <q>Such assistance as may be in my power.</q> +Well, I should be glad to see the last of this crew of +adventurers and villains; but he sha’n’t have my +ships.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Count’s position indeed was one of singular +difficulty. He had thought it best—indeed he had +found it necessary, if he was to do his own work—to +keep on friendly terms with the usurpers who had +gone before Constantine. It had been quite hopeless +for him to attempt to coerce the legions. If they +chose to make Emperors for themselves, he must let +them do it, so long as they did not interfere with his +liberty as a loyal subject. But this was a different +matter. Crossing over into Gaul meant downright +hostility to the authorities in Italy. How could he +help it forward? And yet how could he prevent it? +He had three ships available. All the others were +laid up for the winter in harbours on the eastern and +south-eastern shores of the island. With these he +might do some damage to the legions in their passage; +but the passage he could not hope to prevent. And +if he did prevent it, what would be his own future relations +with the army? Clearly he could not stay +in Vectis, or indeed anywhere in Britain, for there +was no place which he could hope to hold against a +small detachment of the army. And to go, though +it could easily be done, and would save him a vast +<pb n='98'/><anchor id='Pg098'/>amount of trouble, would be to give up his whole +work, and to leave the unhappy inhabitants of the +coast without protection from the pirates of the East. +After long and anxious deliberation, which he did not +disdain to share with his daughter and Carna, he resolved +on a middle course, by following which he would +neither help nor hinder. The first thing was to seek +an interview with Constantine or his representatives, +and a messenger was accordingly despatched suggesting +a conference to be held on shipboard, under a +flag of truce, off the mouth of the Great Harbour. +</p> + +<p> +The proposition was accepted, and three days afterwards +the conference was held, in the way that the +Count had suggested. Each party brought a single +ship, which was anchored for the greater convenience +of carrying on the conversation, but was perfectly +ready to slip its anchor in case of any threatening of +treachery. The Count’s vessel had the Imperial +standard at its mast-head; Constantine’s, on the other +hand, had no distinguishing characteristic. Both he +and his two sons were present, but the father was as +silent as usual, and the chief spokesman was Julian. +</p> + +<p> +The Count was very brief in his greetings, and indicated, +as plainly as he could without saying it in so +many words, that he did not acknowledge the pretensions +of the usurper. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My lord,</q> he said, <q>you have asked me to help +in the transport of your army across the Channel. +<pb n='99'/><anchor id='Pg099'/>Briefly then I have not the means. I have but +three ships ready for sea, and not one of these can +I spare.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The Emperor can command their services,</q> said +Julian. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I have received no instructions from my master,</q> +returned the Count, <q>to use them except for the +protection of the coast.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You have them now,</q> said Julian, <q>and you will +refuse to obey them at your peril.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My commission is made out by Flavius Honorius +Augustus, and I know no other to whom I can yield +obedience.</q> +</p> + +<p> +A pause followed this plain speech; the party on +board with Constantine debated the situation with +some heat, Julian maintaining that the Count must +be brought to reason, the others being anxious to +keep on good terms with him. +</p> + +<p> +<q>A single cohort can bring him to order,</q> cried the +young Prince. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Can drive him out of the villa doubtless,</q> said +the more prudent Constans, <q>but not bring us an +inch nearer getting the ships.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We may at least count on your friendship,</q> said +Constans, Julian retiring sulkily from the negotiations; +<q>you will not hinder the passage.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I have nothing to do with the disposition of the +legions,</q> answered the Count, <q>and, as I said +<pb n='100'/><anchor id='Pg100'/>before, have no instructions except to defend the +shore against the Pirates.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>His Majesty will not be ungrateful,</q> said +Constans. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I owe no duty but to Honorius, and desire no +favour but from him,</q> was the Count’s reply, and the +conference was at an end. +</p> + +<p> +The result was as favourable as Constantine could +have expected. At least no opposition would be +offered. Preparations for the passage were accordingly +hurried on with all possible speed. All the +towns along the coast were put under requisition +for all the shipping that they could furnish, and, for +the most part, were glad enough to answer the call. +Whatever might happen in the future, it would be +at least something to be rid of such troublesome +neighbours. If other legions were to come, they +might be more orderly and well-behaved. If these +were to be the last, perhaps this would be a change +for the better. Every one accordingly exerted himself +to the utmost to supply the demand for transports. +</p> + +<p> +It was a curious medley of vessels that assembled +in the Great Harbour in the late autumn for the +embarkation of the army. Old ships of war that had +lain high and dry from before the memory of man +were hastily pitched over and launched. Merchant +vessels of every kind were there, from the huge hulks +<pb n='101'/><anchor id='Pg101'/>that were accustomed to carry heavy cargoes of metal +from Cornwall, to the light barks that carried on the +trade in wine, olive oil, fruit, and such light goods +between Armorica and Britain; even the fishing +vessels from the villages along the coast were pressed +into the service, and laden to the full, sometimes even +to a dangerous depth, with military material and all +the miscellaneous property with which an army of +twenty thousand men would be likely to be encumbered. +The greater part of this force had been collected +at the Camp of the Great Harbour, which +indeed was overflowing, and more than overflowing, +with troops. But the garrisons that were situated to +the eastward, as at Regnum<note place="foot">Chichester.</note> and Anderida,<note place="foot">Pevensey.</note> were +to join the fleet as it sailed, while those from the +inland and coast stations of South and Eastern +Britain were to make the best of their way to the +Portus Lemanus. This was to be the rendezvous +for the whole force, and the point for commencing +the passage. The longer voyage, direct from the +Great Harbour to the mouth of the Sequana (the +Seine) or the projecting peninsula, now known as +Manche, was dreaded, for the Channel had even a +worse reputation in those days than it has now. It +was arranged, accordingly, that the flotilla should sail +along the coast as far as the Portus Lemanus, and cross +<pb n='102'/><anchor id='Pg102'/>from thence to Bononia.<note place="foot">Boulogne.</note> The first half of November +had passed before the preparations for departure were +completed, and there were some who advised Constantine +to delay his passage till the following spring. +That he knew to be impossible; it was better to run +any risk of storm or shipwreck than to face the winter +with an ill-paid and discontented army. +</p> + +<p> +At early dawn, on the fifteenth of the month, the +embarkation began, the munitions of war, stores, and +other baggage having been already, as far as was +possible, put on board of the heavier transports. +The water-gate of the camp was thrown open, and at +this Constantine, his sons, and his principal officers +took their place. The priest who served the church +within the camp offered a few prayers, and solemnly +blessed the eagle of the Second Legion, which constituted, +as has been said, the main part of the forces +in the camp. When this ceremony was concluded, +Constantine addressed the army. +</p> + +<p> +<q>By this gate in the days of our ancestors Vespasian +led forth the Second Legion, then, as now, one +of the chief ornaments and supports of the Empire, +to execute the judgment of God on the rebellious +nation of the Jews, and to receive before long as his +reward the Empire of Rome. By this gate I lead +you forth, worthy successors as you are of those +<pb n='103'/><anchor id='Pg103'/>who conquered with him, to a service not less +honourable, and certain to receive no less distinguished +a reward. Let my name, which recommended +me to your favour, and this place, already +famous as the starting-point of victorious armies, +be accepted as omens of success. Comrades, follow +me on a march which has for its end nothing less +than the Capitol of Rome.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He then took his seat in a boat manned with a +picked crew, and, amidst shouts of applause from the +assembled soldiers and spectators, was rowed to the +ship, one of the few war galleys of recent construction +that were to be found in the fleet. Then began +the embarkation of the troops. +</p> + +<p> +It was a singular scene. The news had spread +with the greatest rapidity through the whole countryside, +and the native population had crowded to +witness the departure. Every point from which +the sight could be seen was occupied by spectators. +Even the slopes of Portsdown were thickly dotted by +them. Nearer the camp the emotion and excitement +were intense. A regiment that marches out of a town +in which it has been in garrison for a year or two +leaves many sad hearts behind it; even so brief a +space is long enough for the binding of many ties. +But the legions had been almost permanent residents +in Britain, and they were bound to its people by +bonds many and close. And this people was not, it +<pb n='104'/><anchor id='Pg104'/>must be remembered, the self-restrained English +race, so chary of sighs and groans, and so much +ashamed of tears, but a race of excitable Celts, +always ready to express all, and even more, than +they felt. Wives, children, kinsfolk, friends were now +to be left behind, and probably left for ever—for who +could believe that the legions, whose departure had +been threatened so long, could ever come back? +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: The Departure of the Legions.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig104"/><figure url="images/i_123.jpg" rend="w100"> +<index index="fig" level1="The Departure of the Legions"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>The Departure of the Legions.</hi></head> +<figDesc>The Departure of the Legions</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +The embarkation went on. Some of the lighters +could be brought close to the shore, and were +boarded by gangways. To others of heavier +burden the men had to be carried in boats. A +strong guard had been posted to keep the place of +embarkation clear. But the guard was powerless, or +perhaps unwilling—for who could deal harshly with +women and children so situated?—to check the rush +of the excited crowd. Some of the women threw +themselves on their departing husbands and lovers, +clasped them round their necks, or hung to their +knees. Others sat on the shore rocking themselves +to and fro, or frozen by the extremity of their grief into +stillness; some uttered shrill cries; others were sunk +in a speechless despair. Nor were there wanting scenes +of a less harrowing kind. Not a few of the departing +soldiers were breaking other obligations besides those +of the heart. Creditors were to be seen clinging to +debtors whom they saw vanishing out of their sight. +The Jew trader from the village outside the camp +<pb n='105'/><anchor id='Pg105'/>seemed to be in despair. Probably he had secured +himself fairly well against the consequences of an +event which he must have been shrewd enough to +foresee; but to judge from the bitterness and frequency +of his appeals he was hopelessly ruined. He +swore by the patriarchs and prophets that he had +always carried on his business at a loss, and that if +his debts were not now settled in full he should be +reduced to beggary. The tavern-keepers were also +busy, running to and fro, getting, or trying to get, +payment of scores from customers whom they had +trusted. There were others who had something to +sell, some provisions for the voyage, a cloak, or a +mantle, and offered it as a bargain—not, however, +without a margin of profit—to dear friends with +whom they were not likely to have dealings again. +Other noisy claimants for attention were young +Britons who wanted to enlist. For days past these +had been flocking into the camp, and now that their +last chance was about to disappear, they became importunate +in the extreme. The numbers of the legions +could have been almost doubled from these candidates +for service. +</p> + +<p> +Slowly, as ship after ship received its complement +of men, the turmoil on the shore lessened, and about +sunset the embarkation was completed. The weather +was beautifully calm, a light wind blowing from the +land during the day, and even this falling as the +<pb n='106'/><anchor id='Pg106'/>light declined. When the moon rose—the time of +the full had been chosen for the embarkation—the +sea was almost calm. Then, amidst a great cry of +<q>Farewell,</q> from the shore, the fleet slowly moved +down the harbour. All night, making the most of +the favourable weather, it pursued its way along the +coast, being joined as it went by other detachments. +At the Portus Lemanus it found the fleet which +carried the garrisons of the eastern stations ready to +start, and the whole made its way without hindrance +across the Channel to Bononia, having as prosperous +a voyage as had the legions which more than four +hundred and fifty years before Cæsar had brought to +the island. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="10" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='107'/><anchor id='Pg107'/> +<index index="toc" level1="X. Dangers Ahead"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="X. Dangers Ahead"/> +<head>CHAPTER X.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">DANGERS AHEAD.</hi></head> + +<p> +The winter that followed the departure of the legions +was a busy time with the Count. He was now +almost the only representative of Roman power in +Southern Britain, and the villa on the island became +a place of considerable importance. A military force +of some strength was gathered there. Constantine’s +enterprise was not universally popular, and many +had taken any chance that offered itself of escaping +from it. Some had reached, or very nearly reached, +the end of their time of service, and claimed their +discharge; others were known to be loyal to Rome, +and were allowed to retire. Not a few of those who +found themselves without home or employment, and +did not happen to have friends or kinsfolk in Britain, +rallied to the Count. The families, too, of some that +had gone with the legions were glad to claim such +shelter and protection as the neighbourhood of the +villa could give. Among these were the wife and +<pb n='108'/><anchor id='Pg108'/>daughters of the Centurion Decius; the old +mother had steadily refused to accompany them, +and, with an aged dependent of nearly the same age, +continued to occupy the house near the deserted +camp. It was an anxious matter with the Count +what was to be done with these helpless people. +While things were quiet they could live safely, if +not very comfortably, in the neighbouring village; +but if trouble were to come—and there were several +quarters from which it might come—they would +have to be sheltered somewhere in the villa. This +never could be made into a really strong place; but +it might serve well enough for a time and against +ordinary attack. Some of the outbuildings and +domestic offices were fortified as well as the position +admitted; such material of war as could be got was +accumulated, and provisions also were stored. The +most reliable resource, however, was in the ships of +war. These were not, as was usual, drawn up on +the beach for the winter, but were kept at anchor, +ready for immediate use. +</p> + +<p> +Nor were these precautions unnecessary, for indeed, +as we shall see, mischief of a very formidable kind +was brewing, and indeed had been brewing ever +since the departure of the legions, and even before +that event. And it was mischief of a kind of which +it may safely be affirmed that neither the Count nor +any Roman official, had any notion. Britain, to +<pb n='109'/><anchor id='Pg109'/>all appearance, had for many generations been +thoroughly subdued. Any Roman, if he had been +told that there was any danger of rebellion among +the Britons, would have laughed the suggestion to +scorn. The legions, indeed, had often been mutinous +and turbulent, and their generals ambitious and unscrupulous. +The island indeed had gained so bad a +reputation for loyalty to the Empire that it had been +called the mother of tyrants, by <q>tyrant</q> being +meant <q>usurper.</q> But whenever Rome had been +defied, she had been defied by her own troops. The +Britons had enlisted in the rebel armies, but they +had never attempted to assert anything like British +independence. And yet the tradition of independence +and liberty had always been kept alive. The Celtic +race is singularly tenacious of such ideas, and also +singularly skilful in concealing them from those who +are its masters for the time, and the Britons were +Celts of the purest blood. Caradoc<note place="foot">Commonly known by his Romanized name of Caractacus.</note> and Boadicea, +and other heroes and heroines of British independence, +were household words in many families which +were yet thoroughly Roman in spirit and manners. +Just as the Christianized Jews of Spain, though to +all appearances devout worshippers at church, still +clung in secret to the rites of their own worship, so +these loyal subjects of the Empire, as all the world +<pb n='110'/><anchor id='Pg110'/>believed them, cherished in their hearts the memory +of the free Britain of the past and the hope of a free +Britain in the future. And the time was now at +hand when their leaders thought that this hope +might be fulfilled. +</p> + +<p> +The Shanklin Chine of to-day is not a little +different from the Shanklin Chine of fifteen hundred +years ago. It has, so to speak, been subdued and +civilized. Now it is a very pretty and pleasant wood; +then it was an almost impenetrable thicket, a noted +lair of elk and wild boar. Inaccessible, however, as +it seemed to any one who surveyed it from above, +there was for those who were in the secret a way of +approaching its recesses. A little path, the beginning +of which it was almost impossible to discover without +a guide, led up from the sea-end of the ravine to a +hut which had been constructed about half way up +the ascent. It consisted of a single chamber, about +fourteen feet long, ten broad, and not more than +seven in height, and was constructed of roughly-hewn +logs, the interstices of which were filled with +clay. The walls, however, were not visible, for they +were covered with hangings of a dark blue material, +something like serge. The floor was strewn with +rushes. In the centre of the apartment there was a +hearth, having over it an aperture in the roof, not, +however, opening directly into the outer air, by which +the smoke might escape. On this hearth two or +<pb n='111'/><anchor id='Pg111'/>three logs were smouldering with a dull heat which +it would have been easy to fan into flame. There +were two windows unglazed, but closed with rough +wooden lattices. +</p> + +<p> +On three settles, roughly but strongly made of +oak, which, with a rudely-polished slab of wood that +served for table, constituted all the furniture of the +hut, sat three confederates, and behind each stood a +stalwart attendant armed with a wicker shield which +hung from his neck, and a long Gallic sword. The +three chiefs were curiously different in appearance. +One, as far, at least, as dress and manner were concerned, +might have passed anywhere for a genuine +Roman. He was taller, it is true, than the Romans +commonly were; and his complexion, though dark +rather than fair, had a ruddier hue than was often +seen under the more glowing skin of Italy; still he +might have walked down the Sacred Way or the +Saburra<note place="foot">Streets of Rome.</note> unnoticed save as an exceptionally handsome +man, of that fair beauty which the southern +nations especially admire. His hair was carefully +curled and perfumed; his face as carefully shaven, +and showing no trace of beard, moustache, or +whisker. His <anchor id="corr111"/><corr sic="oga">toga</corr> of brilliant white, his long-sleeved +tunic of some dark purple stuff, his elegant +sandals, were all such as a dandy of the Palatine +<pb n='112'/><anchor id='Pg112'/>might have worn. The one thing which would have +been singular in a Roman street was the under-garment +reaching to his knees, which he had +assumed in consideration of the cold and wet of the +insular climate. His fingers were loaded with rings, +one of them a sapphire of unusual size, on which +was engraved a likeness of the feeble features of the +Emperor Honorius; on his left wrist might be seen +a bracelet of gold. +</p> + +<p> +If Martianus—for that was the name of the personage +whom we have been describing—might have +been easily mistaken for a Roman, the chief who sat +facing him on the opposite side of the hearth was as +manifestly a Briton. His hair fell over his shoulders +in long natural curls which suggested no suspicion +of the barber’s or the perfumer’s art. His upper lip +was covered with a moustache which drooped to his +chin. His body was covered with a sleeveless coat +skilfully made of otters’ skins. Both arms were +bare, and were plentifully painted with woad. On his +legs he wore a garment something like the <q>trews</q> +or short trowsers which the Highland regiments sometimes +wear in lieu of the kilt; his feet were enveloped +in rude boots of hide which were laced round his +ankles. His ornaments were a massive chain of +twisted gold, which he wore round his neck, and a +single ring, rudely wrought of British gold, in which +was set a British pearl of immense size but indifferent +<pb n='113'/><anchor id='Pg113'/>hue. He had a Roman name, as he could on occasion +wear Roman costume, and speak the Latin +tongue. In the present company he was known and +addressed by his native name of Ambiorix. +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: British Conspirators.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig112"/><figure url="images/i_133.jpg" rend="w100"><index index="fig" level1="British Conspirators"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>British Conspirators.</hi></head> +<figDesc>British Conspirators</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +The third conspirator had the appearance of a +middle-class provincial. He wore the tunic that +formed part of a Roman’s ordinary dress, but not the +toga, which was replaced by a garment somewhat +resembling a short cloak. But under the garb of a +well-to-do townsman was concealed a very remarkable +career and character. Carausius—for this was +the name by which he was generally known—was one +of the last representatives of the ancient Druid priesthood. +The glory and power of this remarkable caste, +which had once held itself superior to the kings of +Britain, were departed. Indeed, it was almost +dangerous to hold the ancient faith, and practise the +ancient worship. Since the publication of the edict +by which Constantine had made Christianity the +Imperial religion, the adherents of the old religion +had become fewer and feebler. Some of the chiefs +and nobles still held it in secret, or were, at least, +ready to return to it, if it should ever again become +powerful; but its adherents were mostly to be found +among the poorer classes. Even these in the towns +were, in name at least, mostly Christians; it was +only the dwellers in the remoter and wilder parts of +the country that remained faithful. But these +<pb n='114'/><anchor id='Pg114'/>scattered adherents revered the name of Carausius, +who was believed to possess all the wisdom of his +class, and was indeed credited with mysterious +powers over nature and the gift of prophecy. From +the Roman population all this was a secret, and the +secret was remarkably well kept. Carausius was +supposed to be nothing more than an ordinary +farmer. His Roman neighbours would have been +astonished in the last degree if they could have seen +him presiding at one of the Druid ceremonies, in his +white robes curiously embroidered with mystic +figures, his chaplet of golden oak-leaves, and the +headless spear, which was to him what the crozier +was to a Christian bishop. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="11" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='115'/><anchor id='Pg115'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XI. The Priest’s Demand"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XI. The Priest's Demand"/> +<head>CHAPTER XI.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE PRIEST’S DEMAND.</hi></head> + +<p> +<q>So the time has come at last,</q> said Ambiorix; +<q>at last the yoke is broken from off the neck of +Britain. Blessed be the day that saw the legions of +the oppressor depart!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes,</q> replied Martianus, <q>but will they not +return? They have gone before; but have they not +come back? I take it these Romans get too much +out of us to let us go willingly.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I have no fear of their return. If Honorius can +make terms with this Constantine and his army, he +will never send them back here; he wants them too +much at home. He has got King Alaric to reckon +with, and he has been long since drawing every +soldier that he can from the provinces into Italy. +No, depend upon it, at last Britain is <anchor id="corr115"/><corr sic="(quote mark missing)">free.</corr></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Free; yes, if it has not forgotten how to move.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We haven’t all learnt to play the slave,</q> said +Ambiorix fiercely, as he started from his seat. +<pb n='116'/><anchor id='Pg116'/><q>There are some who have not sold their birthright +for the delights of the bath and the banquet, and who +are too proud to ape the manners of their masters.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Peace, my son,</q> interposed the aged priest; +<q>Martianus is not the less able to help the cause of +our country because he seems to be the friend of +those who oppress it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>These are but the wild words of youth, father,</q> +said Martianus. <q>By a wise man they are forgotten +as soon as they are heard. But let us hear what +Ambiorix has to tell us about the force which we +can bring into the field.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The young chief entered into details which it is +impossible to reproduce. Preparations had been +made over nearly the whole of Britain, though the +more northerly parts, owing to the perpetual attacks +of their neighbours the Picts, had little to contribute +in the way of help. Ambiorix knew how many men +could be relied upon in every district; he was acquainted +with the disposition of the representatives +of the chief British families; he knew what each +would want for himself, to whom he would be prepared +to yield precedence, from whom he would +claim precedence for himself. All his views and +calculations were those of a sanguine temper; but +he certainly could show—on paper at least, as we +should say—a very respectable amount of strength. +When he had finished his account of the resources +<pb n='117'/><anchor id='Pg117'/>of Britain, Martianus, who, whatever his faults, had +at least a genuine admiration for ability, held out his +hand— +</p> + +<p> +<q>This is wonderful!</q> he said. <q>You have +a true genius for rule. That you should keep the +threads of so complicated a business all so distinct +is simply wonderful. You certainly give me hopes +that I never had before.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I never doubted for a moment,</q> returned the +young man, <q>but that when this Roman incubus +was removed all would go well. Besides, who is +there to attack us? We have no enemies.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No enemies!</q> replied the other, in a tone of +surprise. <q>Do you forget the Saxons by sea and the +Picts by land.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I believe that neither will trouble us. They are +not our enemies, but the enemies of Rome. They +have harassed—they were quite right in harassing—the +oppressors of the world: they will respect, I am +sure, the liberties of a free people. When Britain +is as independent as they are we shall be friends.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Martianus could not help smiling sarcastically. +<q>That is very fine. One would think that you had +been a pupil in one of the schools of rhetoric which +you so much despise. The most famous of our +declaimers could not have put it better. But I am +afraid that there will be some difficulty in explaining +all this to them.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='118'/><anchor id='Pg118'/> + +<p> +<q>In any case, we can defend ourselves,</q> returned +the young chief, <q>though I do not think that the +need will occur.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Let us hope not,</q> said Martianus, but his tone +was not confident or cheerful. +</p> + +<p> +There were, it may easily be supposed, not a few +other subjects for discussion, and the conversation +lasted for a long time, the young chief showing +throughout such a mastery of details as greatly +impressed his companions. When he had finished +a brief silence followed. It was broken by the +priest. There was a special solemnity in his tone, +which seemed to claim an authority for his utterances, +quite different from the position that he had taken +up while politics or military matters were being discussed. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My children,</q> he said, <q>this is a grave matter. +The weal or woe of Britain for many generations is +at stake. If we fail, we may well be undone for +ever. You cannot enter on so great an enterprise +without the favour of the gods, and the favour of the +gods is not easily to be won. For many years they +have lacked the sacrifice which they most prize. I +myself, though I have completed my threescore years +and ten, have but once only been privileged so to +honour them. The time has come for this sacrifice +to be offered once more. Have I your consent, my +children? But indeed I need not ask. This is a +<pb n='119'/><anchor id='Pg119'/>matter in which I cannot be mistaken, and from +which I cannot go back.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The young chief nodded assent, but said nothing. +He was evidently disturbed. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What do you mean, father?</q> he said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The sacrifice which the gods most prize,</q> answered +the old man, <q>is also that which is most +prized by men. The most perfect offering which we +can present to them is the most perfect creature they +themselves have made. Sheep and oxen may suffice +for common needs; but at such a time as this, when +Britain itself is at stake, we must appease the gods +with the blood of <hi rend='smallcaps'>Man</hi>.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Martianus grew pale. <q>It is not possible,</q> he +stammered. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Not only possible, but necessary,</q> calmly returned +the priest. <q>Our fathers were commonly content +to offer those who had offended against the +laws; but in times of special necessity they chose +the noblest victims. Even our kings have given up +their sons and their daughters. So it must be now.</q> +</p> + +<p> +All this was absolutely horrible to Martianus. +He did not believe indeed in Christianity, but it +had influenced him as it had influenced all the world. +Whether he was at heart much the better may be +doubted. But he was softer, more refined; he shrank +from visible horrors, from open cruelty—though he +could be cruelly selfish on occasion—and from blood<pb n='120'/><anchor id='Pg120'/>shed, though he would not stretch out a finger to save +a neighbour’s life. And what the priest said was as +new and unexpected to him as it was hideous. He +had no idea that this savage faith had survived in +Britain. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Father,</q> he said, <q>such a thing would ruin us. +Such a deed would raise the whole country against +us. A human sacrifice! It is monstrous!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You are right so far,</q> returned the priest, <q>the +country must not know it. Britain is utterly corrupted +by this new faith, a superstition fit only for +women, and children, and slaves; and I don’t doubt +but that it would lift up its hands in horror at this +holy solemnity. But there is no need that it should +know it. It must be done secretly—so much I +concede.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And the victim?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, the days are passed when a Druid could lay +his command on Britain’s noblest, and be obeyed +without a murmur. The victim must be taken by +force, and secretly.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And have you any such victim in your thoughts?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The priest hesitated for a moment; but it was +only for a moment. He resumed in a low voice, +which it evidently cost him an effort to keep steady— +</p> + +<p> +<q>I have not forgotten the necessity of a choice; +indeed for months past it has been without ceasing +in my mind, and now the choice is made. The victim +<pb n='121'/><anchor id='Pg121'/>whom the gods should have is a maiden, beautiful +and pure. She is of noble descent, though her father +was compelled, by poverty and the oppression of the +Roman tyrants, to follow a humble occupation. +Thus she is worthy to be offered. And yet no true +Briton will regret her fate, for she has deserted the +faith of her ancestors for the base superstition of the +Cross.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And her name, father?</q> said both of the conspirators +together. +</p> + +<p> +Again the priest hesitated; a close observer might +even have seen a trace of agitation in that stern +countenance. +</p> + +<p> +<q>It is Carna,</q> he said, after a pause, which raised +the suspense of his hearers almost to agony. <q>It is +Carna, adopted daughter of Count Ælius.</q> +</p> + +<p> +And he looked steadfastly at his companions’ faces, +as if he would have said, <q>I dare you to challenge +my decision.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The two started simultaneously to their feet. Not +long before, young Ambiorix, who was then not yet +possessed by the fanatical patriotism which now +mastered him, had admired her beauty and sweetness +of manner, and had had day-dreams of her as +the goddess of his own hearth. Then a stronger love +had come in the place of the old. It was not of +woman, but of Britain free among the nations, as +she had been before the restless eagles of the South +<pb n='122'/><anchor id='Pg122'/>had found her, that he thought day and night. +Still, he could not calmly hear her doomed to a +horrible death, and for a moment he was ready to +rebel against the sentence of the priest. +</p> + +<p> +The older man was terribly agitated. He had +been for many years on the friendliest footing with +the Count, a frequent guest at his table, almost an +intimate of the house. And Carna was an especial +favourite with him. Her sweetness, her simplicity, +and a pathetic resemblance that she bore to a dead +daughter of his own, touched him on the best side of +his nature. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Priest,</q> he thundered, <q>it shall not be. I would +sooner the whole scheme came to ruin; I would +sooner die. A curse on your hideous worship!</q> +</p> + +<p> +The priest had now crushed down the risings of +human feelings which his training had not sufficed +to eradicate. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You have sworn by the gods,</q> he said, <q>and you +cannot go back. If you do not hesitate to betray +Britain, at least you will not dare to betray yourself. +You know the power I can command. Go back from +your promise to follow my leading, and you are a +dead man. You are faithful?</q> he went on, turning +to Ambiorix. <q>You do not draw back?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The young chief returned a muttered assent. +</p> + +<p> +The older man, meanwhile, was in a miserable condition +of indecision and terror. Unbeliever as he was, +<pb n='123'/><anchor id='Pg123'/>having long since given up the faith of his fathers, +and never accepted the doctrine of the church but with +the emptiest formality, he had not put from his breast +the superstitious fear that commonly lingers when +belief is gone. And he knew that the priest’s +threatened vengeance on himself was no empty boast. +The strength of Druidism had passed, but it still had +fanatics at its command, whose daggers would find +their way sooner or later to his heart. The cold, +cynical look with which he had entered on the +conference had given place to mingled looks of rage, +remorse, and fear. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You must have your own way,</q> he muttered, +sullenly. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My son,</q> said the priest, in a tone which he +made studiously cautious, <q>what is one life in comparison +with the happiness and glory of our nation? +You, I know, would shrink from no sacrifice, and, +believe me,</q> he added in a lower voice, for he had to +play off the two rivals against each other, <q>believe +me, whatever sacrifice you make shall not miss its +reward.</q> +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="12" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='124'/><anchor id='Pg124'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XII. Lost"/><index index="pdf" level1="XII. Lost"/> +<head>CHAPTER XII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">LOST.</hi></head> + +<p> +Carna was known all over the neighbourhood of the +villa as the best and kindest of nurses, always ready +to help in cases of sickness, and able to command +the services of the household physician where +her own medical skill was at fault. It was therefore +with no surprise that the morning after the consultation, +recorded in the last chapter, she was told +that her help was wanted in a case of urgent need. +The woman who had brought the message was a +stranger. She was the daughter, she said, of an old +woman living at Uricum, a small hamlet about four +miles from the villa. She had happened to come the +day before on a visit to her mother, and found her +very ill; they had no medicines in the house, and +indeed should not have known how to use them if +they had. Would the lady come, and, if she thought +proper, bring the physician with her? The place +<pb n='125'/><anchor id='Pg125'/>mentioned was on the limits of the district with +which Carna was acquainted. It could only be +approached by a path through the forest; and the +girl had not visited it more than two or three times +in her life. She had a vague remembrance, however, +of the patient’s name. On sending for the +physician, it was found that he was out, having been +called away, Carna was told, to a case which, he had +said before starting, would probably occupy him for +the greater part of the day. On hearing this, she +made up her mind to start without waiting for him. +The illness was very probably of a simple kind, +though it might be violent in degree. Very likely it +was a case in which the nurse would be more wanted +than the doctor. She provided herself with two or +three simple remedies which she learnt to employ in +the ordinary maladies of the country, of which +feverish colds were the most common, and started, +taking with her as companion and protector a stately +Milesian dog, or mastiff, who was always delighted +to play the part of a guard in her country walks. +Her own pet dog, a long-haired little creature, something +of the Spanish kind, whom she had intended +to leave at home, contrived to free himself from +the custody to which he had been assigned, and +stealthily followed her, cunningly keeping out of +sight till the party had gone too far for him to be +conveniently sent back. He then showed himself +<pb n='126'/><anchor id='Pg126'/>with extravagant gestures of contrition, was tenderly +reproached, pardoned, and allowed to go on. +</p> + +<p> +During the walk the messenger was curiously +silent, and answered all Carna’s questions about +her mother and her affairs in the very briefest fashion. +All that could be got from her was that she lived on +the main land, about twenty miles inland, in a +northerly direction, and that since her marriage, now +twenty years ago, she had seen very little of her +mother. When they reached the outskirts of the +hamlet she pointed out her mother’s house, and, +making an excuse that she had an errand for a neighbour, +disappeared. Carna, seeing nothing but a +certain surliness of temper, possibly only shyness, +in her companion, went on without suspicion. She +reached the house, and knocked at the door. There +was no answer. She knocked again. Still all was +silence. Looking a little more closely at the place +she could see no signs of habitation, no smoke, for +instance, making its way out of the thatch (for +chimneys did not yet exist, at least, in the poorer +dwellings). The next thing was to peep in at the +window, a wooden lattice, which had been left +partially open. The room into which she looked +was perfectly bare. +</p> + +<p> +A suspicion rushed into her mind that she had +been tricked, and that danger of some unknown kind +was at hand. The strange sympathy which often +<pb n='127'/><anchor id='Pg127'/>makes the dog so quick to understand the feelings of +man, made the big mastiff, Malcho, uneasy. With +a low growl, showing uneasiness rather than fear or +anger, he ranged himself at her side. +</p> + +<p> +As she stood considering what was next to be done, +a party of six men, one of whom led a horse, issued +from the wood which bordered the little garden of +the cottage. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Can you tell me where I shall find one Utta, who, +I am told, is sick, and wishful to see me? Can it be +that I have mistaken the house?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Utta, my lady,</q> said one of the party, <q>is not +to be found any more. She died a week since.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But,</q> said Carna, with rising anger, <q>a woman, +who said that she was her daughter, told me, not +more than two hours ago, that she was sick, and +desired to see me. Why have I been brought here +for nothing?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Pardon me, lady,</q> returned the first speaker, in +a tone in which respect and command were curiously +blended, <q>but you have not been brought for nothing. +You have a better work to do than ministering to a +sick old woman.</q> +</p> + +<p> +As he spoke he moved forwards. But he had not +taken two steps before the great dog, who had been +watching the speakers, we might say almost listening +to their talk with the most eager attention, sprang +furiously at him, and laid him prostrate on the ground. +<pb n='128'/><anchor id='Pg128'/>His companions rushed to rescue their leader from +the dog and to seize the girl. They did not accomplish +either of their objects with impunity. The +gallant creature turned from one assailant to +another with a strength and a fury which made him +a most formidable antagonist, and he had inflicted +some frightful wounds before he was made senseless +by repeated blows from the weapons of the assailants. +Nor was Carna overpowered without a struggle. +Weapons she had none, except a little dagger, meant +for use in needlework, which hung at her side; but +she used this not without effect. She clenched her +fist, and dealt two or three blows, of which her +antagonists bore the marks upon their faces for days +to come. Finally she wrenched herself from the +grasp of the assailants as a last resource, and endeavoured +to fly, but it was a hopeless effort. Before +she had run more than a few yards she was overtaken. +Her captors used no more violence than they could +help. Probably had they been less unwilling to hurt +her, she could not have resisted so long. Finding +her so strong and so determined, they were obliged +to bind her hands and feet; but they did this with all +the gentleness compatible with an evident resolve to +make her bonds secure. In the midst of her terror and +distress Carna could not help observing with astonishment +that the cords which they used were of silk. +Then finding herself absolutely helpless, she said— +</p> + +<pb n='129'/><anchor id='Pg129'/> + +<p> +<q>Do not bind me as though I were a slave. On +the faith of a Christian, I will not attempt to +escape.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Lady, we trust you,</q> said the leader of the party, +and at the same time directed one of his companions +to unbind the ropes. <q>Be comforted,</q> he went on; +<q>we do not intend you harm; on the contrary, high +honour is in store for you.</q> +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: The Capture of Carna.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig128"/><figure url="images/i_151.jpg" rend="w100"><index index="fig" level1="The Capture of Carna"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>The Capture of Carna.</hi></head> +<figDesc>The Capture of Carna</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +Carna was scarcely reassured by these mysterious +words, but she had now recovered her calmness. +Summoning up all her courage—and it was far +beyond even the average of a singularly fearless race—she +intimated to her captors that she was ready to +follow them without further delay. They mounted +her upon the horse, which, as has been said, one of +them was holding, and started in a northerly direction. +Two of the party had been so severely injured by +the hound, that they were obliged to stay behind. +One of the others held the bridle of the horse, and +led him forward at an ambling pace; the others +followed behind. +</p> + +<p> +The way of the party lay entirely along rough +forest-paths which seemed from their appearance, +often grown over as they were with branches and +creepers, to be but seldom traversed. Night had +fallen some hours before they reached the northern +coast of the island. Their way had lain in a north-westerly +direction, and they emerged near to the +<pb n='130'/><anchor id='Pg130'/>arm of the sea now known as Fishbourne Creek. +Here they found a rowing boat in waiting. +</p> + +<p> +Carna’s captors now handed over their charge to +the boat party, which was under the command of the +young chief whom we know by the name of Ambiorix. +He received his prisoner with a dignified civility, +made her as comfortable as he could with rugs and +wraps in the stern of the boat, and then gave orders +to start. The journey across the channel, which +we now know as the Solent, occupied some hours, +though the night was calm, and the ebbing tide +mostly in the rowers’ favour, the shortest route not +being taken, but a north-westerly direction still followed. +The morning was just beginning to break +when the coast was reached near the spot where +Lymington now stands. The party hurriedly disembarked, +put the girl on a rough litter which they +had with them in the boat, and carried her to a dwelling +some half-mile inland, and surrounded by the +woods which here almost touched high-water mark. +Carna found a tolerable chamber allotted to her, +where she was waited upon by an elderly woman +who seemed bent on doing everything that she could +for her comfort. The girl was of the elastic temper +which soon recovers itself even under the most +depressing circumstances. She had the wisdom, too, +to feel that, if she was to help herself, she must keep +up her strength to the very best of her power. She +<pb n='131'/><anchor id='Pg131'/>did not refuse the simple but well-cooked meal +which her attendant served to her, after she had +enjoyed the refreshment of a bath. And then overpowered +by the fatigue of a journey which had lasted +not much less than twenty-four hours, she sank into +a deep sleep. +</p> + +<p> +It was dark when her attendant gently roused her +and told her that in an hour she would be required +to resume her journey, in which, as Carna heard +with some pleasure, she was herself to be her companion. +A start was made about three hours before +midnight, and the journey was continued till an +hour before dawn. This plan was followed till their +destination was reached. The party was evidently +careful to keep its movements secret. Their way +lay as before, by woodland paths, leading them +through the district now known as the New Forest. +They travelled but slowly, more slowly indeed than +they had done on the island, for the paths were still +rougher, and, in fact, almost undistinguishable. +Carna, too, was the only one of the company that +had a horse, and her female attendant, who was +neither young nor active, could manage but a few +miles at a time. It was the morning of the second +day after they had left the coast before they reached +the edge of the great forest known as the Natanleah. +Some five miles to the west lay Sorbiodunum, now +Salisbury. This was a Roman town of some +impor<pb n='132'/><anchor id='Pg132'/>tance, and had of course to be avoided by the party, +who, indeed, were anxious, as Carna could gather +from a few scattered words that were let drop in her +presence, as to the way in which the rest of their +journey was to be accomplished. The country was +open, cultivated, and comparatively populous, the +inhabitants being, for the most part, thoroughly +Latinized. Two Roman roads, too, had to be crossed +before their destination was reached. +</p> + +<p> +The day was spent as usual in concealment and +repose. An hour after nightfall the party started. +They had now managed to procure another horse for +Carna’s attendant; and as the ground was fairly +level, unenclosed, and, at that time of year, unencumbered +by crops, they moved rapidly onwards. +The moon had now risen, and Carna, for the first +time, could at least see where they were going. She +was still, however, at a loss to know what part of +the country they had reached. At midnight a halt +was called, and the leader of the party proceeded to +blindfold the captive’s eyes. But if he wanted to +keep her in ignorance of the locality, he was a little +too late. The girl’s quick sight had caught a glimpse +in the distance of the huge circle of earth walls, now +known as Amesbury. She had never seen the place, +but it was known to her in the chronicles of her +people. There, as she had read with a patriotism +which all her Roman surroundings had not been +<pb n='133'/><anchor id='Pg133'/>able to quench, her countrymen had more than once +held at bay the legions of Rome. She knew roughly +the situation of the famous camp of the Belgæ, and +she was sure that these massive fortifications, just +seen for a moment in the moonlight, could be none +others than those of which she had read so often. +</p> + +<p> +When the bandage was removed, she found herself +in a chamber larger and more comfortably +furnished than any she had hitherto occupied on her +journey. Part of the palace of one of the old kings +of the Belgæ was still standing, and the travellers +had taken up their quarters in it. The Amesbury +camp was indeed as safe a place as they could have +chosen. It was a spot which no Roman, much less +a Briton living under Roman protection, would care +to visit. The whole countryside believed that it +was haunted by the spirits of the great chiefs and +warriors who had been buried within its precincts, +and of the slaves who had been killed to furnish +them with service and attendance in the unseen +world. The scanty remnant who still clung to the +Druid faith found their account in encouraging these +superstitions. More than one appearance had been +arranged to terrify sceptical or curious persons who +had been rash enough to visit the vast circle of +embankments. For many years before the time of +our story the enclosure had been untrodden except +by the few who were in the secret of the Druid +<pb n='134'/><anchor id='Pg134'/>initiation. Here, then, the party waited securely +with their prisoner till the time should come for the +solemn visit to <hi rend='italic'>Choir Gawr</hi>, the Great Temple, +known to us by the name of Stonehenge. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="13" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='135'/><anchor id='Pg135'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XIII. What Does it Mean?"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XIII. What Does it Mean?"/> +<head>CHAPTER XIII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">WHAT DOES IT MEAN?</hi></head> + +<p> +It was some time before the prolonged absence of +Carna caused any alarm at the villa. When she +was on one of her errands of kindness among the +sick, it was difficult to say when she would return. +But in the course of the afternoon the old physician +returned, not a little wrath that he had been sent on +a fool’s errand. He had been told that an old farmer, +living close to the north-west of the island some +seven or eight miles from the villa was lying dangerously +ill, and he had found the supposed patient in +vigorous health, and not a little angry at being +supposed to be anything else. This seemed to make +things look somewhat serious. It was easy to guess +that the trick played upon the physician had something +to do with the message brought to Carna. It +was remembered that the stranger had asked that +he should accompany the girl; it was at least +possible that she knew him to be out of the way, +<pb n='136'/><anchor id='Pg136'/>and that she would not have made the request had +she not known it. +</p> + +<p> +While the Count, who had just returned from an +inspection of his crews, was talking the matter over +with his daughter and two of his officers who +happened to be present, a new cause for suspicion +and alarm presented itself. Carna’s pet dog had +found its way back with a bit of broken cord round +its neck, and refused to be comforted, tearing and +pulling at the dresses of the attendant, and saying, +as plainly as a dog could say it, that there was +something wrong, that it must be attended to at +once, and that he would show them how to do it, if +they would only follow him. When the rope round +his neck was examined more closely, it was found +that it had been gnawed in two. <q>He has been +tied up and has broken away,</q> said the Count, when +this was pointed out to him. <q>And if I know the +dear little thing,</q> broke in Ælia, <q>he would not +have left his mistress as long as he could be near +her. I am sure that some mischief has happened to +her.</q> And this was the general impression, though, +who could have ventured on so audacious an outrage +it was impossible to guess. +</p> + +<p> +What had happened, as the reader may possibly +guess, was this. The dog had remained with Carna, +showing his love, not by fierce resistance like that +made by his powerful companion, for which he had +<pb n='137'/><anchor id='Pg137'/>the sagacity to know he had not sufficient strength, +but by keeping as close to her as he could. After +she had been made a prisoner, and while the party +were preparing for a start, he had been tied to a tree. +It had been intended that he should go with his +mistress, for whom, as has been said, her captors +showed throughout a certain consideration, but it so +happened that in the bustle of departure he was +forgotten. When he saw her go and found himself +left behind, he set himself with all his might to gnaw +the rope which fastened him to the tree. This task +took him a long time, for he was an old dog, and his +teeth were not as good as they had been. Finding +himself free he started in headlong pursuit, easily +tracking the party by the scent, but after a while he +halted; a happy thought—is it possible that, in the +teeth of all accumulated evidences, any one can +deny that dogs can think?—a happy <hi rend='italic'>thought</hi> then +struck his mind, quickened to its utmost capacity +of intelligence by love and grief. We may translate +it into human language thus: <q>If I follow her and +overtake her, what good can I do? but if I go back +and make the people at home understand that something +has happened to her, then I can help her to +some purpose.</q> This was his conclusion, anyhow. +How he arrived at it only He knows who makes all +things great and small, and <q>divideth to all severally +as He will.</q> He turned back, ran with breathless +<pb n='138'/><anchor id='Pg138'/>speed to the villa, and did all that could be done, +short of speaking, to show that his dear mistress was +in trouble. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, however, much time had been lost, +and the day was already far advanced. Anxious as +was the Count to set out, he could not but perceive +that haste might defeat the object of his journey. +To start when the light was failing would probably +be to miss important signs of what had happened, +and, very possibly, to risk success. All preparations, +however, were made. The men who were to form +the pursuing party were chosen. As it may be +supposed, there was no lack of volunteers. There +was not a single being at the villa or its dependencies +that would not have given a great deal and borne a +great deal to see Carna again in safety. But it +would be possible to take only a small number, if the +pursuit was to be rapid and effective. Some of the +most active of the crews of the war-ships accordingly +were chosen, sailors having then as now a +cheerful activity that makes them particularly valuable +members of a land expedition. The Count added +others from his own establishment, and he determined +to conduct the party himself. It was arranged +that it should start the following day, as soon as it +should be sufficiently light. +</p> + +<p> +One of the slaves who was early astir on the +following morning found fixed to an outside gate of +<pb n='139'/><anchor id='Pg139'/>the villa a document, rudely written and roughly +folded, which bore the Count’s address. It was +found, when opened, to contain the following message, +expressed in ungrammatical Latin, mingled with +one or two British words: +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2; margin-bottom: 2"> +<q><hi rend="italic">She whom you seek is not far off, and may be recovered +by you if you are wise. If you attempt to regain +her by force, she will be lost to you altogether. But if +you wish to have her again with you safely and without +trouble, send one whom you can trust with a hundred +gold pieces at midnight three days after the receiving of +this letter to the place to which she was yesterday fetched. +Let your messenger go alone, and ask no questions then +or afterwards.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>So she is held to ransom by a set of brigands,</q> +cried the Count, when he had read this document. +<q>I should not have thought that such a thing had +been possible in Britain. But the times have been +getting worse and worse. We have long been +weakening our hold upon the province, and we had +better clear out altogether, if we cannot do better +than this. But I suppose we have no choice. We +must not endanger the dear girl’s life. But now the +question is about the money. I do not think that I +have so much in gold in the house; but we can +borrow somewhere what is <anchor id="corr139"/><corr sic="(quote mark missing)">wanted.</corr></q> +</p> + +<pb n='140'/><anchor id='Pg140'/> + +<p> +<q>Perhaps,</q> said the Count’s secretary, whom he +had summoned to consult with him, <q>the peddler +can help you. He has the reputation of being richer +than he looks.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> replied the Count, <q>that would be a +simple way out of the difficulty, if it can be +managed. Meanwhile, let me see what I have got +of my own at hand.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It was found that eighty gold pieces were forthcoming, +and the peddler was summoned and asked +whether he could make up the balance. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My Lord,</q> said the man when he was brought +into the Count’s presence and had heard the story, +<q>I will make no idle pretence of poverty. I have +what you want, and it is entirely at your lordship’s +service. But will you let me see the letter in which +this demand for ransom is made?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Count handed him the document, and he +examined it long and carefully. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My lord,</q> he said, <q>the more I look at this, the +more I am confirmed in certain suspicions which +have been growing up in my mind. I have been +thinking of this matter, and of other matters which +seem to me to be connected with it all the night. It +will take long to explain, and, of course, after all I +may be wrong; still, I think you would do well to +hear what I have got to say.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Count, who had previously had reasons for +<pb n='141'/><anchor id='Pg141'/>thinking well of the peddler’s intelligence, bade him +proceed. +</p> + +<p> +<q>In the first place,</q> continued the man, <q>I think +this letter is a blind. It is made to look like the +work of some very rude and ignorant person. But +the pretence is not well kept up. You will see, if +you look at the handwriting a little more closely, +that it is feigned. The writer was perfectly able to +make it a great deal better than it is, if he had so +chosen, and he has sometimes forgotten his part. +Some of the letters, some even of the words, particularly +of the small words, about which he would +naturally be less careful, are quite well-formed. +Now a really bad writer, I mean one who writes +badly because he does not know how to write +well, is always bad; every letter he forms is misshapen.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Count examined the document and acknowledged +that this comment upon it was just. And he +began to see too what was naturally more apparent +to him, as an educated man, than it was to the +peddler, that the style was hardly what would have +been expected from an ignorant scribe. +</p> + +<p> +<q>What, then, is your conclusion?</q> he asked. +</p> + +<p> +<q>About that,</q> returned the other, <q>I am not so +certain. That this is a blind, as I said, I am sure; +and this talk about the ransom consequently is a +deception. <q>Three days,</q> you see it says. That +<pb n='142'/><anchor id='Pg142'/>would be three days lost. No, my lord, it is not by +robbers that this has been planned.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What then?</q> cried the Count, flushing a fiery +red as a sudden thought occurred to him. <q>Carna +is very beautiful. Do you think——</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No,</q> said the peddler, <q>I think not. A lover +would not lay so elaborate a plot as I fancy I can +see here. I think the Lady Carna is a hostage, +or——</q> +</p> + +<p> +He paused, and continued after a few minutes of +silence. <q>I have much to piece together, and it +would take long, and lose much precious time. That +is the last thing that we should do. They have got +too much start already. We must not let them +improve it more than we can help. You will let me +go with you, and I shall have leisure to put all I +have got to say together without hindering you. +But the sooner we are on their track the better.</q> +</p> + +<p> +To this the Count readily agreed, and preparations +for immediate departure were made. It was with +difficulty that Ælia could be persuaded that she +must be left behind. But when it was pointed out +to her that her presence must inevitably make the +progress of the party more slow, and increase their +anxieties, she reluctantly gave way. At the last +moment an unexpected addition was made to the +party in the person of the Saxon prisoner. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My lord,</q> said the peddler, to whom the young +<pb n='143'/><anchor id='Pg143'/>man had communicated his earnest desire to be +allowed to go; <q>it may seem a strange thing for me +to say, but you cannot have a better helper in this +matter than this young fellow. He is as strong as +any horse, and as keen and intelligent a youth as I +ever saw. And in this case too his wits will be +doubly sharp, and his arm doubly strong, for he +worships the very ground that the Lady Carna treads +upon.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Very well,</q> replied the Count, with a smile, <q>let +him go. After all, it is quite as safe to take a lion +about with one, as to leave him at home.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The pet dog was, of course, a valued member of +the expedition. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="14" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='144'/><anchor id='Pg144'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XIV. The Pursuit"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XIV. The Pursuit"/> +<head>CHAPTER XIV.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE PURSUIT.</hi></head> + +<p> +The task of tracing the lost girl was at first easy +enough. She and the stranger, who, it now seemed, +had been sent to entrap her, had been seen proceeding +in the direction mentioned in the message. The +neighbourhood of the villa was mostly cultivated +ground, and there had been people at work in the +fields who had noticed the girl’s well-known figure. +Beyond this belt of cultivated country, which might +have been about a mile broad, there was only one +road which it was possible for her to have taken. +Following this, and reaching the hamlet at the +further end of which, as we have seen, the abduction +had taken place, they still found themselves on the +right track. A child had seen two people, one of +them, she said, a pretty lady, pass by on the morning +of the day before. The lady had smiled, and +said a few words to her in her own language, and +had given her a sweetmeat. Further on the traces +of what they were looking for became still more +<pb n='145'/><anchor id='Pg145'/>evident. There were marks of struggle on the +ground, for Carna, as we have seen, had not suffered +herself to be taken without resistance; a button was +found on the ground, which the peddler at once +identified as one of his own selling. And a little off +the path, the tree was found to which the dog had +been tied, with the fragment of string still attached +to it. Curiously enough, no traces of the great dog +could be found. +</p> + +<p> +Nor did the next step in the pursuit delay them long. +There were, it is true, three paths through the forest, +which closed in the hamlet on every side except that +by which the party had approached it. Carna’s pet +dog at once decided for the searchers which of the +three they should follow. He discovered the scent +very quickly, ran at the top of his speed along the +path thus distinguished from the others for about a +hundred yards, and then, coming back, implored the +party, so to speak, by his gestures, that they should +come with him. It was evident that the path had +been traversed by a party of considerable size, whose +tracks, the marks of a horse’s hoofs among them, +were still fresh in the ground, soft as it was with the +winter rains. The dog was evidently satisfied that +they were right, for he ran quietly on, now and then +giving a very soft little whine. It wanted still an +hour or so of sunset when the party emerged out of +the forest upon the shore. +</p> + +<pb n='146'/><anchor id='Pg146'/> + +<p> +Here it might have seemed at first all trace was +lost. The tide had flowed and ebbed twice since the +girl had been there, and had swept away all marks +of footsteps. The dog too was no longer a guide. +The poor little creature’s distress indeed was pitiful, +as he ran to and fro upon the shore with a plaintive +whine. +</p> + +<p> +The Count asked his companions for their opinions. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Have they taken to the wood again, do you +think? or have they crossed the water? they may +have gone a mile or more along the shore and then +entered the forest. In that case it seems hopeless +to recover the track.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It is my opinion,</q> said the peddler, <q>that they +have crossed to the mainland; but it is only an +opinion, and I have little or nothing to urge for it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Other members of the party had different views; +and, on the whole, opinion was adverse to the +peddler’s view; and the Count was about to order a +search in the direction of the wood further along the +shore, when the attention of the party was arrested +by a shout from the Saxon. +</p> + +<p> +The discussion had been carried on in a language +which he had still some difficulty in understanding, +and he had been pacing backwards and forwards +along the shore, seemingly lost in thought, but really +watching everything with that keen attention to all +outward objects which is one of the characteristics +<pb n='147'/><anchor id='Pg147'/>of uncivilized man. It was thus that something +caught his eye. He plunged his hand into one of +the little rock-pools upon the shore, and drew it out. +It was a small gold trinket, which the girl had +dropped in the forlorn hope that it might be found. +Its weight, for it was an almost solid piece of metal, +had kept it in the place where it fell, and as the +night and day had been uniformly calm, there had +been no sufficient movement of the water to disturb +it. With a cry of delight the Saxon held it up, and +the Count recognized it at once. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah!</q> said the peddler, <q>I knew the fellow would +be of use to us. If the Lady Carna is anywhere on +the earth he would find her. This proves, my lord, +that they have crossed the sea. They would certainly +have not come down so far from the shore as this.</q> +</p> + +<p> +This seemed too probable to admit of any doubt. +Happily it had occurred to the Count that it would +be well to have some kind of vessel at his command, +and he had ordered a pinnace to start from the +haven as soon as it could be got ready, and to coast +along the shore of the island, watching for any signal +that might be given. The land party had outstripped +the ship, which, indeed, had not started till somewhat +later. Still, it might be expected very soon. +Meanwhile there was an opportunity for discussing +the aspect which the affair now bore. +</p> + +<p> +After various opinions had been given, the Count +<pb n='148'/><anchor id='Pg148'/>turned to the peddler. <q>And what do you think of +the affair?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I have a notion,</q> the man replied, <q>but it may +be only a fancy—still I seem to myself to have a +notion of what their purpose is.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Do you mean,</q> pursued the Count, as the other +paused, and seemed almost unwilling to speak, <q>do +you mean that they think of holding her as a kind of +hostage against me? Do they fancy that I shall not +be able to act against them, and shall hinder my +colleagues from acting, as long as she is in their +power? or will they keep her as something to make +terms about if they fail?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The other was still silent for a few minutes, and +seemed to be collecting his thoughts. At last he +said: +</p> + +<p> +<q>My lord, what I am going to tell you may seem +as foolish as a dream. I should have gone on saying +nothing about it, as I have said nothing about it +hitherto, if things had not happened which makes it +a crime for me to be silent any longer. You find it +difficult to believe that a rebellion is possible among +a nation which you have always looked upon as +thoroughly subdued. But what will you say if I +tell you that this rebellion has been preparing for +generations, and that the Druids have been, and are, +at the bottom of it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Druids!</q> cried the Count, <q>I did not know +<pb n='149'/><anchor id='Pg149'/>that there were any Druids. I thought that the last +of them had disappeared years ago.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Not so,</q> replied the peddler; <q>the people who +rule do not know what is going on about them. Now +I have been among this people the greater part of +my life. I have seen them, not as they show themselves +to you, but as they are. You think that they +are Christians—not very good Christians, perhaps, +but still not worse than other people—and believing +the Creeds, if they believe anything. Now I know +for a certainty that many of them are no more +Christians now than their fathers were three hundred +and fifty years ago. I have seen sometimes, when +no one knew that I saw, what they really worshipped. +I have pieced together many little things. I have +heard hints dropped unawares, and I know that +there is a secret society, which has existed ever since +the island was conquered, which has for its object +the bringing back of the old faith. I could name—if +things turn out as I expect they will, I will name—men +whom you believe to be quiet, respectable +citizens, but who are the heads of a conspiracy +reaching all over Britain, against Rome and the +Christian Church. You never see them except in +the tunic and the cap, but they can wear on occasion +the Druid’s robe and crown.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But tell me,</q> said the Count, with a certain impatience, +<q>what has this got to do with my +daughter?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='150'/><anchor id='Pg150'/> + +<p> +<q>This, my lord,</q> answered the other, <q>that if +the Druids are making the great effort for which +they have been preparing for no one knows how +many years, they will begin it with all the solemnity +that is possible—in a word, with the great sacrifice. +This, I suppose, has not been practised for many +generations, but it has not been forgotten. To speak +plainly, I believe that the Lady Carna has been +carried off for the victim.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Count staggered back as if he had been +struck. <q>Impossible!</q> he cried. <q>Such things +cannot be in Britain: and why should they fix upon +her?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>For two reasons,</q> said the peddler. <q>She is of +royal race. You very likely do not know or care +about such things. All Britons to you will be much +about the same; but they do not forget it. Yes, +though her father was nothing more than a sailor, +she is descended from Cassibelan. And then she is a +Christian. These are the two reasons why they +have chosen her—this is what they honour her for, +and this is what they hate her for.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But where,</q> cried the Count, <q>where is this +monstrous thing to be done?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That,</q> replied the other, <q>I think I know. It +can hardly be done anywhere but at the Great Temple, +the Choir Gawr, as they call it themselves.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And where is this Great Temple?</q> +</p> + +<pb n='151'/><anchor id='Pg151'/> + +<p> +<q>About forty miles inland, in a nearly northerly +direction. I have seen the place once, and I can find +my way to it, I believe; but, to make sure, I will find +a guide.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And when?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>At the full moon. I should say.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And how much does it want to the full moon +now?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>It will be full moon to-morrow night.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We have to cross then to the mainland—and the +galley is not in sight—to find a guide, and to travel +forty miles, and all before to-morrow night. Well, +it must be done. To think of these wretches murdering +my dear Carna!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Do not fear, my lord; we shall do it,</q> said the +peddler; but added, in a low voice, <q>if nothing +happens.</q> +</p> + +<p> +At that moment the galley came in sight. <q>That +is right,</q> cried the Count; <q>anyhow, we begin well; +no time will be lost in getting across.</q> +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="15" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='152'/><anchor id='Pg152'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XV. The Pursuit (continued)"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XV. The Pursuit (continued)"/> +<head>CHAPTER XV.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE PURSUIT (<hi rend='italic'>continued</hi>).</hi></head> + +<p> +The signal previously agreed was promptly hoisted +by the party on shore, and as promptly observed and +obeyed by the crew of the galley which had been for +some time on the watch for some communication. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My lord,</q> said the peddler, when they had embarked, +<q>if I may suggest, we should not make a +straight passage to the mainland from here, but steer +for the north-west. Some eight miles beyond the +western point of the island there is a river flowing +into the sea, and a fishing village at the mouth. I +know the place well, and have one or two good friends +there. We shall get a guide there; I have in my mind +the very man who will suit us well in that capacity. +Indeed the river<note place="foot">This river, of course, must have been the Avon.</note> itself would be no bad guide. The +Great Temple lies but a few miles westward from its +upper course. The road will be easy too along the +valley, which is mostly clear of wood.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='153'/><anchor id='Pg153'/> + +<p> +<q>Then,</q> said the Count, <q>the Temple cannot be +far from Sorbiodunum. Why not make for the Great +Harbour, and go by the Great Road to Venta<note place="foot">Winchester.</note> and +from Venta to Sorbiodunum.<note place="foot">Salisbury.</note> The travelling would +be much easier.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I have thought of that,</q> said the other, <q>but I +think my plan the best. The distance is far less, and, +what is quite as important, we shall not be expected +to come that way. Depend upon it there will be an +ambuscade laid somewhere along the road; for they +will feel sure that we shall try and come that way.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It was evident anyhow that as far as the sea voyage +was concerned the man was right. The tide was +ebbing slowly, and an east wind, already high and +still rising, was blowing. To make way against wind +and tide to the Great Harbour would be in any case +a laborious business; and if the wind increased to a +gale as it threatened to do, might become impossible. +The galley had been chosen for swiftness rather than +seaworthy qualities in rough weather, and might fail +in the attempt to work back. On the other hand +both wind and tide thoroughly favoured a westward +voyage. +</p> + +<p> +Indeed she moved gaily on with a strong breeze, +that in the phraseology of to-day would be called a +half-gale, blowing due aft, and scarcely felt the heavy +<pb n='154'/><anchor id='Pg154'/>sea, seeming to leave the waves behind, as the rowers +bent their backs to their work. The Saxon had now +taken his place on one of the thwarts, and his gigantic +strength, put it was evident with a will into the +labour, seemed of itself to drive the galley forwards. +In an incredibly short time the river mouth was +reached, the galley stranded, and the guide, who, by +great good luck, had just returned from a fishing +voyage, engaged. +</p> + +<p> +But now an unforeseen obstacle opposed itself. A +few specks of rain had been felt by the party as they +went, and then as the day went on, began to change +to snow. And now the wind almost suddenly died +away, and at the same time the fall of snow grew +heavier. The face of the guide fell. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My lord,</q> he said, <q>I hear that your business is +urgent and cannot wait. But I must tell you that +the weather looks very bad, and that the prospects of +our journey are almost as unfavourable as they can +be. We shall have a very heavy fall of snow, and if +the wind gets up again, and it begins to drift, we shall +be blocked, and possibly unable to get either backwards +or forwards.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We must go,</q> said the Count, in a determined +voice, <q>though the snow were over our heads.</q> +</p> + +<p> +After a very short interval allowed for refreshment, +the party started. At first the snow was no very +serious obstacle; but after a couple of hours +inces<pb n='155'/><anchor id='Pg155'/>sant and rapid fall, it began to make movement very +difficult. The progress of the travellers grew slower +and slower, and the Count began to calculate that at +their present rate of speed they could but barely arrive +in time. It was an immense relief when the sky +almost suddenly cleared, and showed the moon still +evidently somewhat short of the full. But the relief +was only temporary. The clearer weather was the +result of a change of wind, which had suddenly +veered to a point westward of north and which was +rapidly increasing in force. And now occurred the +thing which the peddler’s knowledge of the country +and the weather had suggested to him—the snow +began to drift. At first the party was hardly conscious +of the change; indeed for a time the way was +somewhat clearer and easier than before; then as +they came to a slight depression, the snow was felt +to be certainly deeper. Still three or four miles were +traversed without any particular difficulty. Then the +leader of the party suddenly plunged into a drift considerably +above his knees. This obstacle, however, +was surmounted, or rather avoided by making a +<foreign lang="fr" rend='italic'>détour</foreign>. But still the wind rose higher and higher, +and as it rose, not only did its force hinder the party’s +advance, but the drifts grew now formidably deep. +Some of the party began to lag behind; the Count +himself, who was past his prime, began to acknowledge +to himself, with an agony of anger and fear in +<pb n='156'/><anchor id='Pg156'/>his heart, that his strength was failing. Still they +struggled on, leaving one or two of the strugglers to +make the best of their way back, or, it might well be, +to perish in the snow, till about half the distance was +traversed. They had now reached a little hamlet,<note place="foot">Now known as Downton, a small market town, about five +miles south of Salisbury.</note> +on the outskirts of which there happened to be a small +villa. It was shut up, the proprietor chancing to be +absent, but it was put at the disposal of the party by the +person who was in charge. Fires were hastily lighted, +and the travellers, most of whom had almost reached +the end of their powers of endurance, were refreshed +with warmth and food. +</p> + +<p> +The Count held a council of war. The situation +indeed <anchor id="corr156"/><corr sic="eemed">seemed</corr> nothing less than desperate. Two out +of the party of twenty-five—their numbers had been +increased by a contingent taken from the crew of +the galley—were missing. They had fallen out on +the march, and it was too probable that they had +perished in the snow. Of the remainder but four or +five seemed fit for any further exertion. By far the +freshest and most vigorous of them was the Saxon. +The fatigues of the night had scarcely told on his +gigantic strength. The Italians, and even the Britons, +natives of the southern parts of the island, and little +accustomed to heavy falls of snow, looked at him +<pb n='157'/><anchor id='Pg157'/>with astonishment. As for him, he was full of impatience +at the delay. +</p> + +<p> +The Count was in an agony of doubt and distress. +His own strength had failed so completely that all +his spirit—and there was no braver man in the armies +of Rome—could not have dragged him a hundred +yards further. And he saw that many of his followers +were in little better case. And yet to give up the +pursuit! to leave Carna, the sweetest, gentlest of +women, dear to him as a daughter of his own, to this +hideous death! The thought was too dreadful. +</p> + +<p> +<q>When do they perform their horrible rites?</q> said +the Count to the peddler. +</p> + +<p> +<q>When the full moon shines through the great +south entrance of the Temple,</q> was the answer. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And when will that be?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>To-night, and about an hour before midnight, as +far as I can guess.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And what must be done? What is your advice?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>There seems to me only one thing possible. +Those who can must press on. I count a <anchor id="corr157"/><corr sic="greal">great</corr> deal +on the Saxon. His strength and endurance are such +as I never saw in any man, and they now seem to be +increased manyfold. Anything that can be done by +mortal man, he, you may be sure, will do. Our guide +too has happily something still left in him; and there +are three or four others who are equal to going on +after they have had a little rest. I should say, let +<pb n='158'/><anchor id='Pg158'/>them get two or three hours’ sleep, and then push on +to Sorbiodunum. That is not far from here, and they +can easily reach it before noon to-day, after allowing +a fair time for rest. Perhaps they may get some help +there, though the place is not what it was. It is +some years since I paid it a visit, and then I found it +in a very declining condition, so much so that it was +not worth my while to go there again. There were +not more than two or three Roman traders there, and +they made but a very poor living out of their +business.</q> +</p> + +<p> +This seemed to be the best course practicable under +the circumstances. The Saxon, with whom the +peddler held a long conversation, was for pressing on +at once, and would almost have gone alone, but for +want of a guide. When he understood the state of +the case he yielded to what he perceived to be a +necessity, and throwing himself down on the hearth +was almost immediately buried in a profound sleep, +an example which was soon followed by the rest of +the party, the Count and the peddler excepted. +</p> + +<p> +Not more than two hours could be allowed for rest. +The guide and the three sailors who had volunteered +to go on were roused with no little difficulty; the +young Saxon was wide awake in a moment. The +party partook hastily of a meal of bread, meat, and +hot wine and water, which the peddler had been busying +himself in preparing while they slept, and, after +<pb n='159'/><anchor id='Pg159'/>stowing away some provisions for the day, started on +their journey about two hours before noon. +</p> + +<p> +Sorbiodunum was reached without much difficulty. +But there a great disappointment awaited them. +The peddler’s anticipations were more than fulfilled, +for the town was almost deserted. Only one Roman +remained there. He was an old man who had +married a British wife, and who cultivated a farm +which had descended to her from her father. When +the guide handed to him the letter which the Count +had addressed to the authorities of the town, begging +for any help which they could give in saving the +liberty and life of a person very dear to himself, he +shook his head. When he heard the whole of the +guide’s story, he became still more depressed. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Authorities!</q> he said, <q>there are no authorities. +I am the only Roman left in the place, and I do not +know where to look for a single man to help you. +As for the Great Temple on the plain there is not a +creature here who would dare to go near it. They +think it haunted by spirits and demons. And indeed +there <hi rend='italic'>are</hi> strange stories about it. To tell you the +plain truth, I should not much care to go there myself. +No; I see nothing to be done. But I will ask +my wife. Perhaps her woman’s wit will help us.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Bidding the party be seated, he left the room in +which he had received them, and entered the kitchen, +where his wife was busy with her domestic affairs. +</p> + +<pb n='160'/><anchor id='Pg160'/> + +<p> +In about half an hour he returned. His expression +was now a shade more cheerful than before. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah!</q> he said, <q>I was right about the woman’s +wit. She <hi rend='italic'>has</hi> thought of something. You must know +that my wife is a very devout Christian—for myself I +am a Christian too, but I must own that I don’t see so +much in it as she does—and that she has brought up +our children in that way of thinking. Now, our eldest +son is a priest in a village some seven miles hence, +and his people are devoted to him. If there is any +one in this neighbourhood who can give you the help +you want it is he. He has only got to say the word +and his people will follow him to the end of the +world. Here is a proof of it. Four years ago a +strong party of Picts came this way, ravaging and +plundering wherever they went. There were not +more than fifty of them, but the people were as +terrified as if they were so many demons. If you +think this place a desert now, what would you have +thought it then? There was not a single person +left in it—at least a single person that could help +himself—for the cowards had the meanness to leave +some of the old and the sick behind them. But my +son was not going to let the robbers have it all their +own way—you know he has something of the Roman +in him—and he went about talking to his people in +such a way, that they plucked up spirit, and fell on +the Picts one night when they were expecting nothing +<pb n='161'/><anchor id='Pg161'/>less than an attack, and gave such an account of +them, that the country has not been troubled since +with the like of them. Well, as I say, he is the +man to help you. I have my younger son here +working with me on the farm; he is just such +another as his elder brother, and would have been a +priest too if he had not felt it to be his duty to stay +and help me. I will bring him in, and he shall hear +the whole story and carry it to his brother. That is +the best hope that I can give you, and I really think +that it is worth something. What I can do for you +does not go beyond hospitality, but to that you are +heartily welcome. You have some hours before you. +If you start an hour after sunset you will be in ample +time. And, in fact, you had better not start before, +because the less that is seen of your movements the +better. I don’t know that any of the people about +here are infected with the Druid superstition, though +I have had one or two hints to that effect, hints +which what you have just told me helps to explain. +But, in any case, the more secret you are the better. +Besides, my son’s Party cannot reach the Great +Temple till long after dark. Meanwhile take some +rest and refreshment, for, believe me, you have +something before you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +This advice was so obviously right, that the guide, +who was in command of the party, had no hesitation +in accepting it. +</p> + +<pb n='162'/><anchor id='Pg162'/> + +<p> +About six o’clock another start was made. At +first, though the weather looked threatening, no +serious obstacle presented itself. The snow was +somewhat deep on the ground, but there were no +serious drifts on their way, a way which, indeed, for +some distance from the town lay under the leeward +side of a wood. But they had not gone more than +a mile and a half when a disastrous change in their +circumstances occurred. The wind rose almost suddenly +to the height of a gale, and brought with it a +fall of snow, separated by the rapid movement of the +air into a very fine powder, and working its way +through the clothing of the traveller with a penetrating +power which nothing could resist. Still, +benumbed as they were, almost blinded by the icy +particles which were whirled with all the force of the +tempest against their faces, they struggled on for +more than half the distance which lay between them +and their destination. Then the three sailors cried +out simultaneously that they must halt, and the guide +unwillingly owned that he must follow their example. +Only the Saxon was left to go on, and he, with a +gesture which it was impossible to mistake, declared +his intention of persevering. Just at that moment +the clouds parted in the east, and the full moon +showed the landscape with a singular clearness, its +most conspicuous feature being the gigantic stones of +the Great Temple, which could be seen about two +<pb n='163'/><anchor id='Pg163'/>miles to the northward. The guide pointed to them, +and the Saxon, when they caught his eye, leapt +forward with an energy which nothing seemed to +have abated, and, with a gesture of farewell to his +companions, plunged into the darkness. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="16" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='164'/><anchor id='Pg164'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XVI. The Great Temple"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XVI. The Great Temple"/> +<head>CHAPTER XVI.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE GREAT TEMPLE.</hi></head> + +<p> +The Great Temple, or Stonehenge as it is now +called, though its decay had already commenced, +still preserved the form which we have now some +difficulty in tracing. There was an outer circle consisting +of thirty huge triliths,<note place="foot">A trilith consists of two upright stones with a third placed +across.</note> the greater part of +which were still standing in the position in which +the unsparing labour of a long past generation had +placed them. Within this there was a circle of forty +single stones, this circle again containing two ovals. +One of these ovals was composed of five triliths, +even larger than those which stood in the outer +circle; the other was made of nineteen upright +stones. At the upper end of this stood the altar, a +low, flat structure of blue marble. +</p> + +<p> +All the preparations for the sacrifice were complete +when Cedric—for we may as well henceforth +<pb n='165'/><anchor id='Pg165'/>call the Saxon by the name which he bore among his +countrymen—reached the spot. Carna was being +led by two of the subordinate priests to the altar, +where Caradoc stood, robed for the rite which he was +about to perform. The sky had now again cleared, +and the moon, riding high in the heavens, poured +a flood of silver light through the south entrance, +and fell on the priest’s impassive face as he stood +fronting the light, while it glittered on his crown +of gold and gave a dazzling brilliancy to his white +robe. In his hand he held a knife of flint, with +which it was the custom to give the first blow to the +victim, though innovation had so far prevailed even +in the Druid worship that the sacrifice was completed +with a weapon of steel. But this latter lay at his +feet, and was concealed by the fall of his robe. It +was not, indeed, supposed to be used. The attendants, +who were also dressed in white, were rough +and brutal creatures, selected for their office because +they could be trusted to carry out any orders without +remonstrance or hesitation. Yet even they seemed +touched by the girl’s dignity and courage, as she +walked with head erect and unfaltering gait between +them. Had she hesitated, or hung back, or struggled, +doubtless they would not have hesitated to drag her +to the altar; but walking as she did with a proud +resignation to her fate, they showed her a rude +respect by letting their hands rest as lightly as +pos<pb n='166'/><anchor id='Pg166'/>sible, so as to give no sense of constraint, upon her +arms. On either side of the priest stood Martianus +and Ambiorix. The younger man had braced himself +to what, fanatical patriot as he was, was evidently +a hateful task. He looked steadfastly and unflinchingly +at the scene; but his face was deadly pale, +and the blood trickled down his chin as he bit his lip +in the unconscious effort to maintain a stern composure. +Martianus was overwhelmed with shame +and horror. If there was one softer heart among +the <q>stern, black-bearded kings</q> who of old in +Aulis watched the daughter of Agamemnon die, he +must have looked and felt as Martianus did in the +Great Temple that night. Cursing again and again +in his heart the ambition which had led him to mix +himself up with this fanatical crew, but too much a +craven at heart to protest, he stood trembling with +agitation, mostly keeping his eyes shut or fixed upon +the earth, but sometimes compelled by a fascination +which he could not resist to lift them, and take in +the horror of the scene. Each of the chiefs had +an armed attendant standing behind him. Besides +these there were no spectators of the scene, though +guards were disposed at each of the entrances which +led to the central shrine. Even these had been kept +in ignorance of what was to be done, and they were +too deeply imbued with the traditional awe felt for +the Great Temple to think of playing the spy. +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: The Sacrifice.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig166"/><figure url="images/i_191.jpg" rend="w80"><index index="fig" level1="The Sacrifice"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>The Sacrifice.</hi></head> +<figDesc>The Sacrifice</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<pb n='167'/><anchor id='Pg167'/> +<p> +The priest, after observing the position of the +moon, and seeing that the shadows fell now almost +straight towards the north, began the invocation +which was the preliminary of the sacrifice. It was +for this that the Saxon was waiting, as he stood in +the shadow of one of the huge triliths. He crept +silently out of his concealment, entirely unobserved, +so intent were all present on the scene that was +being enacted. His first object was the priest. This +had been laid down for him in the instructions given +him by the peddler before he started; and indeed his +own instinct would have dictated the act. The priest +put out of the way, the sacrifice would, for the time +at least, be stopped; for so high a solemnity could not +be performed but by one of the very highest rank. +Time would thus be gained, and with time anything +might happen. One firm thrust between the shoulders +sent the Saxon’s sword right through the priest’s +body, so that the point stood out an inch or two +from the priest. Without a cry the man fell forward, +deluging with his blood the stone of sacrifice. The +ministrants who stood on either side of Carna were +paralysed with astonishment and dismay. Before +they could recover themselves Cedric had dragged +his weapon out of the priest’s body, sheathed it, and +thrown himself on them. Two blows, delivered almost +simultaneously by fists that had almost the force +of sledge hammers, levelled them both senseless to +<pb n='168'/><anchor id='Pg168'/>the ground. He then caught the girl up in his arms. +A full-grown woman—and Carna had a stature +beyond the average of her sex—is no light burden, +but Cedric’s strength was, as has been said before, +exceptionally great, and now it seemed doubled by +the fierce excitement of the hour. To escape with +her by running was, he knew, impossible. For such +a task no fleetness of foot, no strength, would be +sufficient. To attempt would be to expose himself to +certain death, and Carna to as certain re-capture. +But his quick eye had caught sight of a place where +he might hold out, at least for a time, against a much +superior strength of assailants. One of the triliths +had partially fallen, the huge cross-stone having been +so displaced that it formed an angle with one of its +supports, and so afforded a protection to the back +and sides of a fighter who managed to ensconce +himself in the niche, and who would so have only his +front to protect. Setting Carna behind him, and +making her understand by a movement of the hand +that she must crouch as low as she could upon the +ground, he prepared to hold his position. The odds +against him were not so heavy as might have been +supposed. The two ministrants were unarmed. Of +the four left, the two chiefs and their attendants, +one was a middle-aged man, who had never been +expert in arms; and who, whatever his skill and +strength, would scarcely have cared to use them in +<pb n='169'/><anchor id='Pg169'/>such a conflict. Ambiorix, indeed, was of another +temper. The gloomy, fanatical doggedness with +which he had looked on at the preparations for the +sacrifice gave way to a fierce delight when he saw an +enemy before him with whom he could cross swords. +In his inmost soul he had hated the thought of the +sacrifice; but yet the man who had hindered it, and +with it the weal of Britain, was a foe whom it +would be pleasure to smite to the ground. But +fierce as was his temper, it was full of chivalry. +He would not dishonour himself by bringing odds +against an enemy. Signing to the armed attendants +to stand back, he advanced to challenge Cedric. +The Saxon, in height and strength, was more than +a match for his antagonist. But he was hampered +by his position, especially by the presence of the girl. +The weapon, too, with which he was armed—a short +Roman sword—was strange to him. He thought +with regret of his own good steel, an heirloom come +down to him from warriors of the past, and inscribed +with magic Runic rhymes, that was then lying at the +bottom of the Channel. The change, however, was +not really so much to his disadvantage as he thought. +The stones behind him would have hindered the long +sweeping blow which made the great Saxon swords +especially formidable. Altogether it might have +seemed as if Cedric must inevitably be worsted in +the struggle. The British chief, though he hated +<pb n='170'/><anchor id='Pg170'/>the customs and even the civilization of the Roman +conquerors, had not disdained to learn what they +could teach him in the use of arms. They were +acknowledged masters in that, and he accepted the +maxim that it was right to be instructed even by +one’s bitterest enemy. Accordingly he knew all +that a fencing master could teach him; and all the +Saxon’s agility, quickness of eye, and strength, could +not counterbalance the advantage. Before many +minutes had passed Cedric was bleeding from two +wounds, neither of them very serious, but sufficient +to hamper and weaken him. One had been inflicted +on the sword-arm, and threatened to disable him +altogether before long. He felt this himself, and +took his resolve. <q>The curse of Thor upon this +foolish toy!</q> he cried, in his native tongue, as he +threw the short sword straight in the face of his +enemy; and followed up the strange missile by leaping +on his antagonist, both of whose arms he fastened +down to his sides with a supreme exertion of strength. +Gigantic strength, indeed, was the only thing which +gave so desperate a resort the chance of success, and +this might well have failed, if the adversary had not +been entirely unprepared for the movement. Once +held in this tremendous clasp, Ambiorix was as +helpless as a kid in the hug of a bear. Cedric +fairly lifted him off his feet, and threw him backwards. +His head struck one of the great stones +<pb n='171'/><anchor id='Pg171'/>in his fall, and he lay senseless and helpless on the +ground. +</p> + +<p> +The struggle was over so quickly that the attendants +had no time to interfere; nor when it was +finished did they feel any great eagerness to engage +so formidable a champion. Still they advanced, and +Martianus, who felt himself unable to maintain any +longer in the face of what had happened his attitude +of inaction, advanced with them. By this time +Carna, who had been almost stunned by the rapid +succession of startling incidents, had recovered her +self-possession. She lifted herself from the ground, +and stepped between Cedric and the three antagonists +who stood confronting him. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Martianus,</q> she cried, <q>what are you doing here? +What mixes you up with these horrible doings—you, +my father’s friend, you, a Christian man?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Briton stood silent, cursing in his heart the +hideous enterprise which had not even the poor merit +of success. He was spared the necessity of speaking +by an exclamation from one of the ministrants. +</p> + +<p> +<q>See!</q> cried the man, <q>there is a party coming. +It is not likely that they are friends—let us be off.</q> +</p> + +<p> +And indeed the moonlight clearly showed a +number of persons who were rapidly advancing up +one of the great avenues. +</p> + +<p> +Martianus did not hesitate. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You are right,</q> he said to the man, <q>we must +<pb n='172'/><anchor id='Pg172'/>go. The priest’s body must be left. It is useless to +cumber ourselves with the dead; we shall have as +much as we can do to escape ourselves, but take the +sacred things. They at least must not fall into the +hands of the enemy. And you,</q> he went on, addressing +himself to the two attendants, <q>take up +your master and carry him off. We have something +of a start, and it is possible that they may not pursue +us.</q> +</p> + +<p> +His directions were at once obeyed. The priest’s +body was stripped of its robes and ornaments. +Ambiorix, who still lay unconscious on the ground, +was carried by the united efforts of the soldiers +and ministrants, and the whole party had started +in the direction of Amesbury before the new-comers, +who proved to be the priest Flavius, with a party of +his people, reached the Temple. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="17" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='173'/><anchor id='Pg173'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XVII. The British Village"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XVII. The British Village"/> +<head>CHAPTER XVII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE BRITISH VILLAGE.</hi></head> + +<p> +The British priest’s home was at a populous village +on the banks of the Avon, now known by the name +of Netton, and as this was some miles nearer than +Sorbiodunum, he determined to take thither the +party whom his opportune arrival had rescued from +danger. Once arrived there, it would be easy to send +a messenger to the town, and await further instructions. +A litter was hastily constructed for Carna, +who, though her spirits and courage were still unbroken, +was somewhat exhausted by excitement and +fatigue. The Saxon’s wounds were dressed and +bound up by the priest, who united some knowledge +of medicine and surgery to his other accomplishments, +and was indeed scarcely less well qualified +for the cure of bodies than of souls. The priest-doctor +looked somewhat grave when he saw how +deep the sword-cuts were, and how much blood had +been lost, but Cedric made light of his injuries, +<pb n='174'/><anchor id='Pg174'/>scorned the idea of being carried, and indeed seemed +to find no difficulty in keeping close to Carna’s litter +on the homeward journey. +</p> + +<p> +Netton—we are unable to give the British name of +the village—was reached some time before dawn. +At sunrise the priest, who had refreshed himself +with two or three hours’ sleep, was ready to perform +his office at his little church. It was the +first day of the week, and the building was crowded. +It was an oblong building, with a semicircular +eastern end, that resembled that kind of chancel +which is known by the name of an apse. It had +been designed by an Italian builder, who had copied +the shape that seems to have been used in the +earliest Christian buildings, that of the <foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>schola</foreign> or +meeting-house of the trade guilds or associations. +The body of the building was of timber. The eastern +end, or sanctuary, had a little more pretension to +ornament; it was of stone, and the walls were hung +with somewhat handsome tapestry, wrought with +symbolic designs. +</p> + +<p> +Few of the party which had accompanied the +priest the night before were prevented by their +fatigue from being present. The Britons were always +a devout people, and in Netton their priest +had gained such an influence over them, that they +were exceptionally regular in their religious duties. +Carna had been anxious to attend the service, but +<pb n='175'/><anchor id='Pg175'/>the priest’s wife—he had followed the usual practice +of the British Church in marrying before ordination—had +absolutely forbidden so unreasonable an exertion. +Cedric, who would otherwise have been present in +whatever part of the building was open to an +unbaptized person, was still buried in a profound +slumber. The service was in Latin, a language of +which most if not all the worshippers knew enough +to be able to follow the prayers. Such portions +of the Scriptures as were read were accompanied by +the priest with occasional expositions in the British +language; and the sermon, except the text, which was +in Latin, and taken from the recently published +Vulgate of St. Jerome, was wholly in that tongue. +The preacher’s text was from the Psalms, <q>Quomodo +dicitis animæ meæ, Transmigra in montem +sicut passer?</q><note place="foot"><q>How say ye then to my soul that she should flee as a +bird unto the hill?</q>—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Psalm</hi> xi. 1.</note> and was mostly concerned with +the troubles of the time. He had in an uncommon +degree the national gift of eloquence, and +stirred the hearts of his hearers to their inmost +depths. He warned them that troublous times were +approaching, such as neither they nor their fathers +had seen were approaching, and that they would +have to resist unto blood for the faith into which +they had been baptized. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Antichrist,</q> he cried, adapting to the day, as +<pb n='176'/><anchor id='Pg176'/>Christian preachers have done in every age, the +language of the apostles—<q>Antichrist is at hand! +You see him in these heathen hosts who are threatening +you on every side; these Saxon pirates from the +east, who are ravaging our shores; these Pictish +ravagers from the north, who every year are penetrating +further and further into the land. Yes,</q> he +added, with a telling reference to the event of the +night before, <q>and even in apostates of British +blood, who have preserved in your midst the hideous +superstitions from which our ancestors turned to +worship the blessed Christ; and as it was in the days +of the blessed Paul, so is it now: <q>He that letteth +will let till he be taken out of the way,</q> The Roman +power has kept these forces in check, but it will keep +them no more. The time is short. They are gathering +every day in greater strength, and you must gird yourselves +to meet them.</q> Therefore, he went on, they +must be strong and quit them like men. They must +gird on them, and make complete in every point, their +spiritual armour—the helmet of salvation, the sword +of the Divine Word, the all-covering shield of faith; +nor must they forget the temporal weapons with +which the outward enemies who assail the body must +be met. <q>He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment +and buy one,</q> cried the preacher, in his final +apostrophe to his people, <q>and he will find that as his +day so shall his strength be, and that the Lord can +<pb n='177'/><anchor id='Pg177'/>deliver by few as by many, Gideon’s three hundred, +as by the eight hundred thousand men that drew +sword in Israel.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Wrought by the eloquence of the orator to an +almost incontrollable excitement, the whole congregation +sprang to their feet, as if they were asking to +be led at once to the battle. Then, with a sudden +change from the stirring tone of the trumpet to the +sweet music of the flute, the preacher touched +another note. In a pleading voice, almost but never +quite broken with tears, he besought them to cleanse +their hearts; he reminded them that the armies of +the Lamb of God must be clothed in the white robe +of righteousness; that purity, tenderness to the weak, +charity to the fallen, were as needed for Christ’s +soldiers as steadfastness and courage, till many a +cheek was wet with tears of contrition and repentance. +</p> + +<p> +In the course of the forenoon a fleet-footed messenger +was despatched to Sorbiodunum. By the time +he reached that town the Count and his party had +arrived, excepting one who had been left behind, still +too exhausted by his forced march to move. Some, too, +had been sent back in the hope that they might not +be too late to rescue the stragglers who had perforce +been left behind during the journey through the snow. +As there was now no immediate necessity of haste, +Ælius allowed his followers to rest and refresh +them<pb n='178'/><anchor id='Pg178'/>selves for the remainder of the day at +<anchor id="corr178"/><corr sic="Sorbiodunum">Sorbiodunum.</corr> +The following morning he went on to Netton, where he +found, to his great delight, that Carna had apparently +suffered no harm from her perilous adventures. His +gratitude to the Saxon was beyond the power of +words to express. Though it somewhat hurt his +Roman pride that a barbarian should ever have the +strength to hold out when all others fail, he did not +suffer his vexation to take anything from the hearty +warmth of his thanks. Cedric received them with +the courtesy of an equal, a bearing which both +Britons and Italians could not help resenting in their +hearts, while they reluctantly admired his surpassing +strength. +</p> + +<p> +Three days were spent in Netton with much comfort +to the party, the priest and his people showing +them as liberal an hospitality as their means admitted, +and refusing the recompense which the Count +almost forced upon <anchor id="corr178a"/><corr sic="them,">them.</corr> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Take something for your poor,</q> said Ælius, when +his arguments were exhausted. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My people,</q> answered the priest, <q>must not lose +one of the most precious privileges of their Christian +life, the sweet compulsion of having to minister to +the necessities of those who want their help.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Then you cannot refuse some ornament for your +church,</q> the Count went on. +</p> + +<p> +The good man hesitated for a moment. His +<pb n='179'/><anchor id='Pg179'/>church was dear to his heart, and he would gladly +have seen it made as fair as art and wealth could +make it. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My lord,</q> he replied, after his brief hesitation, +<q>in happier times, and in another place, I would not +refuse your generous offer. But now the poorer we +are the better. I should like to see our altar-vessels +of gold, but it would not be well to tempt the barbarians +to a deadly sin, and to expose Christian lives +to worse peril than that they now stand in, by such +treasures, of which the report could scarcely fail to +be spread abroad. Our chalices, and flagons, and +patens are now of lead, thinly covered for decency’s +sake with silver, and they are of no value to any but +those who use them. No, my lord, leave our church +with at least such safety as poverty can give. But +there are places in the world, I would fain believe, +though indeed in these days I scarce know where +they are, where Christian men worship God in security, +and where the treasures of the church are safe +from robbery. Let your gift be given there, when +you find the occasion. And if you will let me know +the place I shall be happy with imagining it, without +the anxious care of its custody.</q> +</p> + +<p> +With this answer the Count was compelled to be +content, till at least next morning, by which time +Carna’s ready wit had suggested that the priest +could hardly refuse a gift of books. +</p> + +<pb n='180'/><anchor id='Pg180'/> + +<p> +<q>My lord,</q> said the good man, when the Count +renewed his offer in its fresh shape on the following +day, <q>your determined generosity has overcome me. +Books I cannot refuse either for my own sake or my +people’s. I sometimes feel that they are starved, or +at the best ill-fed with spiritual food. I can speak +to them of their every-day duties, but I cannot build +them up in their faith for lack of knowledge in myself, +and where is the knowledge to come from? Of books +I have none but my Bible and my Service-book, and +two small books of homilies. If I had some of the +commentaries and homilies of the two great doctors +of our Church, Hieronymus<note place="foot">Commonly called Jerome.</note> and Augustine, I should +be well content. I have heard of the great preacher +of Antioch and Constantinople, John the Golden +Mouth,<note place="foot">John Chrysostom, at Antioch 386-398, at Constantinople +398-404.</note> but, alas, I cannot read Greek.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You shall have them as soon as they can be got,</q> +said the Count. +</p> + +<p> +In the course of the day the search party sent back +from Sorbiodunum returned. They had found one of +the stragglers still alive, and had brought him on to +the village where the first halt had been made. +There he was being carefully tended, but there was +no chance of his being restored to health for many +weeks to come. Of the other two they had a terrible +<pb n='181'/><anchor id='Pg181'/>account to give. Only a few mangled remains could +be discovered, the poor creatures having been manifestly +devoured by wolves. All that could be hoped +was that they had expired before they were attacked. +</p> + +<p> +The Count had now nothing to detain him, and as +he was for many reasons anxious to be at home, where +a multiplicity of duties were awaiting him, he determined +to start on the following day. His route +was first to Sorbiodunum. There he would be on the +main road leading to Venta Belgarum.<note place="foot">Winchester.</note> From Venta, +by following another main road he and his party +would make their way easily to the Camp of the +Great Harbour. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="18" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='182'/><anchor id='Pg182'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XVIII. The Picts"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XVIII. The Picts"/> +<head>CHAPTER XVIII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE PICTS.</hi></head> + +<p> +The journey to Venta Belgarum was accomplished +in safety, and, by dint of starting long before sunrise, +in a single day. The distance was a little more than +twenty miles, and the road, which was so straight +that the end of the journey might almost have been +seen from the beginning, lay almost through an open +country. This was favourable for speed, as there was +little or no need to reconnoitre the ground in advance. +It was just after sunrise when the party reached the +spot where the traces of the great camp of Constantius +Chlorus may still be seen. It had even then ceased +to be occupied, but the soldiers’ huts were still standing, +and the avenues, though overgrown with grass, +looked as if they might easily be thronged again with +all the busy life of a camp. The Count called a halt +for a few minutes, and pointed out the locality to +Carna. +</p> + +<p> +<q>See,</q> said he, with a sigh, <q>there Constantius had +<pb n='183'/><anchor id='Pg183'/>his camp, the great Constantius to whom we owe so +much.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And was Constantine himself ever there?</q> cried +the girl, to whom the first Christian Emperor was +the object of an admiration which we, knowing as +we do more about him, can hardly share. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I doubt it,</q> returned the Count. <q>Constantius +made it and held it during his campaigns with +Allectus. But, my child, I was thinking not of its +past, but of its future. It will never be occupied +again.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Why should it?</q> exclaimed the girl, almost +forgetting in her excitement that she was speaking +to a Roman. <q>Why should it? Why should not +Britain be happy and safe and free without the +legions? Forgive me, father,</q> she added, remembering +herself again; <q>I am the last person in the +world who should be ungrateful to Rome.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I don’t blame you,</q> said the Count, and as he +looked at the maiden’s flashing eyes and remembered +how bravely she had gone through terrors which +would have driven most women out of their senses, +he thought to himself—<q>Ah, if there were but a few +thousand men who had half the spirit of this woman +in them, the end might be different. My child,</q> he +went on, <q>I would not discourage you, but there are +dark days before this island. She has enemies by +sea and land, and I doubt whether she has the +<pb n='184'/><anchor id='Pg184'/>strength to strike a sufficient blow for herself. I am +thankful that you will be safely away before it +comes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Carna was about to speak, but checked herself. It +was not the time she felt to speak out her heart. +</p> + +<p> +For some time after this little or nothing of interest +occurred; but as the party approached within a +few miles of Venta the scene underwent a remarkable +change. The road had hitherto been almost +entirely deserted; it was now thronged: but the face +of every passenger was turned towards Venta, not a +single traveller was going the other way. Every by-way +and bridle-path and foot-path that touched the +road contributed to swell the throng. In fact, the +whole countryside was in motion. And the fugitives, +for their manifest hurry and alarm proclaimed to be +nothing less, carried all their property with them. +Carts laden with rustic furniture, on the top of which +women and children were perched, waggons loaded +with the harvest of the year, droves of sheep and +cattle helped to crowd the road till it was almost +impassable. And still the hurrying pace, the fearful +anxious glances cast behind showed that it was some +terrible danger from which this timid multitude was +flying. For some time, so stupified with fear were the +fugitives, Ælius could get no rational answer to the +questions which he put. <q>The Picts! The Picts! +They are upon us!</q> at last said a man whom a +sud<pb n='185'/><anchor id='Pg185'/>den catastrophe that brought a great pile of household +goods to the ground, had compelled to halt, and who +was glad to get the help of the Count’s attendants to +restore them, all help from neighbours being utterly +out of the question when all were selfishly intent on +saving their own lives and property. When his +property had been set in its place again the man +thanked the Count very heartily, and was collected +enough to tell all he knew. +</p> + +<p> +<q>There is no doubt that the Picts are not far off. +I have not seen anything of them myself, thank +heaven! but I could see the fires last night all along +the sky to the north.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Have they ever been here before?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Never quite here. You see, sir, the camp at +Calleva<note place="foot">Calleva Attrebatium, now known as Silchester, one of the +most perfect specimens of a Roman camp to be seen in this +country.</note> kept them in check. A party did slip by, +I know, some little way to the westward, and I was +glad to hear they got rather roughly handled. But, +generally, they did not like to come anywhere near +the camps. But now these are deserted, and there is +nothing to keep them back.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But why don’t you defend yourselves?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah, sir, we have not the strength, nor even the +arms. You are a Roman, I see, and, if I may +judge, a man in authority, and you know that I am +<pb n='186'/><anchor id='Pg186'/>speaking the truth. You have not allowed us to do +anything for ourselves, and how can we do it now at +a few months’ notice?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Count made no answer; indeed, none was +possible. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And you expect to find shelter at Venta?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I don’t say that I expect it, but it is our only +chance. The place has at least walls.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And any one to man them?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>There should be some old soldiers, but how +many I cannot say; anyhow, scarcely enough for a +garrison.</q> +</p> + +<p> +When the Count learned the situation he felt that +his best course would be to press on with his party +to Venta with all the speed possible. The chief +authority of the town was in the hands of a native, +who had the title of Head of the City.<note place="foot">Princeps Civitatis.</note> It was +possible that this officer might be a man of courage +and capacity; but it was far more likely that he +would be quite unequal to the emergency. In either +case the Count felt that his advice and personal +influence might be of very great use. Even the +twenty stout soldiers whom he had with him would +be no inconsiderable addition to the fighting force of +the place. Accordingly he gave orders to his followers +to quicken their pace. Fortunately the greater part +<pb n='187'/><anchor id='Pg187'/>of the fugitives was behind them; still it was no +easy task for the party to make its way through the +struggling masses of human beings and cattle, and it +was past sunset when they rode up to the gates of +Venta. +</p> + +<p> +It was evident that the bad news had already +arrived. The gates were closely shut, while the +walls were crowded with spectators anxiously looking +northwards for signs of the approaching enemy. +The porter was at first unwilling to admit the strangers, +peering anxiously through the wicket at them, +and declaring that he must first consult his superior. +One of the spectators on the wall happened, however, +to recognize the Count, and the party was admitted +without further question, and rode up at once to the +quarters of the Commander of the Town. +</p> + +<p> +If he had hoped to find an official with whom it +would be possible or profitable to co-operate in the +<foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>Princeps</foreign> of Venta, the Count was very much disappointed. +He was an elderly man, who had realized +a fair fortune by contracting for the provisioning of +the army in Southern Britain, and had done very +fairly as long as he had nothing to do but execute +the orders of the military governor. Left to himself +he was absolutely helpless. Indeed he had been +taking refuge from his anxieties in the wine-cup, and +the Count found him at least half intoxicated. At +the moment of the party’s arrival the poor creature +<pb n='188'/><anchor id='Pg188'/>had reached the valorous stage of drunkenness, and +was loud in his declarations that there was no possible +danger. +</p> + +<p> +<q>They will know better,</q> he said, <q>than to come +near Venta. If they do, very few will go back. +Indeed I should like nothing better than to give them +a lesson. You shall see something worth looking at +if you will give us the pleasure of your company in +our little town for a day or two.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Another cup, which he drained to the prosperity of +Britain and the confusion of her enemies, changed +his mood. He now seemed to have forgotten all +about the invaders, insisted on recognizing a dear +friend of past times in the Count, and invited him to +spend the rest of the day in talking over old times. +</p> + +<p> +The Count did not waste many minutes with the +old man, but when he left the house the darkness +had already closed in. After finding with some +difficulty accommodation for Carna, he returned to +the gate, anxious to learn for himself how things +were going on. He found the place a scene of +frightful confusion. The warders had abandoned +their office as hopeless. An incessant stream of +fugitives, men, women, and children, mingled with +carts and waggons of every shape and size, was +pouring into the town. Every now and then one of +these vehicles, brought out perhaps in the sudden +emergency from the repose of years, broke down and +<pb n='189'/><anchor id='Pg189'/>blocked the way. Then the living torrent began to +rage at the obstacle, as a river in flood roars about a +tree which has fallen across its current. Shortly the +offending vehicle would be removed by main force, +and with a very scanty regard for its contents. Then +the uproar lulled again, though there never ceased a +babel of voices, cursing, entreating, complaining, +quarrelling, through all the gamut of notes, from the +deepest base to the shrillest treble. The wall was +crowded with the inhabitants of the town, and every +eye was fixed intently on the northern horizon. +There, as was only too plainly to be seen, the sky +was reddened with a dull glow, which might have +been described as a sunrise out of place, but that it +was brightened now and then for a moment by a +shoot of flame. <q>Where are they?</q> <q>How soon +will they be here?</q> were the questions which every +one was asking, and which no one attempted to +answer. The Count made his way with some difficulty +along the top of the rampart in search of some +one from whom he might hope to get some rational +account of the situation. At last he found among +the spectators an old man, whose bearing struck him +as having something soldierly about it. A nearer +look showed him a military decoration. He lost no +time in addressing him. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Comrade,</q> he said, <q>I see that you have followed +the eagles.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='190'/><anchor id='Pg190'/> + +<p> +The veteran recognized something of the tone of +command in the Count’s voice, and made a military +salute. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, sir, so I have, though my sword has been +hanging up for more than thirty years.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And what do you think of the prospect?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Badly, sir, badly. This is just what I feared; +but it has come even sooner than I looked for it. +Things have been very bad for some time in the +north ever since the garrisons were taken from the +Wall,<note place="foot">The wall of Antoninus, built to defend Northern Britain +from the Caledonians, and held by Roman forces till far on in +the fourth century.</note> but, except for a troop of robbers now and +then, we were fairly safe here. But now that these +barbarians know that the legions are gone, there will +be no stopping them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>They are the Picts, I hear. Have you ever had +to do with them?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, sir, I have seen as much of them as ever I +want to see. I came to this island thirty-nine years +ago with Theodosius, grandfather, you know, of the +Augustus;</q> and the old man, who was steadfastly +loyal to the Emperor, bared his head as he +spoke. <q>I am a Batavian from the island of the +Rhine, and was then a deputy-centurion in Theodosius’ +army. We found Britain full of the savages. +They had positively over-run the whole country as +<pb n='191'/><anchor id='Pg191'/>far as the southern sea, and only the walled towns +had escaped them, and these were almost in despair. +I shall never forget how the people at Londinium +crowded about the general, kissing his hands and +feet, when he rode into the town. But I must not tire +you with an old soldier’s stories. You ask me about +the Picts. They are the worst savages I ever saw, +and I have had some experience too. They go naked +but for some kind of a skin girdle about their loins, +and they are hideously painted, and their hair is +more like a beast’s than a man’s, and then they eat +human flesh. Ah, sir, you may shake your head, +but I know it. We used to find dead bodies with +the fleshy parts cut off where they had been. I +shudder to think of what I saw in those days. Well, +we gave them a good lesson, drove them back to their +own country, and an awful country it is, all lakes +and mountains, with not so much as a blade of corn +from one end to the other. But now they will be +as bad as ever.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But you are safe here in Venta, I suppose?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Safe! I wish we were. If we had a proper +garrison here, there is no one to command them. +You have seen the <foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>Princeps</foreign>?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Count said nothing, but his silence was +significant. +</p> + +<p> +<q>But there is no garrison. There are not more than +fifty men in the place who have ever carried arms.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='192'/><anchor id='Pg192'/> + +<p> +<q>But surely the people will defend themselves. +You, as an old soldier, know very well that civilians, +who would be quite useless in the field, may do good +service behind walls.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>True, sir, if they have two things—a spirit and a +leader; and these people, as far as I can tell, have +neither.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>That is a bad look out. But tell me—how soon +do you think the enemy will be here?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Not to-night, certainly; perhaps not to-morrow. +And indeed it is just possible that they may not come +at all. You see that they get a great quantity of +plunder in the country without much trouble or +danger, and they may leave the towns alone. Barbarians +mostly don’t care to knock their heads against +stone walls, and of course they think us a great deal +stronger than we are.</q> +</p> + +<p> +After making an appointment with his new acquaintance +for a meeting on the following day, the +Count rejoined his party. +</p> + +<p> +The next day the <foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>Princeps</foreign> called a meeting of the +principal burgesses of the town, at which the Count, +in consideration of his rank as a Roman official, was +invited to attend. The tone of the meeting was +better than he had expected. There were one or two +resolute men among the local magistrates, and these +contrived to communicate something of their spirit +to the rest. A general levy of the inhabitants +<pb n='193'/><anchor id='Pg193'/>between the ages of sixteen and sixty was to be made. +The town was divided into districts, and recruiting +officers were appointed for each. By an unanimous +vote of the meeting the Count was requested to take +the chief command. The delay of the invaders +gave some time for carrying out these preparations +for defence. A force was speedily raised, sufficient, +as far at least as numbers were concerned, to garrison +the walls. This was divided into companies, +each having two watches, which were to be on duty +alternately. The whole extent of work was divided +among them, and the town was stored with such +missiles as could be collected or manufactured, +while Carna busied herself among the women, organizing +the supply of food and drink for the guards of +the wall, and preparations for the care of the wounded. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="19" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='194'/><anchor id='Pg194'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XIX. The Siege"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XIX. The Siege"/> +<head>CHAPTER XIX.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE SIEGE.</hi></head> + +<p> +Day after day the burgesses of Venta awaited the +course of events. For some time they hoped that, +after all, the town might not be visited by the invaders. +The lurid glow of the skies by night, and +the clouds of smoke by day, sometimes borne by the +wind so close to the town that the smell could be +distinctly recognized, proved that they were still +near. But though the effects of their work of ruin +were visible enough, of the barbarians themselves no +one had yet caught a glimpse. But towards the +evening of the seventh day after the Count’s arrival +a party was seen to emerge from a wood, distant +about half a mile from the gates. There were +four in all; two of them were mounted on small +and very shaggy ponies, the others were on foot. The +party advanced till they were about a hundred yards +from the wall, and though the fading light prevented +them from being seen very clearly, there could be no +doubt that they were some of the dreaded Picts. +</p> + +<pb n='195'/><anchor id='Pg195'/> + +<p> +A debate, which seemed, from the gesticulations +of the speakers to be of a somewhat violent kind, +was carried on for a time among the savages. Then +one of the mounted men rode, with all the speed +to which his diminutive horse could be urged, almost +up to the gates of the town. He wore a deer-skin +robe of the very simplest construction, with holes +through which his head and arms were thrust. His +legs were bare. Round his neck was hung a bow of +a very rude kind. In his right hand he carried a +short spear. With the butt of this he struck violently +at the gate, as if demanding entrance, and +after waiting a few seconds, as it seemed for an +answer, turned his pony’s head and began to ride +back to his party. He had almost reached them +before the defenders of the wall had recovered from +the astonishment which his audacity had caused +them. Then one who was armed with a bow discharged +at the retreating figure an arrow, which +more by good luck than skill, for scarcely any aim +had been taken, struck the Pict on the neck. He did +not fall from his horse, but swayed heavily to one +side, catching at the animal’s mane to steady himself. +His three companions rushed forward to help +him, and in another moment would have carried him +off, but for the resolution and activity of the Saxon, +who with the Count was standing on the rampart +close to the gate. He lowered himself by his hands +<pb n='196'/><anchor id='Pg196'/>from the wall, a height of about fifteen feet, itself no +small feat of activity, and ran at his full speed, a +speed which, as has been said before, was quite +uncommon. Hampered as they were by having to +keep their wounded companion in the saddle, the Picts +could move but slowly, and were soon overtaken. +With two blows, delivered with all his gigantic +strength, Cedric levelled two of them to the ground, +and, seizing the wounded chief, threw him over his +shoulder, then turning ran towards the gate. For a +moment the third Pict stood too astonished to move. +Cedric had thus a start of some yards, and before he +could be overtaken, had got so close to the wall as +to be under the protection of the archers and slingers +who lined it. The next moment the wicket of the +gate was opened, and the prisoner secured. +</p> + +<p> +It was evident that he was a prize of some value, +for a rudely wrought chain of gold round his neck +showed that he was a chief. He had ridden up to +the gate against the advice of his followers, as it was +guessed, under the influences of copious draughts of +metheglin. The effect of the liquor, together with +the pain of his wound and the shock of his capture, +had been to make him insensible when he was +brought into the town. While he was in this state +his wound was dressed by a slave who had some +surgical skill, and who declared that though serious it +was not mortal. When he recovered consciousness +<pb n='197'/><anchor id='Pg197'/>he behaved more like a wild beast than a man. His +first act was to tear furiously at the bandage which +had been applied to his wound. The attendants +mastered him with difficulty, for he fought with the +ferocity of a wild cat, and then bound his hands and +feet. Thus rendered helpless, he raved at the top of +his voice till sheer exhaustion reduced him to silence, +a silence which was soon followed by sleep. +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: Cedric and the Pict.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig196"/><figure url="images/i_223.jpg" rend="w80"><index index="fig" level1="Cedric and the Pict"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>Cedric and the Pict.</hi></head> +<figDesc>Cedric and the Pict</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +The night passed without any attack. It was +evident that the Picts were in considerable force, for +their watch fires were to be seen scattered over a +wide extent of country, and there was much anxious +talk in the town about the chances of a siege. Few +indeed in Venta closed their eyes that night, and +with the earliest morning the whole town was astir. +The invaders, of course, had no notion of how a siege +should be conducted, nor had they the necessary +mechanical means even if they had known how to +use them. Their arrows did but little harm, for +their bows were ill made, and had but a small range, +nothing like that which was commanded by the +better weapons of the defenders. With the sling, +however, they were singularly expert, and inflicted +no small damage, making indeed some parts of the +walls scarcely tenable. But as they could do nothing +without showing themselves, they suffered more loss +than they inflicted. In the early days of the siege +especially, a catapult, which the garrison worked +<pb n='198'/><anchor id='Pg198'/>from the walls, did great damage among them. After +awhile they were careful not to collect in such numbers +as to give a fair mark for this piece of artillery. +</p> + +<p> +The townspeople were greatly elated at their +success, and when, about a fortnight after the first +appearance of the invaders before the walls, two days +had passed without one of them being visible, concluded +that, hopeless of making any impression upon +the place, they had disappeared. +</p> + +<p> +They were soon undeceived. It was growing dusk +on the third day after the supposed departure of the +enemy, when a heavily laden cart was drawn up to +the western gate of the city. The driver, apparently +a country man, knocked for admittance. By rights, +at such an hour, it should have been refused, but the +vigilance of the watch had begun to slacken, most of +the besieged believing that the danger was practically +over. Accordingly, no difficulty was made about +throwing open the gates. But, once thrown open, +they were not so easily closed. Just as the cart was +passing through the opening in the wall one of the +wheels came off, and the vehicle broke down hopelessly. +Commonly it would not have taken long to +clear the obstacle out of the way. There was usually +a throng of people about the gates and on the walls, +and a multitude of willing hands would have been +ready to lend their help. But just at this moment +the gates and walls were almost deserted. +Even-<pb n='199'/><anchor id='Pg199'/>song was going on in the Church of Venta, and a +preacher of some local fame was expected to enlarge +on the Divine mercy shown in the deliverance of the +town from the barbarians. The keepers of the gate +would, therefore, have been at a loss even if they had +seen the necessity of bestirring themselves. As it +was, they were content to do nothing. They amused +themselves by standing by and laughing at the rustic +driver as he slowly unladed from his vehicle its miscellaneous +cargo, the contents, it seemed, of one of +the country-side cottages, from which the terror of the +invasion had driven their inhabitants. The process +of unloading, carried on slowly and with much +grumbling, was scarcely half finished, when one of +the warders, chancing to look behind him, caught +sight of a body of men rapidly approaching through +the darkness. A number of Picts had concealed +themselves in the wood mentioned before as distant +about half a mile from the wall, and when they +saw the gate blocked by the broken-down cart—a +part, it need hardly be said, of the stratagem—had +made a rush to get to it before the obstacle could be +removed. A hasty alarm was raised, and some of the +citizens who were in hearing ran up. But it was too +late. The rustic driver, a villain whose treacherous +services had been bought by the enemy, had quickened +his work when he saw his employers approaching, and +contrived to finish the unloading of the cart at the +<pb n='200'/><anchor id='Pg200'/>very moment of their coming up. In a few moments +some of them had clambered over the empty vehicle, +struck down the guards, and disabled the fastenings +of the gates. Before many minutes had passed the +whole of the ground outside the gates seemed to +swarm with the enemy, and though the townspeople +had now begun to make a rally in force, it was too +late to make any effectual effort to keep them out. +The situation would in any case have been full of +danger. At Venta it was hopeless. A garrison of +veterans might have kept their heads, but there were +not more than sixty or seventy among the defenders +of Venta who had ever seen service in the field; and +the citizen soldiers were fairly panic-stricken when +they saw themselves actually facing a furious, yelling +crowd of barbarians, cruel and savage creatures in +reality, and commonly reported to be even worse +than they were. Without even striking a blow they +turned and fled. The Count, whom the alarm had +just reached, was met, and, for a time, carried away +by the tide of fugitives. Still he was able to rally a +few men to his side for a last effort. Some of his own +followers were with him, and the rest could be fetched +in a few moments. The gallant old centurion, in +spite of his seventy years, was prompt with the offer +of his sword; and, as always happens, the infection +of courage spread not less rapidly than the infection +of cowardice. Altogether a compact body of about +<pb n='201'/><anchor id='Pg201'/>a hundred men were collected. Well armed and well +disciplined they turned a steadfast face to the enemy, +and were able to make their retreat to a little fort +which stood on a hill to the south-east of the town. +Carna, the priest of Venta and his family, and a few +other non-combatants were with them. More, in the +terrible confusion of the scene, it was impossible to +rescue. All through the trying time Cedric distinguished +himself by his coolness and courage. When +once he had seen Carna safely bestowed in the centre +of the party, and had also seen that the person of +the Pictish chief was secured (having the presence +of mind to foresee that he would be a valuable +hostage), he took up a position in the extreme rear +of the retreat, and performed prodigies of valour in +keeping the pursuers at bay. +</p> + +<p> +The occupation of the fort could, of course, do +nothing more than give them a breathing space. +Though it had been for some time unoccupied, its +defences were tolerably perfect, and it might have +been held against a barbarian enemy as long as +provisions held out. Unfortunately this was the +weak part of their position. Of provisions they had +very little. Luckily the place had latterly been used +as a warehouse, and contained some sacks of flour. +A few sheep were feeding in a meadow hard by, and +were hastily driven within the defences. Happily +there was a well within the walls. +</p> + +<pb n='202'/><anchor id='Pg202'/> + +<p> +That night was a dismal experience which none of +the party ever forgot. A confused noise came up from +the town, where the savages were busy with plunder +and massacre. Every now and then some piercing +shriek was heard, curdling the blood of all the +listeners. At other times the loud crash of some +falling building could be distinguished. Towards +midnight flames could be seen bursting out from +various parts of the town, and before an hour had +passed, every eye was fixed on a hideous spectacle, +on which it was an agony to look, but from which it +yet seemed impossible to turn. Venta was on fire. +The flames could be seen to catch street after street, +and distinctly against the lurid background of the +burning houses could be seen, flitting here and there, +as they busied themselves with the work of destruction, +the dark shapes of the barbarians. When the +morning dawned only a few detached buildings, +among them the church, a basilica of some size, +built by the munificence of the Empress Helena, +were standing. +</p> + +<p> +The party in the fort reviewed their position +anxiously. The civilians were for the most part in +favour of staying where they were. They felt the +substantial protection of the stout walls which surrounded +them, and were indisposed to leave it. The +military men, on the other hand, recognized facts +more clearly and more completely. The protection +<pb n='203'/><anchor id='Pg203'/>of the fort was worth this and this only—that it gave +them time to reflect. To stand a siege would be to +ensure destruction. +</p> + +<p> +<q>We must cut our way through,</q> said the Count. +<q>If we do not try it now we shall have to try it three +or four days hence, and try it with less courage, and +hope, and strength, and probably fewer men than we +have now.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Cut our way through all those thousands of +savages!</q> said the <foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>Princeps</foreign>, who was one of the +few who had escaped from the town. <q>No; we +should be fools to leave the shelter of these walls.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Shelter!</q> cried the old centurion; <q>will they +shelter you against famine? No; let us go while we +have strength to walk.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But how,</q> said another of the townspeople, <q>how +will you do all the three things at once—retreat, and +fight, and save the women? A few of the men may +get through, but it will be as much as they can do to +take care of themselves.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The argument was only too clear, and the Count +turned away with a groan of despair. The prospect +seemed hopeless. All the comfort that he could +find was in the thought that he and Carna should +anyhow, not fall alive into the hands of the +barbarians. +</p> + +<p> +But now Cedric came again to the rescue with the +happy thought which had made him carry off the +<pb n='204'/><anchor id='Pg204'/>Pictish chief. He said nothing to any of his companions; +but he managed the affair with the prisoner, +and managed it with an astonishing speed and +success. He pointed to a party of the chief’s fellow-countrymen +who were approaching the fort, by way, +it appeared, of reconnoitring its defences, and +intimated that he wished to open communications +with them, showing at the same time, by holding up +two of his fingers, that not more than two were to +approach. The chief, whose intelligence was sharpened +by a keen sense of his danger, by a shrill +piercing whistle, twice repeated, conveyed this +intimation to his countrymen, and two of them +approached to within speaking distance of the walls. +Cedric now addressed himself to the task of making +his prisoner understand that his life and liberty +depended upon his inducing his countrymen to +retire. This was not very easily done. The expressive +gestures of drawing a knife across the +throat was readily understood; and at last by a +pantomime of signs he was made to comprehend +that this would be the result, if his countrymen +were to approach the walls. Then the other alternative +was expressed. One of the bonds with which +he was secured was partially loosed, and this action +was accompanied by a sweeping gesture of the hand +towards the north, which was to indicate that that +must be their way, if he was to be freed. A light of +<pb n='205'/><anchor id='Pg205'/>comprehension gradually dawned in the chief’s eye, +and the Saxon had little doubt that he had made his +meaning intelligible. Whether the man could be +trusted to keep the engagement was what neither he +nor any one could say. But it was clear that the +risk had to be run, for the only possible hope of +escape lay in this direction. A conversation followed +between the chief and his countrymen, accompanied +by signs which were intended to convey to the Saxon +the purport of what he was saying. When it was +over, they disappeared, and the chief, turning to +Cedric, raised his hands to the sky in a gesture which +the latter interpreted, and rightly interpreted, to +mean that he was calling the powers above to witness +his fidelity to the engagement which he had made. +</p> + +<p> +Cedric then communicated the result of his negotiations +through his interpreter the peddler to the +Count. It was not received with unanimous approval +by the party in the fort. The <foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>Princeps</foreign> +especially protested loudly against trusting their +lives to the good faith of a couple of savages. <q>A +Pict and a Saxon!</q> he cried, <q>the worst enemies that +Britain has, and you think that they are going to +save us!</q> He was quickly overruled by the Count, +who let him understand quite plainly that he would +be left to shift for himself unless he availed himself +of this chance of escape. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Do as you please,</q> was Ælius’s first utterance, +<pb n='206'/><anchor id='Pg206'/><q>you have authority over the fort, and if you choose +to defend it with as many of your friends as you can +induce to stay with you, I cannot hinder you. But +you must take the consequences, and I haven’t the +shadow of a doubt what these will be. Meanwhile, +I and my party mean to go. As for the Pict, I know +nothing of him; the Saxon I would trust with my +life, and what is far dearer to me, the life of my +daughter. He has proved his good faith already in +such a way that I for one shall never doubt him +again.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Preparations for departure were hastily made. +Indeed there was little to prepare. The party had +simply nothing with them except their arms. Every +one had to walk—for food they had to trust to what +they might find on the road. But before they started +the Count loosed with his own hand the chief’s bonds. +The chief put his hand upon his heart, and then +lifted it to the sky with the same gesture of appeal +that he made before. +</p> + +<p> +It is sufficient to say that he kept his word, for +the party reached the coast without molestation. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="20" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='207'/><anchor id='Pg207'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XX. Cedric in Trouble"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XX. Cedric in Trouble"/> +<head>CHAPTER XX.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">CEDRIC IN TROUBLE.</hi></head> + +<p> +For several weeks life passed at the villa with little +change or incident. But the Count, though he kept +a cheerful face, and talked gaily of the future to his +daughter and Carna, felt more acutely every day how +full his position was of anxieties and difficulties. +First came, as it always does come first, the question +of money. It had never been a very easy matter to +provide for the expenses of the fleet. Again and +again the Count had drawn on his private means, +which were happily very large. But these had +lately been crippled by the troubled condition of the +provinces in which his estates were situated, and +even if they had been untouched the burden that now +threatened to fall upon them would have been too +great for them to bear. Some of the seaport towns +would, he hoped, continue to pay their contributions. +He was personally popular, and his influence +would do something. Then, again, he could still +<pb n='208'/><anchor id='Pg208'/>give at least some return for the money. The sea-coast +must be protected from the enemy, and no one +could protect it so cheaply and so effectually as he. +From the inland towns, which had always grumbled +at having to pay an impost from which they saw no +visible advantage, nothing was to be hoped. And any +expectation of money from the authorities at home +was quite out of the question. +</p> + +<p> +One thing was quite certain: the establishment +must be reduced within much narrower limits. He +must diminish the fleet, and lessen also the range of +shore which he professed to defend. He could not +henceforth pretend to go north of the mouth of the +Thamesis. For the coast southward and westward +he might be able to provide more or less effectually. +More he could not do. +</p> + +<p> +One of the first necessities of the changed position +in which he found himself was that he must give up +the villa on the east coast. It would be a matter for +after consideration whether the island of Vectis was +not too much out of the way. But till that point +could be settled, it would have to be his head-quarters. +To carry out these new arrangements, and to wind +up affairs in the region which he was preparing to relinquish, +a voyage became necessary. On this voyage +the Count started early in April. He arranged for +disposing of that part of the fleet which he could +not hope to keep in his own pay. Some of the +<pb n='209'/><anchor id='Pg209'/>oldest galleys were broken up; others were handed +over to the authorities of the coast-towns, on the +understanding that they were to man and pay them +themselves. A few picked men were taken from the +crews by the Count; the rest, excepting such as were +re-engaged by the local authorities, were discharged. +When this had been done, and the villa had been +dismantled, the Count prepared to return to the +island. +</p> + +<p> +Here, meanwhile, there had been trouble. The +Saxon had quietly returned to his work at the forge, +and would have been perfectly content, as far as +could be judged from his demeanour, if only he had +been left alone, and permitted to pay as before his +distant worship to Carna. But to some members of +the villa household he was an object of dislike. +They were jealous of the favour in which the Count +and the Count’s family held him. They were +naturally not at all pleased at what they could not +but acknowledge his great superiority in strength, +and as Christians, though not particularly zealous in +their performance of most of their duties, they felt +themselves to be unquestionably zealous and sincere +in their hatred and contempt for a pagan. The +Saxon, on the other hand, heartily despised those by +whom he was surrounded. They were slaves, or +little better than slaves, and he was a freeman and a +chief, though the gods had made him a prisoner. +<pb n='210'/><anchor id='Pg210'/>He went to and fro among them with a scorn which +was not the less evident because it was not expressed +in words. +</p> + +<p> +For a time this enforced silence helped to +keep the peace; Cedric knew nothing of the British +tongue, or of the mongrel Latin which sometimes took +its place, and the other inhabitants of the villa +nothing of Saxon. There were angry and contemptuous +looks on both sides, but there was nothing +more; or if there were words, these were harmless, +because they were not understood. But by degrees +this was changed. Cedric had intelligence of no +common kind—indeed he was something of a poet +among his own people—he had many motives for +learning the language of those among whom he +dwelt, his adoration for Carna being one of the most +powerful, and he had, too, opportunities for learning. +The peddler taught him much, and Carna, who +never forgot her zealous desire for his conversion, +taught him more. The end was that he picked up +much of the British language with extraordinary +rapidity, and, in little more than six months after his +capture, could express himself with some ease and +fluency. +</p> + +<p> +This was very well in its way, but it had the +unfortunate result that he began to understand and +be understood. Every day the relations between him +and the domestics and artizans employed about the +<pb n='211'/><anchor id='Pg211'/>villa became worse and worse, and it was not long +before matters came to a crisis. +</p> + +<p> +Cedric had repeatedly noticed that the tools which +he used in the forge had been hidden or mischievously +damaged. He was too proud to complain, +and indeed his temper was curiously patient in any +matter where he did not conceive his honour to be +involved. He said nothing about the matter, +searched for his missing tools, and if he could not +find them, continued to do without them, and repaired +the injuries as best he could. The offender, +of course, grew bolder with impunity, and at last the +limits of Cedric’s endurance were reached and passed. +Coming into the forge at an unusually early hour +one morning, he caught the doer of the mischief in +the very commission of a more serious piece of +mischief than he had yet ventured, namely, cutting +a hole in the bellows. He lifted the offender by the +skin of the neck—he was a lad of about sixteen, +and son of the chief bailiff of the farm attached to +the villa—shook him, as a dog shakes a rat, yet +without forgetting that he was but a boy, dipped him +head foremost in the bath of the forge, and then let +him go, more dead than alive from the fear that he +felt at finding himself in the hands of the great giant. +</p> + +<p> +Unluckily at the very moment when the young +rascal was being dismissed in a paroxysm of howling +with a contemptuous kick, his father entered the +<pb n='212'/><anchor id='Pg212'/>yard. No one about the place was more prejudiced +against the Saxon, or more jealous of the favour in +which he stood with the Count and his family. He +had too, in its very worst form, the ungovernable +Celtic temper, and now, when he saw his son, a +spoilt boy whom everybody else disliked, ill-treated +as he thought by the prisoner, he was fairly carried +out of himself. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Pagan dog!</q> he cried, <q>do you dare to touch +with your beast’s foot a Christian boy?</q> and he +struck at the Saxon with a long cart whip which he +had in his hand. +</p> + +<p> +The end of the lash caught the Saxon’s cheek, on +which it raised an ugly-looking wheal. Even in the +height of his passion the Briton stood aghast at the +change which came in a moment over the form and +features of the Saxon. One or two of the bystanders +had seen him face to face with an enemy, and had +wondered how strangely calm he had seemed to be, +showing no sign of excitement, except a certain +glitter in his eyes. He had a very different look +now. <q>The form of his visage was changed,</q> as it +was in the Babylonian king<note place="foot">Daniel iii. 19.</note> when he found himself, +for the first time in his life, confronted by a +point-blank refusal to obey. A consuming anger, +like the Berseker rage of his kinsmen of after times, +<pb n='213'/><anchor id='Pg213'/>the Vikings, seemed to possess and transform him. +His features worked, as if caught by some strange +malady, his eyes literally blazed with fury, his whole +figure seemed to dilate. The luckless bailiff was +seized round the middle, lifted from the ground as +easily as if he had been a child in arms, and hurled +with a crash, like a bolt from a catapult, against the +wall. He lay there bleeding from nose and mouth, +while the horror-stricken Britons stood helpless and +afraid to move. +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: Cedric’s Fury.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig212"/><figure url="images/i_241.jpg" rend="w80"><index index="fig" level1="Cedric’s Fury"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>Cedric’s Fury.</hi></head> +<figDesc>Cedric’s Fury</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +<q>Dogs of slaves,</q> cried Cedric, <q>do you dare to +growl at your master;</q> and he swept through the +terrified crowd, laying them low on either side. +Happily at the moment he had no weapon in his +hand, but he seized a bar of iron from the anvil of +the forge, and swinging it round his head, prepared, +it seemed, to deal about him an indiscriminate +destruction. What would have followed it is impossible +to say. In his fury and in his absolute +mastery over that shrinking crowd, he was like a +tiger in the midst of a flock of sheep. But at the +critical moment, before his hand had dealt a single +blow, the apparition of Carna interposed between +him and his victims. The uproar in the court had +reached her in her chamber, and brought her ready +to play her accustomed part of peacemaker. Now +she stood, her figure framed like a picture, in the +door which opened on the court from the part of the +<pb n='214'/><anchor id='Pg214'/>villa which she occupied. She wore a simple dress +of white, fastened with a blue girdle; her long chestnut +hair fell in loose waves to her waist, for she had +not had time to arrange it in more orderly fashion. +Her face was pale and troubled, her eyes wide open +with a sad surprise. It was indeed another Cedric +that she saw from the one whom she had known. +Was this terrible savage, who looked more like some +dreadful spirit from the abyss than a human creature, +the gentle giant in whose mute homage she had felt +such an innocent pleasure, the hopeful pupil whom +she was teaching, as she hoped, to put away savage +ways for the mild and peaceful behaviour of a +Christian. As for Cedric, he seemed paralyzed at +the vision that presented itself to him. The sight +of the girl always moved him strangely; now +she reminded him of the time when he had first +seen her by the bedside of his dying brother; and +the remembrance completed, if anything was needed +to complete, the impression. The fury that had +transfigured him seemed to pass away; his hand +loosed its hold on the weapon which he held. His +adversaries did not fail to use the opportunity. +They had been too genuinely frightened to let it slip +when it came. Indeed they may be excused for feeling +that this most formidable enemy had to be secured +against doing any more damage. The moment they +saw him unarmed they sprang with one movement +<pb n='215'/><anchor id='Pg215'/>on him and overpowered him. Even then, if he had +offered resistance, they might have had no small +trouble, perhaps might have failed in securing him. +But he stood passive, and allowed his hands to be +bound without a struggle, and followed without +difficulty when he was led to the room where +offenders were commonly confined. Some of the +meaner spirits in the household were disposed to +visit their feelings of annoyance and humiliation on +his head, now that he seemed to be in their power. +But others felt a salutary dread of rousing the +sleeping lion whose rage they had seen could be so +terrible. Carna too did not abandon her <foreign lang="fr" rend='italic'>protegé</foreign>. +He was chained, indeed, to a staple in the wall of +the room which served as his prison. This seemed +nothing more than a necessary precaution. But the +girl let it be distinctly understood that no cruelty +must be used to him, and she took care herself that +his supply of food should be plentiful and good. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="21" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='216'/><anchor id='Pg216'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXI. The Escape"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXI. The Escape"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXI.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE ESCAPE.</hi></head> + +<p> +The prisoner seemed to submit to his fate with +patience. He thanked the attendant who brought +him his rations with a nod and smile, and disposed +of the food with an appetite which seemed to +indicate a cheerful temper. A visit which the peddler +paid him the second day of his imprisonment +was apparently received as a welcome relief. The +two had a long and friendly conversation, nor did +Cedric utter a word of complaint against his treatment. +</p> + +<p> +In reality the young chief was keeping under his +rage with an effort almost unbearably painful. That +he should be chained like a dog to the wall was an +intolerable grievance; he, a free man, and the son of +a long line of chiefs which boasted the blood of the +great Odin himself! The iron did indeed enter into +his soul, and the seeming calm of his outward +patience concealed a whole volcano of inward fury. +<pb n='217'/><anchor id='Pg217'/>It was only the hope of freedom that kept him calm. +It was that he might not diminish this hope, this +almost desperate chance, by the very smallest fraction +that he ate and drank with such seeming cheerfulness. +He would want, he knew, all his strength for +an escape. He would support it and husband it to +the utmost. +</p> + +<p> +And for an escape, unknown to his keepers, he was +steadily preparing. The chain which bound him to +the wall was fastened round his right arm and leg, +and the fastening would have seemed secure to any +ordinary observer. But such an observer would not +have made the necessary allowance for the young +man’s ordinary vigour and endurance. His hand +was large and muscular; far too much so, one would +have thought, to pass through the ring which had +been welded round the arms. But he possessed an +unusual power of contracting it. To exercise this +power was indeed a painful effort, causing something +like an agonizing cramp; still it was an effort that +could be made, and made without disabling the limb. +It could not, however, be done twice, because the +hand, recovering its shape from the extraordinary +pressure to which it had been subjected, would +infallibly swell. Cedric, accordingly, after satisfying +himself that it could be done, postponed actually +doing it till the moment of escape had arrived. The +fastening of the leg was less manageable. He +<pb n='218'/><anchor id='Pg218'/>would not have scrupled to do as the Spartan prisoner +is said to have done, and cut off the foot which impeded +his escape, but he had positively nothing with +which this could be done. The only alternative was +to drag the staple from the wall, and to carry it +and the chain along with him. Fortunately, strong +as it was, it was light. The staple at first seemed +obstinate. It had indeed been subjected to tests +which satisfied the villa blacksmith of its capacity +of resistance. But repeated efforts, made with all +the enormous strength which the young giant could +bring to bear, weakened its hold, and at last it gave. +The prisoner was prudent enough not to complete +the separation of the iron from the walls. It would +have been difficult to replace it so as to escape the +notice of the attendant. Accordingly the drag was +relaxed as soon as the first indications of yielding +were felt. The time for attempting the escape was +a subject of much anxious deliberation. The obvious +course would have been to choose some hour between +midnight and dawn; but Cedric had heard from time +to time the step of some one walking up and down +before his prison, and he guessed that it might be +guarded at night, but left during the day-time, on the +presumption that the captive would scarcely make +an effort to escape while it was light. It was this +accordingly that he resolved to do. Shortly after +sunrise the attendant paid him his customary visit, +<pb n='219'/><anchor id='Pg219'/>bringing with him the morning meal. Cedric pretended +to be but half awake, and, returning his salutation +in a mumbling, sleepy tone, turned again on his +side, as if to continue his slumbers. But the moment +after the man had left the room he was at work. +He dragged his hand through the ring, at the cost +of a pang which taxed his endurance to the utmost; +pulled the staple from the wall, wound the chain +round his leg, and wrenching away one of the iron +bars of the window, dropped through the opening +thus made on to the ground. His calculation was +correct. The ground was clear. Then another +question presented itself to him. Should he attempt to +escape as he was? He knew where a boat was commonly +kept, and it had been his plan to take this and +row out to sea in the hope of meeting some one of his +countrymen’s galleys. If he once got off from the +shore he was free, for if the worst came to the worst, +he could at least die as a free man should. But +should he go unarmed, and with the hampering chain +about his leg? A moment’s consideration—no more +was possible—decided him. He would make one +more bold effort. The forge was close at hand, and +he knew from having worked there that at that hour +in the morning it was commonly empty, the workmen +leaving it for their morning meal. There he could +find what he wanted, a file to release himself from +the chain, and a weapon. +</p> + +<pb n='220'/><anchor id='Pg220'/> + +<p> +The forge was empty, as he had expected. The +question was, How long would it remain so? The +workmen, he could see, had but just left it. The fire +had not died down to the lowest, showing that the +bellows had been recently at work, and a piece of iron +that had been left, half-wrought, on the anvil, was +still hot, as he could feel from putting his hand near +it. It might be safest to take a file and escape with +it at once. On the other hand, it would be far better +to release himself at once from his encumbrance, in +the event of having to run or fight for his life. He +might count, he thought, upon half an hour, and he +resolved to file away the chain then and there. +With admirable coolness he sat down and applied +all the strength and skill which he possessed to the +work, and had finished it in little more than half the +time which he had reckoned to have undisturbed. +He then caught up a sword which hung on one of +the walls. It was an old-fashioned weapon, but +Cedric, who knew good iron when it came in his way, +had tried its temper, and knew it to be capable of +doing good service. +</p> + +<p> +So far everything had favoured him, nor did his +good fortune desert him now. He found the boat, +which was one commonly used for fishing by the +inmates of the villa, ready furnished with oars and a +small mast and sail. There were even, by good luck, +a small jar of water, some broken food in a hamper, +<pb n='221'/><anchor id='Pg221'/>left by a party which had been using it the day before, +with some fishing lines. These, Cedric thought to +himself, might be useful if he failed to fall in with +any of his countrymen. +</p> + +<p> +Jumping on board, he plied his sculls rapidly, +going in the direction of the sea, and keeping as +close under the shore as possible, so as to be out +of sight of the villa. As it happened, this precaution +was unnecessary. His absence was not +discovered till shortly afternoon, when the attendant, +bringing the midday meal, was astonished beyond +measure to find the room empty. But another danger +threatened him, a danger which he had not indeed +forgotten, but against which he had known it to be +impossible to take any precautions. This was the +chance of meeting with the Count’s squadron as it +was returning to the island; and it was this that he +actually encountered. +</p> + +<p> +Just as he had reached the mouth of the Haven +and was turning his boat eastward, he saw within a +hundred yards of him one of the Roman galleys. +It was not the Count’s own vessel, for this had been +delayed by an accident to the rigging, and was +now many miles behind, but was in charge of the +second-in-command. The recognition was mutual. +Cedric’s tall figure was not one that could be easily +mistaken, nor could it be doubted that he was +attempting an escape. Had the Count been there +<pb n='222'/><anchor id='Pg222'/>he would probably have parleyed with the fugitive. +The officer in command was not so considerate. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Shoot,</q> he cried, <q>he is trying to escape,</q> and +as he spoke he seized a bow which lay on deck, and +took aim at the Saxon. His order was immediately +observed, and a shower of missiles was directed at +the boat. They all fell short, for Cedric had by this +time increased his distance. In a minute or two, however, +the ship was put about, and then began to gain +rapidly on the solitary rower. +</p> + +<p> +Another volley was discharged, and this time one +of the arrows took effect, wounding the fugitive +slightly in the left arm. The situation was desperate. +To remain in the boat was to await certain death. +A third volley would unquestionably be fatal. Cedric +jumped overboard, but still clung to the side of the +boat. It was only just in time. The third volley +was discharged, and rattled on the upturned keel of +the boat so thick as to show plainly what the fate of +the occupant would have been. Still, though he had +escaped for the moment, Cedric’s fate seemed sealed. +The boat had given him shelter for the time, but to +go on clinging to it would be to ensure his capture. +He left it, and after making a few vigorous strokes, +threw up his arms from the surface of the water, and +uttering a loud cry, disappeared. +</p> + +<p> +His quick eye had discerned a great mass of sea-weed +floating on the water about fifty yards away, +<pb n='223'/><anchor id='Pg223'/>and his ready intelligence had seen a chance, small +indeed and almost desperate, but still a chance of +escape. Swimming under water to the sea-weed, he +was able to come to the surface and to take breath +under its shelter. +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: Cedric’s Escape.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig222"/><figure url="images/i_253.jpg" rend="w100"><index index="fig" level1="Cedric’s Escape"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>Cedric’s Escape.</hi></head> +<figDesc>Cedric’s Escape</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +On board the galley every one of course supposed +him to have sunk. His action of the lifted arms +and the loud cry had been natural enough to deceive +the most wary observer. The boat was righted and +secured by a rope, and the galley pursued its way to +the villa, while Cedric was left to make the best of +his way to the land. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="22" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='224'/><anchor id='Pg224'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXII. A Visitor"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXII. A Visitor"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">A VISITOR.</hi></head> + +<p> +The day after Cedric’s disappearance the Count +returned to the island. The prospect before him had +not by any means lightened. Britain, conquered, +oppressed, protected, for nearly four hundred years, +governed sometimes ill and sometimes well, according +to the varying characters of the Roman legates, +but never allowed to do anything for herself, was not +ready at a moment’s notice to be independent and +stand alone. The Count was much too shrewd a +man to hope that she would. Still, even he had not +realized how bad things would be; and when he +came to see them face to face he felt something like +disappointment, and even despair. A man will often +make up his mind to the general fact of failure, and +yet be almost as much vexed at the details of failure, +when it comes, as if he had expected success. +</p> + +<p> +The fact was that the Count had found little or no +disposition in the native States to take up and carry +<pb n='225'/><anchor id='Pg225'/>on the work which he was being compelled to give +up. They would make no sacrifices, or even efforts. +They refused to work together. Each reckoned on +its own chance of escaping the common danger, and +would not contribute to the defence that might +possibly be wanted for its neighbours, and not for +itself. Then jealousies and enmities, hitherto kept +in check by the strong hand of a master, began to +break out. The cities seemed likely, not only not to +combine against Picts and Saxons, but actually to go +to war among themselves. The Count felt all the +pain that comes to an honest and capable man when +he has to face the breaking up of a bad system which +he has inherited from predecessors less high principled +than himself. It happens very often that revolutions +come in the days, not of the worst offenders, but of +the men who are making sincere endeavours to do +their duty. And so it was with the Count. +</p> + +<p> +It was in a very gloomy and depressed condition +of mind, therefore, that he returned to the villa. And +almost every day brought news of fresh troubles and +disasters. Some of the Roman houses scattered +through the country had been attacked and burnt of +late. Since the central authority had been weakened +the Roman residents had sometimes begun to behave +in a lawless and oppressive way to their British +neighbours, and these were taking their revenge with +the cruelty that is always natural to the oppressed. +<pb n='226'/><anchor id='Pg226'/>Tragical tales of villas surrounded by infuriated +crowds of Britons, of masters and families shut up +within the walls, and perishing in the fires that consumed +them, were brought to the Count by the +scared survivors who had contrived to escape from +the general destruction. +</p> + +<p> +The Count’s personal difficulties were considerable. +He had a considerable colony now settled +near the villa, and many of its members were helpless +and dependent people. The question of feeding +them would soon become an urgent one. At present +he could use the surplus stores which would no +longer be wanted now that his squadron had been so +reduced in strength. And there was another question +that pressed upon his mind—that of defence. +Already he had had to contract his operations. +With single pirate vessels, or even small squadrons +of two or three, he would be able to deal, but anything +stronger would have to be left alone. With the +few ships that were left to him it would be madness +to run any risk. And what, he could not help thinking, +if the Saxons were to attack the villa itself? +It had been built as a pleasure residence, and though +now fortified as far as circumstances permitted, +could not be held against a strong force. Should he +continue to occupy, or should he retire to the camp +of the Great Harbour, which would at least be a +more defensible position? +</p> + +<pb n='227'/><anchor id='Pg227'/> + +<p> +It may easily be imagined that these anxieties, +which had been troubling his thoughts during the +whole time of his absence, were not relieved when +he heard the story of what had happened during his +absence. He owed the Saxon more than he could +ever repay, for he shuddered to think what would +have happened to Carna but for his strength and +energy. And apart from this feeling of gratitude, he +admired the man’s splendid courage and tenacity. +He had even come to rely upon him for services of +unusual difficulty and danger. And now, to think +that he was lost to them by the stupid perversity +and jealousy of a set of slaves! +</p> + +<p> +The said slaves had a bad time with their master +for some days after his return. Good-humoured and +kind as he was, yet he was a Roman—in other +words, he had inherited the lordly temper of a race +which had ruled the world for five hundred years, +and any contradiction that thwarted him in one of +his serious convictions or purposes, broke through +the veneer of refinement and culture that commonly +concealed the sterner part of his nature. A Christian +master could not crucify an offender—indeed, crucifixion +had been long since forbidden by the law—but +he had almost unlimited power over life and limb. +Life, indeed, the Count was too conscientious a +follower of his religion to touch, but he had no +scruple about going to the very utmost verge of +<pb n='228'/><anchor id='Pg228'/>severity in the use of minor punishments. As for +his daughter, she was only too like her father to be +any check on his anger, and for the first time in her +life Carna found her mediation useless. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Girl,</q> he said to her on one occasion, when she +had urged her intercession with tears, <q>you do not +know what mischief these foolish, cowardly knaves +have done. One thing I see plainly, that as soon as +ever the Saxons know the weakness of the position +we shall not be able to hold it any longer. There is +nothing to hinder them from coming and burning the +whole place over our heads; nothing in the way of +fortifications, and certainly nothing in the way of +garrison. They did not know all this before, but +they are sure to know it soon; and we shall see the +consequences before many months are over.</q> +</p> + +<p> +In the course of the summer occurred an incident +which diverted the Count’s attention for a time, +though it did not lessen his perplexities. +</p> + +<p> +One morning a small trading vessel entered the +haven near the villa. Her business, it was found, +was to land a stranger, who had bargained for a +passage to the island. The trader had come from a +port of Western Gaul, and had then taken her passenger +on board. Who he was the captain could +not say, except that he had the appearance of a +Roman gentleman. The day after they had set sail +an illness, which had evidently been upon him when +<pb n='229'/><anchor id='Pg229'/>he came on board, had increased to such an extent +that he had lost consciousness. Two or three days +of delirium had been succeeded by stupor; in this +condition the unfortunate man still lay. But while +still conscious he had written down his destination, +and added an appeal to the compassion of his future +host. The Count read on the paper which the +merchant captain handed to him a few words written +in a trembling hand. They ran as follows:— +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top:2 ; margin-bottom: 2"> +<q><hi rend='italic'>In case I should not be able to speak for myself, I +invoke by these words the compassionate protection of the +Count Ælius. Let him not fear to receive me, but believe +that I am unfortunate rather than guilty, and that there +is between us the tie of a great common affection.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +The Count did not recognize the stranger, though +a dim impression of having seen him before floated +across his mind; and there was something in his +appearance which agreed with the trading captain’s +conviction that he was a man of birth and position. +In any case Ælius was not one who was inclined to +resist such an appeal to his compassion. The +stranger, still unconscious, was landed, together with +a few effects which were said to belong to him, and +at once handed over to the care of Carna. All her +diligence and watchfulness as a nurse, and all the +skill of the old physician, were wanted before the +patient could be brought back to life. For fourteen +<pb n='230'/><anchor id='Pg230'/>days he lay hovering on the very verge of death, +mostly sunk in a stupor so complete that it was +barely possible to perceive either pulse or breath; +sometimes muttering in delirium a few broken sentences, +of which all that physician and nurse were +able to distinguish was that they were certainly +Latin, and that they seemed to be verse. +</p> + +<p> +It was on the morning of the fifteenth day that +there came a change. Carna sat by the window of +the sick man’s room. It had a southern aspect, and +the sunshine came with a softened brilliance through +the thick tinted glass, and brought out the exquisite +tints of the girl’s glossy hair, as she sat bending over +the embroidery with which she was employing her +nimble, never-idle fingers. +</p> + +<p> +<q>By heaven! another, fairer Proserpine!</q> said the +sick man. +</p> + +<p> +The girl turned her head at the sound of the clearly +pronounced words which her practised ear distinguished +at once from the strained or blurred utterances +of delirium. +</p> + +<p> +She held up her finger to her lips. <q>Do not speak,</q> +she said; <q>you have been very ill, and must not tire +yourself.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Lady,</q> said the sick man, with a smile, <q>you +must at least let me ask you where I am.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, you shall hear, if you will promise to ask no +more questions, but to be content with what you are +<pb n='231'/><anchor id='Pg231'/>told. You are with friends, in the island of Vectis, +in the house of Ælius, Count of the Saxon Shore. +And now be quiet, and don’t spoil all our pains in +making yourself ill again.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She gave him a little broth which was being kept +hot by the fire in readiness for the time when he +should recover consciousness; and after this had been +disposed of, and she had found by feeling his pulse +that he was free from fever, a small quantity of well +diluted wine. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And now,</q> she said, <q>you must sleep</q>—a command +which he was ready enough to obey. +</p> + +<p> +After this his recovery was rapid. For a time, +indeed, the cautious old physician, though he did not +forbid conversation, prohibited any reference to business. +<q>You will want, of course,</q> he said, <q>to tell +your story, and to make your plans for the future; +that will excite you, and, till you are stronger, may +bring about a relapse. Be content for a while with +the ladies’ company</q>—Ælia, now that no nursing had +to be done, was often with her foster-sister—<q>the +Count will see you when I give permission.</q> +</p> + +<p> +And much talk the ladies had with him, and greatly +astonished they were at the variety and brilliance of +his conversation. He seemed equally familiar with +books and men. He had read everything—so at least +thought the two girls, who were sufficiently well +educated to recognize a full mind when they came +<pb n='232'/><anchor id='Pg232'/>across it—he had been everywhere, he had seen +everybody. He never boasted of his intimacy with +great people, and indeed very seldom mentioned a +name, but his allusions showed that he was equally +familiar with courts and camps. It would have +puzzled more experienced persons than the sisters to +guess who this man of the world, who was also a man +of letters, could possibly be. +</p> + +<p> +At the end of another week the physician removed +his prohibition, and the Count, who had hitherto +judged it better not to agitate his guest by his presence, +now paid a visit to his room. +</p> + +<p> +After a few kindly inquiries as to his health, the +Count went on, <q>Understand me, sir, that I have no +wish to force any confidence from you. My good +fortune gave me the chance of serving you, but it has +not given me the right of asking you questions which +you might not care to answer. You are welcome to +my hospitality as long as you choose to remain here, +and you may command my help when you wish to go. +But of course, if you care to give me your confidence, +it may make the help a great deal more effective.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yours is a true hospitality,</q> answered the stranger, +with a smile, <q>but it is right that you should know +who I am, and how I came to be here; and I have +only been waiting for the good Strabo’s leave to tell +you. But may your daughter and her sister be +present? I have a sad story to relate, but there is +<pb n='233'/><anchor id='Pg233'/>nothing in it which is unfit for them to hear, and +they have been good enough to show some interest +in an unhappy <anchor id="corr233"/><corr sic="(quote mark missing)">man.</corr></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>They shall come, if you wish it,</q> said the Count, +<q>indeed they have been almost dying of curiosity.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It was to this audience that the stranger told his +story. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="23" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='234'/><anchor id='Pg234'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXIII. The Stranger’s Story"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXIII. The Stranger's Story"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXIII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">THE STRANGER’S STORY.</hi></head> + +<p> +<q>I have found out that my name is known to these +ladies, though they are not aware that it belongs to +me. You, sir, have very probably not found time +among your many cares to give any thought to the +trifles which, if I may say so much of myself, have +made me famous. I am Claudius Claudianus.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What! the poet!</q> cried the Count, <q>the Virgil +of these later days?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The poet blushed with pleasure to hear the compliment, +which, extravagant as it may seem to us, did not +strike him as being anything out of the way. For had +not his statue been set up in Trajan’s Forum at Rome, +an honour which none of his predecessors had been +thought worthy to receive? +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah! sir,</q> he replied, <q>you are too good. But it +would have been well for me if I had contented myself +with following Virgil; unfortunately I must also +imitate Juvenal. Praise of the fallen may be +for<pb n='235'/><anchor id='Pg235'/>given, but there is no pardon for satire against those +that succeed. Enmity lasts longer than friendship, +and I have made enemies whom nothing can +appease.</q> +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: Claudian’s Tale.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig234"/><figure url="images/i_267.jpg" rend="w100"><index index="fig" level1="Claudian’s Tale"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>Claudian’s Tale.</hi></head> +<figDesc>Claudian’s Tale</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +<q>But what of Stilicho?</q> said the Count. <q>Surely +he has not ceased to be your friend. Doubtless you +owe much to him, but he owes more, I venture to say, +to you. He may have given you wealth, but you +have given him immortality.</q><note place="foot">It may be as well to say a few words about Stilicho. He +was the son of a Vandal captain, and attracted by his skill and +courage the favourable notice of the Emperor Theodosius, who +gave him his niece Serena in marriage. His influence continued +to increase, and in course of time Theodosius made him and +his wife guardians of his young son Honorius, whom he shortly +afterwards proclaimed Augustus, and Emperor of the West. +In 394 Theodosius died, and the Empire was divided between +his two sons, Honorius taking the West and Arcadius the East. +Stilicho’s daughter Maria was now betrothed to Honorius, and +his influence continued to increase. He restored peace to the +Empire, conquering the Franks, chastising the Saxon pirates, +and driving back, it is said, the Picts and Scots from Britain by +the very terror of his name. For six years (398-404) he was +engaged in a struggle with Alaric, King of the Goths, over +whom he won, in the year 403, a great victory at Pollentia, near +the modern Turin, and whom he defeated again in the following +year under the walls of Verona. He is said to have conceived +the idea of securing the Empire for his own son, and for this +purpose to have entered into intrigues with his old enemy Alaric. +However this may be, it is certain that he fell into disgrace. +His end is related in this chapter. The poet Claudian employed +himself in writing the praises of Stilicho and invectives +against his rivals Rufinus and Eutropius.</note> +</p> + +<pb n='236'/><anchor id='Pg236'/> + +<p> +<q>Ah! sir,</q> said Claudian, <q>have you not then +heard?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Heard!</q> cried the Count; <q>we hear nothing +here. We always were cut off from the rest of the +world; but for the last nine months we might as well +have been living in the moon, for all that has reached +us of what is going on elsewhere.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You did not know, then, that Stilicho was dead?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Dead! But how?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Killed by the order of the Emperor.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What! killed? by the Emperor’s orders? It is +impossible. The man who saved the Empire, the very +best soldier we have had since Cæsar! And you +say that the Emperor ordered him to be killed?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Count rose from his seat, and walked about in +incontrollable emotion. +</p> + +<p> +<q>So they have killed him! Fools and madmen +that they are! There never was such a man. I +knew him well. He was always ready, always cheerful, +as gay in a battle as at a wedding; as brave as a +lion, and yet never doing anything by force that he +could contrive by stratagem. But tell me—they +had, or pretended to have, some cause. What was +it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>They said he was a traitor, that he wanted the +Empire for himself, or for his son, that he intrigued +with the barbarians.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, he was fond of power; and who can wonder +<pb n='237'/><anchor id='Pg237'/>that he was dissatisfied when he saw in what hands +it was lodged? But tell me—what do you think?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I don’t say,</q> resumed Claudian, <q>that he was +blameless, but he had an impossible task—he had +to save the Empire without soldiers. He did it +again and again; he played off one barbarian power +against another with consummate skill; and filled his +legion one day with the enemies whom he had routed +the day before. But this could not be done without +intrigues, without devices which, taken by themselves, +looked like treason. But it is idle to speak +of the past. He lies in a dishonoured grave, and the +Empire of Augustus is tottering to its fall.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Tell me of his end,</q> said the Count. <q>You +saw it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes,</q> said the poet; <q>I saw it, and, I am +ashamed to say, survived it. Well, I will tell you +my tale. You know he might have had the Empire; +the soldiers offered it to him; Alaric and his Goths +would have been delighted to help him. But he +refused. He was loyal to the last. He would not +even fly. There are many places where he would +have been safe——</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes,</q> interrupted the Count; <q>he would have +been safe here, if I know anything of Britain.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well, he would go to none of them. He went +to the one place where safety was impossible. He +went to Ravenna; and at Ravenna every one, from +<pb n='238'/><anchor id='Pg238'/>the Emperor down to the meanest slave, was an +enemy. He wanted to make them trust him by +trusting them—as if one disarmed a tiger by going +into his lair! He had two or three of his chief +officers with him, besides myself, and as many +slaves. We had not a weapon of any kind among +us. Stilicho made a point of our being unarmed. +Well, we had not an encouraging greeting when we +entered the city. Every one, as you may suppose, +recognized him. Indeed, there was no man, I suppose, +in the whole Empire, who was better known. +No one who had ever seen Stilicho could forget that +towering form, that white head.<note place="foot"><lg><l><q rend="post: none">Stilichonis apex et cognita fulsit</q></l> +<l><q rend="pre: none">Canities.</q></l></lg> + +<q>There shone Stilicho’s towering head and well-known +locks of white</q>—a passage quoted from Claudian by +D’Israeli, with exquisite propriety, in his eulogium on the +Duke of Wellington, in the House of Commons, November, +1852.</note> There were sullen +looks as we walked through the streets, and hisses, +and even some stone throwing. However, we got +safe to our lodgings, and passed the night without +disturbance. The next day, as we were standing in +the market-place, an old Vandal soldier—one of the +general’s countrymen, you know—put a flower in his +hand as he walked by, without saying a word, or +even looking at him; for it would have been as much +<pb n='239'/><anchor id='Pg239'/>as his life was worth to be seen communicating with +us. <q>An old comrade,</q> said Stilicho, who never +forgot a face. <q>He served with me in Greece.</q> The +flower was a little red thing; the <q>shepherd’s hourglass</q> +they call it, because it shuts when there is +rain coming. It was a warning. There was danger +close at hand. The general said, <q>We must take +sanctuary.</q> Then he called me to him. <q>Leave me, +Claudian,</q> he said; <q>you cannot take sanctuary with +us, for you are not a baptized man. I do not count +much on the Church’s protection; but still it may +give me time to make my defence to the Emperor. +So you must look out for your own safety. But +surely they can’t be base enough to harm you, for +what you have done?</q> <q>I don’t know about that, my +Lord,</q> I answered; <q>you remember the fable of the +trumpeter.<note place="foot">In one of Æsop’s fables, a trumpeter, taken prisoner, begs +for his life, pleading that he has never struck a blow in battle; +but is told that he has done much worse in encouraging others +to fight by his martial music.</note> Anyhow, I shall follow you as far as I +can.</q> Well, he went into the great church—what +used to be the Basilica before Constantine’s time—and +took sanctuary by the altar. I did not go further +than the nave. In the course of an hour or so comes +the bishop, with the archdeacon and two or three +priests, and following them one of the great officers +of the Court, with a body-guard. The church was +<pb n='240'/><anchor id='Pg240'/>now crowded from end to end; the people had +climbed up into the pulpit, and every accessible +spot from which they could get a view of what was +going on. I think that there was a reaction in the +general’s favour. No one, whose heart was not flint, +could see the man who had saved the Empire, and +that not once or twice, a suppliant for his life. +Well, I could not see for myself what went on, but +I heard the story afterwards. The bishop brought a +safe-conduct from the Emperor; or rather the +chamberlain brought it, and the bishop gave it to +Stilicho, with his own guarantee. I can’t believe +that a man of peace and truth, as he calls himself, +could have been a party to so base a fraud—he must +have been deceived himself. Well, the safe-conduct +promised that the general should be heard in his +own defence; and he wanted nothing more. I doubt +whether a trial would have served him; but they +never intended to give him even so much. As soon +as he was out of the church I could see what was +meant, for I followed him. The chamberlain’s body-guard +drew their swords. Well, I was wrong to say +that he had no friends in Ravenna. He had a friend +even in that crew of hirelings—another of his old +soldiers, I daresay. I told you that Stilicho had +neither armour nor weapon. Well, in a moment, no +one could see how, there was a long sword lying at +his feet. He took it up; and, verily, if he had used +<pb n='241'/><anchor id='Pg241'/>it, he would at least have sold his life dearly. The +general was a great swordsman, as good a swordsman +as he was a general. But no; he would not +condescend to it; after a soldier’s first impulse to +take the weapon, he made no use of it. He pointed +it to the ground, and stood facing his enemies. Ah! +it was a noble sight—that grand old man looking +steadfastly at that crew of murderers. For a few +moments they seemed cowed. No one lifted his +hand—then some double-dyed villain crept behind +and stabbed him. He staggered forward, and immediately +there were a dozen swords hacking at +him. At least his was no lingering death. They +cut off that grand white head and carried it to the +Emperor; his body they threw into the pit where +they bury the slaves. And that was the end of the +saviour of the Empire.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And about yourself?</q> said the Count. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> went on the poet, <q>I have since thought +that if I had been a man I should have died with him. +But when I knew that he was dead, I was coward +enough to fly. You would not care to hear how I +spent the next few days. I had a few gold pieces in +my pocket, and I found a wretched lodging in one of +the worst parts of the city, and I lay there in hiding. +One day I was having my morning meal at a wine +shop, when a shabbily dressed old man, who sat next, +turned to me in a meaning way, and, pouring a few +<pb n='242'/><anchor id='Pg242'/>drops out of his wine cup, said, <q>To Apollo and the +Muses.</q> That is a crime now-a-days, in some places +at least, Ravenna among them; and he wanted, I +suppose, to put me at my ease. <q>Will you not do +the same,</q> he went on, <q>of all men in the world there +is no one who has better cause.</q> Pardon me, illustrious +Count, if I repeat his flatteries. <q>Whom do +you take me for?</q> said I, for one gets to be a sad +coward after a few days’ hiding, and I was unwilling +to declare myself. He replied by repeating some of +my verses in so meaning a way that I could not misunderstand +him. <q>These wine-bibbers here,</q> he went +on, <q>don’t know one verse from another, but they +might catch up a name. Come along with me; I will +give you a flask of something better than this sour +stuff.</q> Well, we went to his house, which was close +to the harbour. He was the owner, I found, of two +or three small trading vessels. The house was a veritable +temple of the Muses, ornamented with busts of +the poets—my own I was flattered to see among them—and +containing an excellent library of books. +Manlius—that was my friend’s name—had heard me +recite at Rome; and he recognized me partly from +memory, partly from my resemblance to the bust. +To make a long story short, he entertained me most +hospitably for several days, while we discussed the +question what was to become of me. Home I could +not go, not, at least, till there should be a change in +<pb n='243'/><anchor id='Pg243'/>the Emperor’s surroundings. The further I got from +Italy the more chance there would be of safety. We +thought of North-western Gaul or Britain, or of +getting across the Rhine. The end of it was that +the good fellow took me across Italy, disguised as his +servant, to Genoa, where he had correspondents. +From Genoa I went to Marseilles, and from Marseilles +overland to Narbonne, using now the character +of a bookseller’s agent, one which I thought myself +better qualified to sustain than any other. At +Narbonne I found employment as a bookseller’s +assistant, till I could get a letter from my wife in +Africa with some money. That came in due course, +and then I set off on my travels again, still working +northwards. Then, sir, I thought of you. I had +often heard the great man speak of you. You served +under him against the Bastarnæ,<note place="foot">A tribe that occupied a region included in what is now +known as Russian Poland.</note> I think, and it +occurred to me that for Stilicho’s sake you might give +me shelter. Not that it matters much to me. To +Stilicho I owe so much that I can scarcely imagine +life without him. He gave me honour, wealth, even,</q> +added the poet, with a sad little smile, <q>even my +wife, for it was not my courting, but the Lady +Serena’s<note place="foot">Serena was wife to Stilicho, and, as has been said before, +niece to the Emperor Theodosius.</note> letter that won her for me. But to go on, +<pb n='244'/><anchor id='Pg244'/>I found an honest trader, and bargained with him to +bring me here. I had been sickening for some time, +and I remember little or nothing from the time of my +embarking. There, sir, you have my history carried +up to the latest point.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We will put off the future to another day,</q> said +the Count; <q>meanwhile you may count on me for +anything that I can do.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Your kindness does much to reconcile me to life,</q> +said the poet, <q>and now I will retire, for I feel a +little tired.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah,</q> said Carna half to herself, when he had +left the room, <q>now I understand about Proserpine.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>About Proserpine? What do you mean?</q> asked +Ælia. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Why, when he came to himself for the first time +I was sitting in the window with a piece of embroidery +work in my hand, and I heard him whisper something +about Proserpine.</q> Carna suppressed the flattering +epithet. <q>Don’t you remember that passage where +he describes the tapestry which Proserpine was working +for her mother, and how we admired it, and +thought we would work something of the kind for +ourselves, only we could not get any design?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, I remember,</q> replied the other, <q>and you +have had a Pluto, too, to carry you off. Luckily he +was not so successful as the god.</q> +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="24" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='245'/><anchor id='Pg245'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXIV. News from Italy"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXIV. News from Italy"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXIV.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">NEWS FROM ITALY.</hi></head> + +<p> +The Count’s difficulties did not seem to diminish as +the year advanced. Money grew scarcer and scarcer, +till it was only by pledging his personal credit to the +merchants of Londinium and other towns in Britain +that he was able to find the pay for the crews of his +little squadron. His credit happily was still good, a +character of twenty years without a single suspicion +on his integrity standing him in good stead. Then a +disaster happened to one of the few ships that he had +retained. After a fierce encounter with a Saxon galley, +in which its crew had been much weakened, it had been +caught in a storm and driven on the deadly western +shore of the island, still dreaded under the name of +the Needles by those who navigate the Channel. +The ship became a complete wreck and only a small +portion of the crew escaped with their lives, all the +disabled men being lost. +</p> + +<p> +But the Count’s chief perplexities were within +<pb n='246'/><anchor id='Pg246'/>rather than without. For more than twenty years +he had yielded an unquestioning obedience to the +authorities at home. It is true that very little had +been demanded of him. He had been given a free +hand, and left to do his duty with very little interference, +if with very little help. But now in the news +of Stilicho’s death his loyalty had received a tremendous +shock. How was he to bear himself to a ruler +who was capable of committing so great a crime? +True, he knew enough of the Emperor to be sure +that he was only a tool in the hands of others, but +this did not make the matter one whit better. Such +tools are often more mischievous than men who are +actively wicked. What then was he to do? Should +he join the usurper Constantine, of whose astonishing +success in Gaul and Spain he had heard the most +glowing reports? His pride forbad it—an Ælius +doing homage to a man who but twelve months +before had been a private soldier! The thought was +impossible. Should he retire into private life? But +would not that be to shirk his duty, not to mention +the fact that to retire is the one thing which in +troubled times a man in a conspicuous position cannot +do. One thing, indeed, was evident—that a +decision would have to be made speedily. His position +was rapidly becoming untenable, and he would +have to make up his mind, without much delay, +as to the best way of getting out of it. In the end +<pb n='247'/><anchor id='Pg247'/>it happened to him as it happens to so many of us, +that his mind was made up for him. +</p> + +<p> +One day, towards the end of August, he was about +to seek in a day’s sport a little relief from his many +cares. It was still about four hours to noon, and he +was sitting under a cherry tree (one of his own planting) +in the villa garden, and sharing a slight meal of +milk and wheaten cakes with his daughter and Carna, +both of whom he had persuaded to accompany him. +A young Briton stood by holding in a leash a couple +of dogs very much like the greyhounds of our own +times; another carried a bow and a quiver; a third +had a game bag of leather, with a netted front, slung +across his shoulders. +</p> + +<p> +The sailing-master of one of the galleys approached +and saluted. +</p> + +<p> +<q>There is a galley,</q> he said, <q>coming up the +Haven, and I thought that you should know at once, +since it seems to have something of importance on +board.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What makes you think so?</q> said the Count. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I have been watching it for the last hour,</q> said +the man. <q>At first I thought it was a little trading +vessel; but I noticed that as soon as it entered the +Haven it hoisted the Labarum.</q><note place="foot">The Imperial standard (see page 21).</note> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The Labarum!</q> exclaimed the Count; <q>I have +<pb n='248'/><anchor id='Pg248'/>not seen that flying from any mast but my own for a +year past. Well, that ought to mean something.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It was the etiquette to go as far as was possible to +meet an Imperial messenger, just as a host receives +a very distinguished guest on his door-step, and the +Count, after hastily exchanging his hunting-dress for +a toga, went to the little pier at which the galley +would land its passenger. He had not to wait many +minutes before it arrived, and a handsome young +man, with a short military cloak over his traveller’s +dress, leapt lightly ashore. The Count saluted. The +stranger, who was for a time the representative of +the Emperor, received the greeting with the dignified +gesture of a superior. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Do I address Lucius Ælius, Count of the +Saxon Shore?</q> he asked. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I am he,</q> the Count briefly replied. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I bring the commands of Augustus,</q> said the +messenger, producing from a pocket in his tunic a +vellum roll, bound with a broad purple cord, and +bearing the Imperial seal. +</p> + +<p> +The Count received the missive with a profound +inclination, and put it to his lips. At the same time +the messenger uncovered, and changed his haughty +demeanour for the behaviour usual to a young officer +in the presence of his superior. +</p> + +<p> +<q>It will be more respectful and more convenient +to read his Majesty’s gracious communication in +<pb n='249'/><anchor id='Pg249'/>private. Will you please come with me to my +house?</q> +</p> + +<p> +He led the way to the villa, and introduced the +visitor into the little room which he used for the +transaction of business. He then cut with his dagger +the purple cord which fastened the package containing +the despatch, and, after again putting the document +to his lips, proceeded to read it. Its contents were +seemingly not agreeable, for his face darkened as he +went on. He made no remark, however, beyond +simply asking the messenger— +</p> + +<p> +<q>May I presume that you have a general acquaintance +with the contents of this document?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I have,</q> replied the young man. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Then you will know that the answer is not one +which can be given in a moment. But,</q> and he +went on with a rapid change of voice and manner, +<q><foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>cras seria</foreign>.<note place="foot">Business to-morrow.</note> I was just on the point of going out +for a few hours’ hunting when your arrival was +announced. Will you come with me? I have +nothing very great to show you, though we have +some big game here too, if we had time to look for +it, but if you will condescend to anything so small +as hare-hunting, I can show you some sport.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Imperial messenger was an Italian of the +north of the Peninsula, who had been fond of +fol<pb n='250'/><anchor id='Pg250'/>lowing the chase on the slopes of the Apennines +before chance had made him a courtier. He accepted +the invitation with pleasure, and the party made the +best of their way to the high ground now known as +Arreton Downs. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah!</q> said the Count, as he pointed northward +to where the great Anderida Forest<note place="foot">The Forest of Anderida occupied a great part of Hampshire +and nearly the whole of Sussex, except a strip of land along the +coast. It must have measured a hundred miles from east to +west.</note> might be seen +stretching far beyond the range of sight, <q>there is +the place for sport; a wilder country I have never +seen, no, nor finer game. There are wild boars of +which I have never seen the like in Italy, no, nor in +the Hercynian Wood<note place="foot">The Black Forest, part of which was known to the Romans.</note> itself, where I used to hunt +years ago. Last year I killed one which measured +six feet from snout to tail. There are wolves, too, +and bears, and wild oxen; splendid fellows these last, +as fierce as lions, and almost as big as elephants. +But to-day we must be content with humbler sport.</q> +</p> + +<p> +This humbler game, however, afforded plenty of +amusement, and they returned with a bag of eight +fine hares—a very fair burden for the carrier of the +game-bag—and an excellent appetite for dinner. +</p> + +<p> +The meal, to which the Count had invited the +captains of his galleys and the principal persons in +<pb n='251'/><anchor id='Pg251'/>the little colony which was now gathered about the +villa, passed off very well. The young Italian was +loud in his praises of everything. <q>Your oysters,</q> +he said, <q>all the world knows, but some of your +other dishes are a surprise. The turbot, for instance, +how incomparably superior to the flabby and tasteless +things which they bring us from our own +coasts. The colder water of the seas is, I suppose, +the cause. The hares, too, how fine and fleshy! +You seem to be amazingly well off in the way of food +in this corner of the world.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah!</q> said the Count, with a sigh, <q>we should +do very well, if the rest of the world would only +leave us alone. But our neighbours cannot be content +without a share of some of our good things, +and they have a very rough and disagreeable way of +asking for it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The speaker went on to draw for the benefit of his +guest a vivid picture of the trouble which the Saxons +were giving by sea and the Picts by land, till the +Italian exclaimed— +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah! I see that you too have your disagreeables. +I began to think that this was a land of peace and +plenty, where one might find a pleasant refuge. But +these barbarians, in one shape or another, are everywhere. +We are fallen upon evil times indeed.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes,</q> said the Count, <q>evil times, and no one +knows how to deal with them; and if God does +<pb n='252'/><anchor id='Pg252'/>send us a capable man, we treat him as if he were +an enemy.</q> +</p> + +<p> +When the tables had been cleared, the Count rose +and proposed the toast of the Emperor’s health; but +he did this without a single word of compliment, a +significant omission that did not fail to attract the +attention of all who were present. He then proceeded, +and again without any preface, to read to the company +the despatch which had been put into his hands +the day before. It ran thus: +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 2"> +<q rend="post: none"><hi rend="italic">Flavius Honorius Augustus to the faithful and +valiant Lucius Ælius, Count of the Saxon Shore, +greeting.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p rend="margin-bottom: 2"> +<q><hi rend="italic">Our Imperial care for the dominions, which by +Divine Providence have been committed to our trust, bids +us combine the safety of the seat of our government with +the welfare of the provinces. For, seeing that these are +mutually related, as are the head and the limbs in the +body of man, it is manifest that neither can prosper +without the other. Our well-beloved and faithful province +of Britain has now for many generations been protected +by our invincible legions and fleets. But even as there +comes a time when the most careful fathers judge it to be +not only needless but even harmful to keep their children in +dependence upon themselves, so do we now judge that our +province may now with great advantage, not only to us—for +of this we think little—but also to itself, defend itself +<pb n='253'/><anchor id='Pg253'/>with its own resources. We charge you, therefore, our +well-beloved and faithful Ælius, as having supreme +command of the fleets of the said province of Britain, to +withdraw them as soon as you conveniently may, but not +without leaving our loyal subjects the assurance of our +fatherly love and of the unfailing protection of our +majesty. The Ever-Blessed Trinity keep and prosper +both you and all that are committed to your charge. +Given at Ravenna, the twelfth day before the Kalends of +August,<note place="foot">July 21st.</note> in the year of our Lord 408, and the fifteenth +year of our reign.</hi></q> +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: The Count receiving the letter of Honorius.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig252"/><figure url="images/i_287.jpg" rend="w100"><index index="fig" level1="The Count receiving the letter of Honorius"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>The Count receiving the letter of Honorius.</hi></head> +<figDesc>The Count receiving the letter of Honorius</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +The reading of the despatch was followed by a +dead silence. Every one had felt for some time that +the present state of affairs could not last. Only a +man of the vigorous character of the Count, and having +long years of excellent service to fall back upon, +could have maintained it so long, but it was impossible +not to see that it must soon end. A solitary +commander, without resources or support, could not +maintain himself on the remotest borders of the +Empire. Yet to know that the moment for the +change had come was disturbing. The fleet, reduced +as it had been to a petty squadron, was still, while it +remained, the symbol of Imperial power, and seemed +to be worth more in the way of protection than +<pb n='254'/><anchor id='Pg254'/>it really was. When this was withdrawn, Britain +would be really left to itself; and this prospect, however +it might be regarded elsewhere, was not +agreeable to any one of the Count’s guests. +</p> + +<p> +The Count was the first to break the silence. +<q>This,</q> he said, <q>is manifestly a matter that calls +for serious thought. Let us postpone it till to-morrow, +and for the present turn ourselves to +matters more suitable for a festive occasion. Perhaps +my friend Claudian will give us the recitation +of something with which he has already charmed +the ears of our fellow-countrymen elsewhere.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The poet, not more reluctant than his brother-countryman +to exhibit his genius, at once signified +his willingness to comply with this request, and gave +a recitation from an unfinished poem which he had +then in hand. We may give a specimen, put into +the best English that we can command— +</p> + +<lg> +<l><q rend="post: none">The elemental order there she drew,</q></l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>And Jove’s high dwellings; there you saw</l> +<l>The needle tell how ancient Chaos grew</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 4'>To harmony and law;</l> +</lg><lg> +<l><q rend="post: none">How Nature set in order due and rank</q></l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Her atoms, raised the light on high,</l> +<l>And to the middle place the weightier sank;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 4'>There lustrous shone the sky,</l> + +</lg><lg> + +<l><q rend="post: none">The heavens were pink with flame, the ocean rolled,</q></l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>The great world hung in mid suspense.</l> +<l>Each was of diverse hue; she worked in gold</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 4'>The starry fires intense,</l> +</lg> + +<pb n='255'/><anchor id='Pg255'/> + +<lg> +<l><q rend="post: none">Bade ocean flow in purple, and the shore</q></l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>With gems upraised. Divinely wrought,</l> +<l>The threads embossed to swelling billows bore</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 4'>Strange likeness; you had thought</l> + +</lg><lg> +<l><q rend="post: none">They dashed the seaweed on the rocks, or crept</q></l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Hoarse murmuring thro’ the thirsty sands.</l> +<l>Five zones, she added. In mid place she kept</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 4'>With red distinct the lands</l> + +</lg><lg> +<l><q rend="post: none">Leaguered with burnings; all the region showed</q></l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Scorched into blackness, and the thread</l> +<l>Dry as with sunshine that eternal glowed;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 4'><anchor id="corr255"/><corr sic="Or">On</corr> either hand were spread</l> + +</lg><lg> +<l><q rend="post: none">The realms of life, lapt in a milder breath</q></l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Kindly to men; and next appear,</l> +<l>On this extreme and that, dull lands of death:</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 4'>She made them dark and drear</l> + +</lg><lg> +<l><q rend="post: none">With year-long frost, and saddened all the hue</q></l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>With endless winter; last she showed</l> +<l>What seats her sire’s grim brother holds; nor knew</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 4'><q rend="pre: none">The fated dark abode.</q><note place="foot">This is the translation of a passage from the first book of an +unfinished poem by Claudian, entitled <foreign lang="la" rend='italic'>De Raptu Proserpinæ</foreign>, +<q>The Carrying off Proserpine.</q> It is an amplification of the +legend that Pluto, god of the region of the dead, carried off +Proserpine, daughter of Ceres, to be his wife and queen, while +she was gathering flowers in the fields of Enna in Sicily. The +passage translated occurs in the first book, and describes the +tapestry with which Proserpine is busy, as a gift to her absent +mother. The poem breaks off in the third book, while relating +the search which the mother makes for her lost daughter.</note></l> +</lg> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="25" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='256'/><anchor id='Pg256'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXV. Consultation"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXV. Consultation"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXV.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">CONSULTATION.</hi></head> + +<p> +The next morning the Count invited the Imperial +messenger to a private conference. His daughter +and Carna were present, as was also Claudian. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You have the latest news,</q> the Count began. +<q>Pray let us have them. Here we know nothing. +But tell us first how you got here. It was noticed +that you did not hoist the standard till you were +within the Haven. You did not, I suppose, think it +a safe flag to sail under.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> replied the messenger, <q>I thought it +better to have no flag at all. But, to tell the truth, +the Labarum is not just now exactly the best passport +in the world.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You crossed from Gaul, I suppose?</q> the Count +went on. <q>How are matters there?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Constantine, with the legions he brought from +here, and those that have joined him since, is pretty +well master of the country, and of Spain too.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='257'/><anchor id='Pg257'/> + +<p> +<q>And what is the Emperor doing? Did he let +these provinces go without a struggle? Spain was +the first province that Rome ever had, and Gaul was +the second. None, I take it, have been so steadily +profitable, and now we are to lose them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +He rose from his seat, and walked up and down +the room in an agitation which he could not conceal. +</p> + +<p> +<q>And the only man who could keep the Empire together +is gone; butchered, as if he were a criminal!</q> +</p> + +<p> +The messenger said nothing to this outburst. He +went on, <q>I believe his Majesty proposes to admit +Constantine to a share of the Imperial honours, to +make him Cæsar of Gaul and Spain.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What!</q> said the Count. <q>Do not my ears +deceive me? This fellow, whom I have seen wearing +the collar for the neglect of duty, recognized as +his colleague by Augustus!</q><note place="foot">This was actually done about this time, and with the result +foreshadowed in the conversation given above.</note> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I do not pretend to know his Majesty’s purposes, +I can only say what is reported at head-quarters, +and, it would seem, on good authority. But,</q> continued +the speaker, in a voice from which he had +studiously banished all kind of emphasis, and looking +as he spoke at the ceiling of the room, <q>your lordship +is aware that the honours thus unexpectedly +bestowed do not always turn out to the advantage +of those who receive them.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='258'/><anchor id='Pg258'/> + +<p> +<q>What do you mean?</q> asked the Count. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I mean that what is given may be taken away—and +taken away with very handsome interest for the +loan—when the proper time comes. Your lordship +has not forgotten the name of Carausius.</q><note place="foot">Carausius had held, towards the end of the third century, +the same command as that of the Count of the Saxon Shore, +had rebelled against the Emperor, made himself master of +Britain and all the Western Seas, and had then proclaimed himself +Augustus. The Emperor Diocletian made several attempts to +reduce him, but, finding that this could not be done, acknowledged +him as a partner in the Empire. Six years later +Carausius was murdered by one of his lieutenants, Allectus, +who doubtless hoped thus to bring himself into favour at Rome.</note> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Well,</q> said the Count, <q>this is not the old way +Rome had of dealing with her enemies. But, <q>other +times, other manners.</q> Tell me now, if the Augustus +has arranged or is going to arrange with Constantine, +what about Alaric?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh! he will be quiet for a time, or should be, if +there is any truth in a barbarian’s oath. You have +heard how he marched on Rome?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>No, indeed,</q> replied the Count. <q>I have heard +nothing here, except, quite early in the year, a vague +rumour that he was on the move again. But tell +me—has Augustus given <hi rend='italic'>him</hi>, too, a share in the +Empire?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Not exactly; but I will tell what has taken place. +He marched on Rome.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='259'/><anchor id='Pg259'/> + +<p> +<q>Yes,</q> interjected the Count, <q>and there was no +Stilicho to save it!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The city was almost helpless. Even the walls had +not been kept in repair, and if they had, there was no +proper force to man them. The only thing possible +was to make peace on the best terms that they could. +I happened to be in Alaric’s camp with a letter, under +a flag of truce, the very day that the ambassadors +came out to treat with the king, and I saw the whole +affair. I don’t mind saying that it was not one to +make a man feel proud of being a Roman. The barbarians, +it seemed to me, had not only all the strength +on their side, but the dignity also. Alaric himself +is a splendid specimen of humanity, every inch a +king, the tallest and handsomest man in his army, +and that, too, an army of giants. It was a +contrast, I can tell you, between him and the two +miserable, pettifogging creatures that represented +the Senate. At first they tried what a little brag +could do. <q>Give us an honourable peace,</q> said their +spokesman, <q>or you will repent of having driven to +despair a nation of warriors, a nation that has conquered +the world.</q> The king laughed; he knew what +the Romans have come to. <q>The thicker the hay,</q> he +said, <q>the easier to mow.</q> And then he fixed the +ransom that he would take for retiring from before +the walls. Brennus throwing his sword into the +scales was moderation in comparison to him. <q>Give +<pb n='260'/><anchor id='Pg260'/>me,</q> he said, <q>all the gold and silver, coined or uncoined, +private property or public that you have, and +all the other property that the envoys whom I shall +send think worth taking; and hand over to me all +the slaves that you have of the nations of the North, +Goths, or Huns, or Vandals. You are pleased to call +them barbarians, but they are more fit to be masters +than you; and I will not suffer them to be in a bondage +so unworthy. Your Greeks, and Africans, and +Asiatics, and such like cattle you may keep.</q> The +ambassadors were pale with dismay. If they had +taken back such an answer, the Romans had at +least enough spirit left to tear them in pieces. <q>What +do you leave us, then?</q> they said. <q>Your lives!</q> he +thundered out. In the end, however, he softened +somewhat. Five thousand pounds of gold and thirty +thousand pounds of silver, and I don’t know how +much silk, and cloth, and spices, were what he finally +asked. I know the city was stripped pretty bare +before the Senate could make up the sum. I am +told that the treasuries of the churches had to be +emptied. Well, as I said, Alaric, if he keeps his +bargain, ought to be quiet for a time, but you will +see that the Emperor has need of all his friends +round him, and all the strength which he can bring +together. That is what I have to say by way of +explanation of the despatch that I brought.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>May I ask you to leave us for a while?</q> said the +Count to the young Italian. +</p> + +<pb n='261'/><anchor id='Pg261'/> + +<p> +When he had left the room the Count turned to +his daughter, and said— +</p> + +<p> +<q>And this is our country! This is Rome! The +Emperor, forsooth, has need of all his friends. His +friends indeed! I little thought that the day would +come when I should feel ashamed of the title. But +tell me, daughter; what shall we do? Shall we +go?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>What else can we do?</q> asked the girl. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I have thought much about the matter since I +heard the dreadful news of Stilicho’s death, and have +had all kinds of wild schemes in my head. I have +felt that I could not go back and touch in friendship +the hands that murdered him. Sometimes I thought, +while Cedric was here, that we would take him with +us, and sail eastward. I have had many a hard fight +with these Saxons, but at least they are men, and +brave men, too, who are true to their friends, if they +hate their enemies. But that is now at an end. But +is there no other way to go? What say you, Claudian—have +you any counsel to give us?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I would not advise you to sail eastward,</q> said the +poet. <q>We know pretty well what lies that way; tribes +of barbarians, of whom the less we see the better, +with all respect to your friend Cedric, who seems to +have been a fine fellow. But why not westward? +You will laugh at me for believing in the Islands of +the Blest. Well, I do not mean to say that there is +<pb n='262'/><anchor id='Pg262'/>a country where Achilles and the rest of the heroes +are living in immortal joy and peace. If there is, it +is not one which any ship, built by the art of man, +can reach. But I do believe that there is a country. +These old tales, depend upon it, have something more +in them than mere fancy. Why, my lord, should +not you be the one to find it?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, let us go, dear father,</q> said Ælia, <q>and +leave this dreadful world with all its troubles and +quarrels behind us. Don’t you think so, Carna?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Carna only smiled sadly. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Or,</q> continued the poet, <q>there is the land +beyond the north, the country of the blessed Hyperboreans, +that old Herodotus talks about. Why +should we not go there? Or, if that sounds too +wild, there is Africa, with regions rich and fertile +beyond all doubt that are waiting to be explored. +These at least are no matter of legend. We know +where they are. Let us search for them. Whatever +world we may find, it can hardly be worse than that +which we are leaving behind.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>And what says Carna?</q> said the Count, turning, +with an affectionate look, to his adopted daughter. +</p> + +<p> +The girl thus appealed to flushed painfully. For +a moment she seemed about to speak, but not a +syllable passed her lips. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Speak,</q> cried the Count; <q>you always see +clearer and farther than the rest of us.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='263'/><anchor id='Pg263'/> + +<p> +<q>My father,</q> the girl went on, <q>I will speak from +my heart, as I know you always wish me to do. +Forgive me if I seem to teach when it is my part to +learn and to obey. But, if you ask what I think you +should do, I say, <q>Go home to Rome or Ravenna, or +wherever else the Emperor bids you.</q> After all, it is +your country, and it never needed the help of good +and brave men more than it does now.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>By heaven! Claudian,</q> cried the Count, after +a brief silence, <q>the girl is right, as she always is. +These are not the times for an honest man to turn +his back upon his country. If I could reach the +Islands of the Blest, or the happy people who live +beyond the north, as easily as I can walk across this +room, I would not do it; and after all, what is the +world without Rome to a Roman? What say you, +Claudian?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I am but a poor singer, who has lost all that +made him sing. I could do little in any case, and I +doubt whether those who killed Stilicho will have +anything but the axe for Stilicho’s friend. Still, I go +with you. It is not for a Roman to say that Rome +is unworthy.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>So that is settled,</q> exclaimed the Count. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Oh, Carna,</q> cried Ælia, throwing her arms round +her sister, <q>shall we ever be as happy again as we +have been in this dear place?</q> +</p> + +<p> +Carna clung to her, and sobbed as if her heart +would break. +</p> + +<pb n='264'/><anchor id='Pg264'/> + +<p> +<q>Does it trouble you so much to go?</q> asked the +Count. <q>Surely the place is not so much to you. +You can be happy, wherever you may be, with those +you love.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The girl lifted up a tear-stained face to him. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Father,</q> she said—<q>more than father, for you +have loved me without any tie of kindred—I cannot +go, my home is here.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Nay, child, what are you saying? Your home +has been with us ever since you were a babe in arms, +and it is so still; or,</q> he added, with a smile, <q>are +you going to leave us for a husband?</q> +</p> + +<p> +The girl blushed crimson as she shook her head. +When she could recover her speech, choked, as it +was, with sobs, she said— +</p> + +<p> +<q>You asked me just now what you should do, and +I said <q>Go home to your country.</q> Can I do less myself? +Rome is your country, and Britain is mine. +And oh, if Rome wants all her sons and daughters, +how much more does this poor Britain!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But where will you live?</q> broke in the Count’s +daughter; <q>Where will you be safe? Think of the +dreadful things you have gone through within the +last few months! How can you bear to face them +with your friends gone? And, dearest Carna,</q> she +went on, as she clasped her still closer, <q>how can I +live without you?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My dearest sister,</q> sobbed the girl, <q>don’t make +<pb n='265'/><anchor id='Pg265'/>it harder than it is. It breaks my heart to part from +you, but I cannot doubt what my duty is. And I am +not without hope. There are brave men here, and +men who love their country, and I cannot but trust +that they will be able to do something. Of course, +we shall stumble, for we have not been used to go +alone, but I do hope that we shall not fall altogether.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But, Carna, what can you do?</q> said Ælia. <q>You +seem to be sacrificing yourself for nothing.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Not for nothing; it is something if I can only +sit at home and pray. But it must be at home that +I must pray. God would not hear me if I were to +put myself in some safe, comfortable place, and then +pretend to care for the poor people whom I had left +behind.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She hurried from the room when she had said +this, as if she could not trust herself against persuasions +that touched her heart so nearly. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Carna is right,</q> said the Count, when she had +gone, <q>but I feel as if she were going to her death.</q> +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="26" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='266'/><anchor id='Pg266'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXVI. Farewell!"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXVI. Farewell!"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXVI.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">FAREWELL!</hi></head> + +<p> +The resolution to return to Italy once made, the +Count lost no time in carrying it out. His own preparations +for departure did not cost him much trouble. +He began by offering freedom to all the slaves in his +household. The difficulty was in inducing them to +accept it. So kind a master had he been—in spite +of an occasional outburst of temper—and so uncertain +were the prospects of a quiet life in Britain, that +very few felt any eagerness to be independent, and +the boon had to be forced upon them or made acceptable +by a considerable bribe. With the free +population that since the departure of the legions +had gathered in increasing numbers about the villa +it was still more difficult to deal. Many of them were +quite helpless people whom it seemed equally difficult +to take and to leave behind. To all that were of +Italian birth, or that had kinsfolk or friends on the +Continent who might be reasonably expected to give +<pb n='267'/><anchor id='Pg267'/>them a home, the Count offered a passage. For others +employment was found in Londinium and other +towns. But, when all that was possible had been +done, there was a helpless remnant, about whom the +Count felt much as the occupants of the last boat +must feel at the sight of the poor creatures whom +they are forced to leave behind on a sinking ship. +</p> + +<p> +Carna had quitted the villa very soon after her +resolution to remain in Britain had been made. It +was indeed too painful to remain there, for, though +the Count had confessed that she was right, his +daughter remained unconvinced, and assailed her +with incessant entreaties and reproaches which went +very near to breaking her heart. She made her home +with the old priest whose wife was a distant kinswoman +of her own, and found, as such tender hearts +always will, a solace for her own sorrows in relieving +the troubles of others. +</p> + +<p> +About the middle of September all was ready for a +start. The two serviceable ships that were left to +the Count were loaded to their utmost capacity with +the persons and property of the departing colony. +Their sailing masters had indeed remonstrated as +strongly as they dared. +</p> + +<p> +<q>We <hi rend='italic'>may</hi> get safely across,</q> said the senior of +them, <q>if all goes better than we have any right to +expect. But if it comes on to blow we shall hardly +be able to handle our ships; and if we meet with the +<pb n='268'/><anchor id='Pg268'/>pirates—well, a man might as well go into battle with +his hands tied.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Count refused to listen to these protests. +Even the suggestion that the cargo should be +divided, and part left for a second voyage he scouted, +<q>It will not do,</q> he said, <q>the poor people would +fancy they were being left behind, and I am not at +all sure that they would not be right. It is only too +likely that if we once get to the other side we should +<hi rend='italic'>not</hi> come back. No! we will sink or swim together.</q> +</p> + +<p> +About an hour before noon on the fifteenth of the +month, the crews were ready to weigh anchor. The +Count and his daughter, who had just taken their +last view of the villa which had been their home for +so many years, were standing on the little jetty, ready +to step into the boat that was to convey them to the +ship. Carna and the old priest and his wife were with +them, and the hour of farewell had come. Ælia, if +she had not reconciled herself to separation from her +sister, at least saw that it was inevitable, and was +resolved not to make the parting bitterer than it must +needs be. She affected a cheerfulness which she did +not feel. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Good-bye, Carna,</q> she cried, throwing her arms +round the girl’s neck. <q>Good-bye! now we are going +like swallows in the autumn, and very likely shall +come back like them in the spring. Meanwhile keep +the nest as warm for us as you can.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='269'/><anchor id='Pg269'/> + +<p> +<q>Remember, Carna,</q> said the Count, <q>that you +have a home as long as either I or my daughter have +a roof over our heads. You are doing your duty in +staying, but there is a limit even to duty. As long +as you can be of service, stop; I would not have it +otherwise; but don’t sacrifice yourself and those that +love you for nothing.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Carna’s heart was too full to let her speak. She +caught the Count’s hands and kissed them. Then +she turned to Ælia, and taking her gold cross and +chain—the only ornament that she wore—hung +it round her sister’s neck. When she had succeeded +in choking down her sobs, she whispered, +<q>Take this, and, if you will give me yours, we will +bear each other’s crosses, and, perhaps, they will be +a little lighter. But oh, how heavy!</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Kneel, my children,</q> said the old priest, and the +little group knelt down, while the rowers in the boat +uncovered their heads. After repeating the paternoster +and a few simple words of prayer, he raised +his hand and blessed them, then fell on his knees +beside them. After two or three minutes of silent +supplication the Count rose, and almost lifted his +daughter into the boat, so broken down was she with +the passion of her grief. Carna remained on her +knees, her face buried in her hands. To have looked +up and seen father and sister go was more than she +dared to do. For the struggle that she fancied was +<pb n='270'/><anchor id='Pg270'/>over had begun again in her heart, and she could not +feel sure even then that duty would prevail. The +Count gently laid his hand upon her head and blessed +her, then stepped into the boat. As the rowers +dipped their oars in the water, a gleam of sunshine +burst through the clouds, and lighted as with a glory +the head of the kneeling girl. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="27" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='271'/><anchor id='Pg271'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXVII. Martianus"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXVII. Martianus"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXVII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">MARTIANUS.</hi></head> + +<p> +The little community that remained in the neighbourhood +of the villa after the departure of the +Count and his household had plenty to occupy their +thoughts and hands. The Count had behaved with +a liberality and a discretion that were both equally +characteristic of him. All the stock of what may be +called the home farm, all the agricultural implements, +the cattle, sheep, and pigs, and as much of the stores +of corn that he could spare, he had made over to the +priest and two other principal persons in the settlement +for the benefit of the community at large. +This was an excellent start, and removed all immediate +anxiety for the future. The stores of provisions +had been increased by opportune purchases before +the resolution to go had been taken, and enough was +left to last, if managed with due economy, over the +coming winter. +</p> + +<p> +Carna found plenty of employment of the kind in +<pb n='272'/><anchor id='Pg272'/>which she found her greatest pleasure. There was +indeed a terrible gap in her life; not only had she +lost those whom she had loved all her life as father +and sister, but her intellectual interests had dropped +away from her. Many of the books at the villa had +indeed been left with her, but then there was no one +to whom to talk about them. The old priest never +opened a volume except it was a service book; his +wife could not even read. But the time never hung +heavily upon her hands, for there was plenty of work +to do among the sick and sorry. As the autumn went +on an epidemic, which a modern doctor would probably +have described as measles, broke out among the +children, and Carna spent her days and nights in +ministering to the little sufferers. The one relief that +she allowed herself—and there was no little sadness +mixed with the pleasure which it gave her—was to +spend an hour, when she could snatch one from her +many cares, in the deserted rooms of the villa. The +indulgence was rare, not only because her leisure was +infrequent, but because she was conscious of feeling +somewhat relaxed after it for the effort of her daily +life; but when it came it was precious. Not a room, +not a picture on the walls, not a pattern in the tesselated +pavements, that did not call up a hundred associations, +and make the past in which she had enjoyed +so much happiness live again in her fancy. The +dwelling was under the charge of an old couple, who +<pb n='273'/><anchor id='Pg273'/>gladly kept it clean in exchange for the shelter of two +or three of the rooms, and Carna was free to wander +about it as she would, while she felt a certain security +in the knowledge that the place was not wholly +deserted. +</p> + +<p> +The autumn and winter passed without any incident +of importance. News from the Continent had +never been very regular during that season of the +year, and now it came only at the rarest intervals. +All that the settlement heard went to show that there +was but little chance of the return of the legions. +Constantine, after some changes of fortune, had made +himself master of Gaul and Spain, and had established +a kingdom which looked so much as if it might +last, that he had been regularly acknowledged by +Honorius as a partner in the Empire. But it would +be long before he could spare money or men for +adding Britain to his dominions. From Britain itself +the news was mostly of the most dismal kind. The +Picts, indeed, were not as troublesome as usual. +Happily for their neighbours on the south, their +attention had been occupied by the tribes on the +north, who had been driven by a season of unusual +scarcity to forage for themselves. The robbers, in fact, +had been obliged to defend themselves against being +robbed, and Britain had had in consequence a quiet +time. But the people used it to quarrel among themselves. +There were scores of chiefs who had each +<pb n='274'/><anchor id='Pg274'/>his pedigree, by which he traced his lineage to some +king of the pre-Roman days, and which gave him, +he fancied, a title to rule over his neighbours. And +besides these personal jealousies, there was a great +division which split the nation into two hostile factions. +There were Britons, who held to Roman ways, and +among them, to the religion which Rome had given, +and there were Britons who looked back to the old +independent days, and to the faith which their fore-fathers +had held long before the name of Christ had +been heard out of or in the land of His birth. The +former party was by far the more numerous, but its +adherents were those who had suffered most by +Britain’s four centuries of servitude; in the latter the +virtues of freedom had been kept alive by a carefully +cherished tradition. They were few in number; but +they were vigorous and enthusiastic, even fanatical. +It was clear that this strife within would cause at least +as much trouble as would come from enemies without. +</p> + +<p> +It was about seven months after the Count’s +departure when Carna paid one of her customary +visits to the villa. She had been unusually busy for +three or four weeks previously, and had not found +time to come. As she passed through the garden, on +her way to the house, she noticed that the place +looked somewhat neater and less neglected than +usual. This, however, did not surprise her, as she +had gently remonstrated with the old keeper for +<pb n='275'/><anchor id='Pg275'/>doing so little, and, in her usual kindly way, had +followed up her reproof with a little present. +Accordingly she passed on without thinking more of +the matter to the little sitting-room which she had +once shared with Ælia, and prepared to spend an +hour of quiet enjoyment with a book. Her books, +indeed, she kept for these visits to the villa. Not +only was her time elsewhere closely occupied, but +her hostess, kindly and affectionate as she generally +was, could not conceal her dislike of the volumes +which Carna loved so dearly. +</p> + +<p> +In the midst of her reading she was startled by +the unaccustomed sound of footsteps. She lifted +her eyes from the page and saw a sight so unexpected +that for a few moments she could not collect +her thoughts or believe her eyes. +</p> + +<p> +The British chief Martianus stood before her. +</p> + +<p> +She had seen him last at the Great Temple, +and the recollections of those days and nights of +horror, her capture, her hurried journey, and the +interrupted sacrifice, crowded upon her, and almost +overpowered her. Nor could she help giving one +thought to the question—if this man’s presence +recalls such horrors in the past, what does it not mean +for the future? Still, the courage which had supported +her so bravely before did not fail her now. +She rose from her seat and calmly faced the intruder, +while she waited for him to speak. +</p> + +<pb n='276'/><anchor id='Pg276'/> + +<p> +Martianus began in a tone of the deepest respect. +<q>Lady, I am truly glad that you condescend to +honour this poor house of mine with your presence.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>This house of yours!</q> repeated the girl, with +astonishment. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Lady, doubtless you do not know that this villa +was built by its former owner on land which belonged +to my family, and which was taken from them by +force. I do not speak of the Count—he was too +honourable a man to do anything of the kind—I +speak of the former owner, or so-called owner, from +whom he purchased it. In the Count’s time I said +nothing of my claim. I would not have troubled +him for the world. But now that he has gone, and +practically given up the place, I am justified, I think, +in asserting my ownership.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I know nothing of these matters,</q> said Carna, +coldly, <q>but I will take care not to intrude again.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Intrusion!</q> said the chief. <q>Did I not say +that there is no one who would be more welcome +here? We were friends once, in the good Count’s +time; why should we not be so again? and more,</q> he +added in a whisper. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Friends with you! Surely that is impossible. +You cannot wish it yourself, after what has happened. +You seem to forget.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Lady, Carna—I used to call you Carna when +you were a child—I do try to forget that dreadful +<pb n='277'/><anchor id='Pg277'/>night. I was overborne by those double-dyed villains, +Carausius and Ambiorix. Believe me, it was +against my will that I took any part in that dreadful +business. And you will remember I never lifted a +hand against you, no, nor against that base champion +of yours. You will do me that justice. Carausius, +thank Heaven! has got his deserts, and I have +broken with Ambiorix.</q> +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: Carna and Martianus.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig276"/><figure url="images/i_313.jpg" rend="w100"><index index="fig" level1="Carna and Martianus"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>Carna and Martianus.</hi></head> +<figDesc>Carna and Martianus</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +Carna remained silent. +</p> + +<p> +Martianus resolved to try another appeal, and, +presuming that the girl’s recollections of the scene +might be confused by fear, did not scruple to depart +considerably from the truth. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I implore you to believe that I could not have +allowed that horrible deed to be accomplished. If +that base fellow who had the privilege of saving +you had not appeared, I was ready myself to interfere. +I know that I ought to have done so before; +it has been a ceaseless regret to me that I did +not. But I wanted to keep on terms with those two, +and I held back till the last moment. Forgive me +my irresolution, Carna, but do not believe that I +could have been one of the murderers.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The girl’s recollections of the scene, which were +quite free from the confusion which Martianus had +imagined, did not agree with this account of his +behaviour, but she did not think it worth while to +argue the point. +</p> + +<pb n='278'/><anchor id='Pg278'/> + +<p> +<q>Let it be as you will,</q> she said, with a cold dignity, +<q>but you can imagine that these recollections +are not pleasing to me. And now I will bid you +farewell.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She stepped forward as she spoke with the intention +of at once leaving the room, but Martianus +barred the way. Dropping on one knee, he caught +her hand. For a moment Carna, who had still +something of the child in her, felt a strong impulse +to use the hand that was still free in dealing him a +vigorous blow. But her womanly dignity prevailed: +she only wrenched her hand away with something +like violence. There was something in the foppish +appearance and insincere manner of Martianus that +set her more decidedly against him than even the +recollection of the plot in which he had been concerned. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I will listen to what you have to say, but do not +touch me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>You give me little encouragement,</q> Martianus +began, <q>but still I will speak. I say nothing about +myself, only about my country—your country and +mine. I know how you love it. We have all heard +what sacrifices you have made for it, how you gave +up home and friends sooner than leave it. Make, if +I must put it so, one sacrifice more. You are the +heiress of the great Caradoc, the noblest king that +Britain ever had, whom even the Romans were +com<pb n='279'/><anchor id='Pg279'/>pelled to admire. I can reckon among my ancestors +Cunobelin. Apart our claims might be disputed; +together they will make a title which no one can +dispute to the crown of Britain. Yes, Carna, it is +nothing less than that—the crown of Britain that is +in question.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>A crown does not tempt me,</q> said Carna, looking +the speaker straight in the face. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Ah! it is not that,</q> replied the suitor; <q>you +mistake me. I never dreamed of tempting you. I +know only too well that it would be impossible. +But think what a British crown really means. It +means a united Britain, strong against the Picts, +strong against the Saxons; and without it—think +what that would mean. Every tribe—for we should +split up into tribes again—for itself; every chief +working for his own hand; the Picts plundering the +inland, the Saxons harrying the coast. Oh, Carna! +as you love your country—I don’t speak of myself, +though that, too, might come in time, if a man’s +devotion is of any avail—but if you love your +country, do not say no.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It was a powerful appeal, and touched Carna’s +heart at the point where it was most accessible. +And she was so candid and transparent a soul that +what she felt in her heart she soon showed in her +face. +</p> + +<p> +Martianus saw his advantage, but, happily for +<pb n='280'/><anchor id='Pg280'/>Carna, did not press it as he might have done. The +fact was that he was so conscious of his own insincerity +and falsehood that his courage failed him, +and he dared not press his suit any further. Had +he gone on, he might have entangled the girl in a +promise which her feeling for truth would not have +permitted her to break, which would have made her +even shut her eyes to the truth. As it was, he +thought it his best policy to rest content with the +progress that he had made. He raised Carna’s hand +respectfully to his lips, and, with a low salutation, +opened the door. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="28" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='281'/><anchor id='Pg281'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXVIII. A Rival"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXVIII. A Rival"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXVIII.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">A RIVAL.</hi></head> + +<p> +It was a fact that Martianus had taken possession +of the villa in the island, on the strength of a claim +which was far less definite than he had chosen to +represent to Carna. But no other owner was forthcoming, +and the place was important in the minds +of the British population as having been the dwelling +of the last representative of Roman power. The +new occupant might seem to have succeeded to the +position of the one who had lately quitted it. It +flattered the man’s vanity, too, to put himself in the +place, so to speak, of the powerful Count of the +Shore, while he could use the appliances of the villa, +which were comfortable and even luxurious, to gratify +his taste for what he called the pleasures of civilized +life. His establishment would probably have failed +to satisfy the fastidious taste of a Roman gentleman; +the cooking was barbarous, and the service generally +rude. Still there was a certain imitation, which +im<pb n='282'/><anchor id='Pg282'/>posed at least upon the ignorant, of Roman refinement, +and Martianus flattered himself that he was +at least a passable successor of Count Ælius. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile he pursued his suit to Carna with a +good deal of craft. He was a diligent attendant +at the village church, and professed to feel such an +interest in the teaching of the old priest that the +ministrations in church must be supplemented by +conversations at home. To Carna he said little or +nothing about his personal claims, but he was +eloquent on the subject of the future of Britain. +About this she was never tired of hearing, and in +hearing him speak of it, which he did with a certain +eloquence, the sense of his falseness and unreality +began to grow fainter in her mind. The maiden +faith which <q>glorifies clown and satyr</q> began to +make this schemer, who indeed was not without +ability and accomplishments, look like a genuine +patriot. As for the priest and his wife, they were +simply captivated by him, and never lost an opportunity +of praising him to their young kinswoman. +On the whole, his suit made some progress. It was +only when he seemed to put forward any personal +claim, or ventured to address to Carna any personal +compliments, that she decidedly shrank from him. +He was quite shrewd enough to see this, and though +it was a very unpleasant experience for his vanity as +well as for his love, he did not fail to guide his +con<pb n='283'/><anchor id='Pg283'/>duct by it. As long as he talked about Britain, its +wrongs in the past, and its hopes for the future, he +was sure of a favourable hearing. +</p> + +<p> +Martianus had other things to think of besides his +suit to Carna. As he said, he had broken entirely +with Ambiorix. He had found that the strength +of the old Druid party had been greatly exaggerated, +and that in fact the time for its revival had gone by +for ever. Any chance, too, of even temporary success +that it might have had had been lost with the life +of Carausius. The priest had held many threads of +secret intrigue in his hands, and there was no one to +take them up, when they dropped from his hand. And +Ambiorix, besides being worth but little as an ally, +had wanted too much, for he was not of a temper to +be satisfied with the second place. +</p> + +<p> +Still Martianus was well aware that his rival +would have to be reckoned with sooner or later. +If he could induce Carna to become his wife, and +thus unite her family claim to his own, this reckoning +might be got through with care and success. If he +had to rely upon himself the chances would be +decidedly less favourable. The dilemma in which +he found himself was this. On the one hand, to +hasten his suit might be to ruin it altogether; +Carna, too, might fairly ask him for something more +substantial than his own assertion of his pretensions. +On the other hand, there was the danger of being +<pb n='284'/><anchor id='Pg284'/>attacked and crushed before he could make his +appeal to the country. Ambiorix, he knew, was a +man of even desperate courage, and would not suffer +himself to be effaced without a struggle. +</p> + +<p> +Martianus did his best to guard himself against +this danger. He strengthened the fortifications +which the Count had made round the villa, laid +up a store of provisions which might be sufficient +for a prolonged siege, and used all his resources—he +was one of the richest men in Britain—to get +together as large and effective a garrison as possible. +</p> + +<p> +These precautions were not taken a day too soon. +About the beginning of June he received intelligence +from his agents on the mainland that Ambiorix was +preparing to attack him. He hurried at once with +the news to the priest’s house. +</p> + +<p> +<q>You know,</q> he said, <q>that my house has always +been at your disposal, but, much as I should have +liked to receive you as my guests, I would not +press the invitation upon you. But now, in the face +of what I have just heard, your coming is a necessity. +Ambiorix and his followers are almost on the way to +attack us, and there is no place of safety but the +villa.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The proposition was most distasteful to Carna, +who shuddered at the thought of entering her old +home in such society. At first she was disposed to +be generally incredulous, knowing that Martianus +<pb n='285'/><anchor id='Pg285'/>was not incapable of exaggerating, and even of inventing, +when he had an object to serve. Compelled, +by the proofs which the chief advanced, to +acknowledge that the danger was real, she took +refuge in the argument that <q>it did not concern +them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>We are too insignificant to be harmed,</q> she +said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Pardon me, Carna,</q> replied Martianus. <q>You +surely know better than that about yourself. And +if, as I can easily believe, you are careless on your +own account, think of your host. There is nothing +that Ambiorix hates with so deadly a hatred as a +Christian priest.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The old priest, a worthy man, but not of the stuff +of which martyrs are made, was terribly alarmed +at this statement. Carna, too, was compelled to +acknowledge that this fear was not without reason, +and reluctantly consented to the removal. Her mind +once made up, she found abundance of occupation +in making it as little grievous to others as might be. +The villa could not hold any great number of inmates +in addition to the garrison, and of course it +was necessary that the number of non-combatants +should be as small as possible. Some of the inhabitants +of the settlement could, of course, remain +safely in their homes. They had little or nothing +to be robbed of, and the expected assailants had no +<pb n='286'/><anchor id='Pg286'/>other reason for harming them. But many households +had to be broken up, and as only very few +could be received at the villa, there were many +painful scenes to be gone through, and Carna was +unceasingly busy giving all the comfort and help +that she could. Martianus, who was not unkindly +in temper, put all his resources at her disposal, and +his readiness to assist put him higher in her favour +than he had ever been before. +</p> + +<p> +Nor was she sorry that she had found shelter +within the fortifications of the villa when the next +morning revealed the presence of the invaders. +They had come across in the night to the number +of several hundreds, and could be seen from the +windows of the villa. And a very singular sight +they were. A spectator might have imagined himself +to have been carried back more than four centuries +and a half, and to be looking on the hosts which had +gathered to oppose the landing of the first Cæsar. +These warriors who came up shouting to the palisade +which formed the outer defence of the villa seemed +to be absolute barbarians; no one could have believed +that for many generations they had been subjects +of a civilized power. They had, in fact, deliberately +thrown off all the signs of that subjection. It was +the dream of Ambiorix to have Britain such as she +might have been had Rome never conquered her. It +was a hopeless attempt, this rolling back the course +<pb n='287'/><anchor id='Pg287'/>of time by four centuries, but in such matters as +dress and equipment something could be done. +Accordingly, his troops were such as the troops +of Cassibelan might have been had they suddenly +risen from their graves. Most of them were naked +to the waist; what clothing they had was chiefly of +skins, though some wore gaily-coloured trews. All +wore their hair falling over their shoulders, and long, +drooping moustaches, but no beard or whisker. All +the exposed parts of their bodies were dyed a deep +indigo-blue, by the application of woad. Ambiorix +had been very anxious to revive the chariots of his +ancestors, but had been compelled to give up the +idea. In any case he could not have transported +them to the island. He had been at great pains to +instruct them in the genuine British war-cries, as far +as tradition had preserved them. Here, again, the +result had been somewhat disappointing. There +were things which they had learnt from Rome which +they could not put off as easily as their dress; and +the challenges which they shouted out to the besieged +as they surged up to the defences were a +curious mixture of the British and Latin tongues. +</p> + +<p> +The battle at first went decidedly against the +assailants. The Count had left behind him a catapult +among other effects which he had not thought +it worth while to remove; and Martianus, who had +practised some of the garrison in the use of it, +<pb n='288'/><anchor id='Pg288'/>brought it +<anchor id="corr288"/><corr sic="inot">into</corr> play with considerable effect. The +very first discharge killed one of the lesser chiefs, +and a little later in the day Ambiorix himself was +badly bruised by one of the stones propelled from it. +Meanwhile the defenders escaped almost wholly +without injury. There was no need for them to +leave the shelter of the buildings. As long as they +kept within this the bows and slings of the enemy +failed to harm them. One or two rash young recruits +exposed themselves unnecessarily, and were +wounded in consequence; but when Ambiorix, about +an hour before sunset, called off his men, the garrison +found that the casualties had been very slight and +few. +</p> + +<p> +During the night the besiegers were not idle. +They constructed a mantelet<note place="foot">Mantelet: a shield of wood, metal, or rope, for the protection +of sappers, &c.</note> of wicker work +covered with stout hides, and brought it out close to +the palisade—an operation which the besieged, with +a culpable carelessness, allowed them to do unmolested. +From under cover of this they plied long +poles, armed at the ends with blades of steel (for +Ambiorix was not so obstinate a conservative as to +go back to the axe of bronze), and hacked away at +the palisade. The catapult produced no effect +on this erection, and though arrows, discharged +almost perpendicularly into the air so as to fall just +<pb n='289'/><anchor id='Pg289'/>on the other side of it, inflicted some injury, the +work went on without interruption. Martianus, +seeing this, headed a sally in person, and, after a +sharp struggle, succeeded in possessing himself of it. +The wicker work was broken in pieces, and the hides +carried off within the line of defences. +</p> + +<p> +The next three days passed without incident, and +the inmates of the villa began to hope that the +danger had passed over. In reality, however, the +besiegers were collecting materials for the construction +of another mantelet on a much larger scale. +As much of this as was possible was put together +out of sight of the villa, and on the morning of the +fourth day an erection of considerable size could be +seen about fifty yards from the palisade. It soon +became evident that the new plan of the assailants +was to try the effect of fire. Arrows were wrapped +round with tow, and, when this had been lighted, +were discharged into the enclosure. Some mischief +was done, not so much to the buildings, for it was +not difficult to put out the fire if the arrows happened +to fall on an inflammable place, but to the garrison. +The men who had to extinguish the flames could not +avoid exposing themselves, and those who exposed +themselves were frequently hit by the slingers and +archers. On the whole, however, little progress was +made, and when, in the course of the evening, a +heavy rain came on, and the wind, which had +<pb n='290'/><anchor id='Pg290'/>hitherto assisted the flames, altogether died away, +the discharge ceased. +</p> + +<p> +It was now necessary for Ambiorix to bring +matters to a crisis. His followers had nearly exhausted +the store of provisions which they had +brought with them, and, as he was unwilling to +alienate the inhabitants of the island by resorting to +plunder, he did not see how he could replenish it. +Nothing remained, therefore, but to try a direct +assault, and this he did in the early dawn of the +sixth day after his arrival. Under cover of a heavy +mist which rolled in from the sea, and helped by the +neglect of the sentinels, who, never very watchful, +had relaxed their care altogether when the light +became visible, he brought his men close up to the +palisade at the spot where an opening had been left, +closed with a strong gate. For a few minutes, such +was the supineness of the garrison, the assailants +were allowed to batter and hew at this undisturbed. +When some of the defenders had been rallied to the +spot, the work was more than half done. Ambiorix, +who was now entirely recovered from the injury +received on the first day of the siege, plied his axe +with extraordinary energy, and his immediate followers, +whom he had carefully selected for their +courage and strength, followed his example. By +the time Martianus arrived on the scene the gate +had been broken down, and the assailants were pouring +into the enclosure. +</p> + +<pb n='291'/><anchor id='Pg291'/> + +<p> +The garrison, who were outnumbered in the proportion +of nearly three to one, were at once ordered to +fall back into the quadrangle of the villa. They formed +a line across the open side where they were covered +by the archers and slingers posted on the roofs of +the various buildings. Here a long and fierce struggle +ensued. The defenders had some advantage in +their position, and were better drilled and disciplined; +the assailants, on the other hand, had the courage of +fanaticism. When an hour had passed, and the +combatants, by mutual consent, paused to take breath, +both sides had lost many in killed and wounded, but +neither had gained any considerable advantage. +</p> + +<p> +Carna meanwhile had been busy ministering to the +needs of the wounded, and was scarcely aware of the +true position of affairs, the room in which she was at +work not commanding a view of the space in which +the struggle was going on. Chancing, however, to +leave it for a moment in search of something which +she wanted for her work, she saw what had taken +place. In a moment her resolution was taken. +During the siege her thoughts had been taken up, not +with the danger to herself and the other inmates of the +villa, but with the terrible fact that Britons were +fighting against Britons. Long before she would +have attempted to put an end to their cruel strife, if +she had seen any hope of success. She would not +have hesitated risking her life in the attempt. +In<pb n='292'/><anchor id='Pg292'/>deed she had proposed to Martianus that she should +go with a party bearing a flag of truce, and seek an +interview with the hostile commander. He had met +her with a courteous and peremptory refusal, and +she had been compelled to acquiesce. But now it +seemed to her that her chance was come. Taking +advantage of the pause in the struggle, she ran +between the combatants, and threw herself on her +knees with her face towards the assailants. +</p> + +<p> +A murmur of astonishment and admiration ran +through both the ranks. She seemed to be a visitor +from another world, so strange, so unexpected, and, +at the same time, so beautiful was her appearance. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Britons, brothers,</q> she cried, in a sweet but +penetrating voice, which made itself heard through +the throng, <q>what is this? Britons, brothers, have +you forgotten what you are? Your masters have left +you. You carry arms which have been forbidden to +you for more than four hundred years, and must you +first use them against your own countrymen? Have +you no enemies abroad that you must look for them +at home?</q> +</p> + +<p> +A shriek of terror, followed by a wild war cry, +which, though strange to many of the crowd, was +only too familiar to the dwellers on the coast, gave a +fearful emphasis to her words. The enemies from +without were there. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="29" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='293'/><anchor id='Pg293'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXIX. An Unexpected Arrival"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXIX. An Unexpected Arrival"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXIX.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL.</hi></head> + +<p> +Cedric, after making good his escape from the +villa, as has been related, had nearly died of hunger +on the shore to which he had managed to make his +way. When he was almost at his last gasp, a +Saxon galley had touched at the very spot to +supply itself with water. Fortunately for him it +was commanded by a kinsman of his own, who +persuaded the crew—the Saxon adventurers had +to be dealt with by persuasion rather than by command—to +return home with their passenger. This +probably saved his life; his mother, a skilful leech, +whose fame was spread abroad among the dwellers +on the coast, nursed him back into health. Still he +had suffered long and much; and it was not till the +summer was far advanced that he was allowed to join +an expedition. His noble birth, his reputation for +strength and courage, not a little enhanced, of course, +by his late escape, and the personal fascination that +<pb n='294'/><anchor id='Pg294'/>he exercised on all about him, pointed him out, young +as he was, for command. +</p> + +<p> +Carna had been unceasingly in his thoughts since +the day when he had last seen her. During the +delirium of his illness her name had been continually +on his lips, and one of the earliest confidences of his +recovery was the story of his love for this Christian +maiden of the west. His mother was touched +by the story. The girl’s passionate desire for the +welfare of the son that was dead (which she appreciated +without comprehending its motive), and +the very heroism which the son that was living had +shown in defending her, combined to move her heart. +That any living woman could resist the attraction of +such a champion as her son, she did not believe for a +moment, in spite of all that Cedric could say about +the height of saintliness on which Carna stood; and +by degrees the young chief himself found his worshipping +devotion mingled with hopes that were very +sweet to his heart. +</p> + +<p> +It is not surprising, therefore, that as soon as he +was at sea, and the destination of their voyage became +a question, his thoughts at once turned to the +island. Approaching it with caution, for he was too +good a leader to risk an encounter with the superior +force of the Roman squadron, he learnt with surprise +that the Count had departed. Of Carna his informant, +a fisherman who found it answer his purpose to +<pb n='295'/><anchor id='Pg295'/>give what information he could to the Saxons, could +tell him nothing, and Cedric naturally supposed that +she had gone with the family into which she had been +adopted. The news struck a strange chill into his +heart, but at the same time it relieved him of considerable +perplexity. His course was now clear; if +the Romans were gone there was nothing to be +feared. He knew the approaches to the villa, and +how weak were its defences, and he felt sure that a +British garrison would not be a match for his own +vigorous Saxons. +</p> + +<p> +He reached the island two days after the landing +of Ambiorix. Acting as his own spy on the strength +of his knowledge of the country, he soon found +out the position of affairs, and thought that he could +not do better than wait to see how things would turn +out. The galleys—Cedric had two under his command—lay +in hiding at some little distance from the +Haven, and meanwhile every detail of the struggle +was watched, unknown to the combatants, by scouts +who carried news of its progress to their chief. The +gathering of the troops previous to the attack on the +fortifications had been observed and rightly understood +by these men. Cedric had been at once informed +of what was in progress, had landed his +crews, amounting in all to about two hundred, and +marched with all the speed that was possible to the +scene of action. As the news had reached him not +<pb n='296'/><anchor id='Pg296'/>long after midnight he was able to reach the spot +very soon after the attack had commenced. +</p> + +<p> +The battle-cry of the Saxons, terrible to those who +knew it, scarcely less terrible, with its shrillness and +fierceness, to those to whom it was strange, arrested +the attention of all, and made every eye turn to the +rear of the attacking party. There could be seen, +running swiftly up the ascent which led to the +palisade, the band of Saxons. In front a huge +standard-bearer carried a blood-red banner, on which +was wrought in black the raven of Odin. Behind +him came, in a loose order which served to conceal +their scanty number, Cedric’s warriors, a sturdy +race, whose tall stature was made to seem almost +gigantic by the height to which their hair was dressed. +They were formidable foes, but still there were brave +men in both the British parties who would have had +the courage to stand up against them. Unhappily one +of the panics which defy all reason and all individual +courage began among the inland Britons at the +sight of these strange enemies; and, once begun, it +could not be checked. Ambiorix, indeed, with a few +of his immediate followers, faced the enemy, but +was quickly swept away by the rush of their onset. +Martianus, with some of the garrison, carrying Carna +along with him, took refuge in the villa, and hastily +secured the doors. Others fled wildly over the country, +or hid themselves in the out-buildings. Nowhere was +<pb n='297'/><anchor id='Pg297'/>there any thought of resistance, and the Saxons won +their victory almost without losing a drop of blood. +</p> + +<p> +Cedric’s eyes, sharpened as they were by love, had +caught a glimpse of Carna, as she was swept in the +throng of fugitives within the doors of the villa, and +he at once led his men to the attack. Any defence +of the place against assailants so determined would +have been hopeless, even had the garrison been as +resolute as they were, in fact, feeble and demoralized. +A few sturdy blows from Cedric’s battle-axe brought +the principal door to the ground, and he rushed across +the fragments into the hall, followed by some ten of +his attendants. The rest he had signed to remain +without. Carna, who, herself undismayed amidst all +the tumult, was surrounded by a group of terrified +men and women, stood facing him. The crimson +mounted to her forehead as she met his eyes, for she +saw, as no woman could fail to see, the love that was +in them; but she showed no other sign of emotion. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Spare these poor creatures,</q> she said, pointing +to her terrified companions. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Your lives are safe,</q> said Cedric in British. <q>Go +with this <anchor id="corr297"/><corr sic="(quote mark missing)">man,</corr></q> and he pointed to one of his attendants, +to whom at the same time he gave some brief +directions. He turned to Carna: <q>Lady,</q> he said, +<q>this is no time for many words; and I could not +say them if it were, for my tongue is ill-taught in +your language. But you cannot have failed to see +<pb n='298'/><anchor id='Pg298'/>my heart. It is yours, and all that I have. Come +and be a queen in my home and among my people.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The girl’s eyes, which she had turned to the +ground at his first address, were now lifted to meet +his gaze. <q>I cannot leave my people,</q> she said. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yet,</q> he answered, <q>the good women of whom +you used to tell me, whose lives are written in that +holy book of yours, left their own people to follow +their husbands.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes, but the God of the husbands whom they +followed was the God whom they worshipped in +their own homes. You worship strange gods, with +whom I can have no fellowship.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Come with me and teach the truth to my people +and me,</q> cried the young man, feeling that there +was nothing which he would not do to win this +bright, brave, beautiful maiden. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Listen, Cedric,</q> she answered—it was the first time +that she had called him by his name, and he thought +that he had never known before what a name it +was—<q>You told me some time since that you would +sooner go into the everlasting darkness with your +own people than bow the knee to a God whom you +believed to have dealt unjustly with them. It was a +noble resolve; and I have honoured you for it. Will +you give it up for the love of a woman? If you did, +I could honour you no more, and you are too good to +have a wife that did not honour you. No, Cedric, I +<pb n='299'/><anchor id='Pg299'/>will pray for you. Perhaps God will hear me, and +give you light, and bring us together to the blessed +Christ, but it cannot be here.</q> +</p> + +<p> +She caught his right hand which he had reached +out in the earnestness of his speaking, and lifted it +to her lips. Her kiss was the last expression of her +gratitude. And perhaps there was something in it +of a woman’s love. But she never faltered for one +instant in the resolve that was to separate them. +</p> + +<p> +Behind Cedric stood a burly, middle-aged warrior, +his father’s foster-brother. He had watched the +scene with an intense interest, and though of course +he could not understand what was said, had a very +shrewd notion of the turn which affairs were taking. +Perhaps he saw, too, expressed in the girl’s tone +something of a feeling which the young man was +too rapt in his adoration to observe. Anyhow, he was +ill-content that his young chief should miss the +bride on whom his heart was set, and who seemed +so worthy of him. +</p> + +<p> +<q>A noble maiden!</q> he whispered to Cedric, <q>and +fit to be the wife and mother of kings; and I think +that she loves you. Shall we carry her off? I +warrant that it will not be long before she forgives +us.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Peace!</q> said Cedric, turning fiercely upon him, +<q>Peace! Would you have me wed a slave? My +wife must come to me freely, or come not at all.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='300'/><anchor id='Pg300'/> + +<p> +He spoke to Carna again. <q>Your will is my law. +If you say that we must part, I go. But, lady, you +must leave this house. My people are set upon +burning it, and I could not hinder them, if I would.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Without another word, she obeyed his bidding, and +passed into the court, followed by Cedric and his +attendants. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile some of the Saxon crews had been +busy with their torches, and the flames were beginning +to gain a mastery over the building. Before +many minutes had passed the sheds and outbuildings, +which were, to a great extent, constructed of wood, +were in a blaze, while dense volumes of smoke rolled +out of the windows of the villa itself. Carna stood +spellbound by the sight, at once so terrible and so +grand. The spectacle of a burning house exercises +a curious fascination even on those for whom it +means loss and disaster, and Carna, even in that +supreme crisis of her life, could not help gazing at +the conflagration, and even admiring unconsciously +the splendid contrasts of light and darkness which it +produced. +</p> + +<p> +It seemed as if that day was about to sweep away +all her past. She had torn from her heart her half-acknowledged +love; she saw the home of her childhood +and youth vanishing into smoke and ashes; +and now another actor in the bygone of her life was +to disappear for ever. +</p> + +<pb n='301'/><anchor id='Pg301'/> + +<p> +Martianus had observed the scene from the +chamber in which he had taken refuge, and had +misunderstood it. He fancied that the girl, whom, +though no formal betrothal had bound her to him, +he regarded as his own, was going of her own +accord with this Saxon robber, in whom, of course, +he recognized the champion who had saved her life +at the Great Temple. The thought stung him to +madness. With all his foppery and frivolity, he had +the courage of his race. He might probably have +escaped unnoticed from the burning building. But, +disdaining flight, he rushed at Cedric, heedless of +the odds which he was challenging. +</p> + +<p> +The chief’s followers, knowing their master’s temper, +stood aside to let the conflict be decided without +their interference. It was fierce, but it was brief. +Martianus was a skilled swordsman, but a life of +indolence, if not of excess, had slackened his sinews +and unsteadied his nerves. He parried some of his +antagonist’s blows with sufficient adroitness, but his +defence grew weaker and weaker, and he could not +save himself from one or two severe wounds. Giving +way before the fierce, unremitting attack of his +antagonist, he came without knowing it to the edge +of the well, stumbled over the raised parapet that +surrounded it, and fell headlong into its depths.<note place="foot">A skeleton has been found in the well of the Brading +Villa.</note> +</p> + +<pb n='302'/><anchor id='Pg302'/> + +<p> +The sight of the conflict had diverted Carna’s attention +from the burning house. She did not wait to see +its issue, but at once quitted the precincts of the +villa. Some of the survivors of the garrison, the old +priest and his wife, and the rest of the non-combatants, +followed her. Not only did they feel that it was she +who had saved them from the swords of the Saxons, +but they recognized in her calmness and courage the +qualities of a true leader, and were sure that they +could not do better than follow her guidance. Her +own plans had been formed for some time. She saw +that the strength of Britain was in the great cities. +If the country, disorganized as it was, was to be +made capable again of order and self-defence, the +impulse must come from them, the centres of its +civil and religious life. Londinium, where the +Count’s name was well-known and respected, and +where she had some connections of her own, was +her destination. There she hoped to be able to do +something for her people. +</p> + +<p> +The first step was to leave the neighbourhood of +the villa, and with the helpless companions who +now, she saw, looked to her for guidance, to make +her way to the north of the island, and from thence +to the mainland. Making a short pause till the +stragglers had come up, she addressed a few words +of counsel and comfort to the fugitives. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Dear friends,</q> she said, <q>God has delivered us +<pb n='303'/><anchor id='Pg303'/>from the hands of the heathen, and will bring us safe +to the haven where we would be. But this is no +place for us. We will go to where we may serve +Him in peace and quietness.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Her clear, firm tones, which seemed inspired with +all the confidence of an unfaltering faith, seemed to +breathe in their turn new courage into the terrified +crowd. They received them with a murmur of +assent, and without an expression of fear or doubt, +followed her as she led the way to the summit of +the neighbouring downs. +</p> + +<p> +Arrived at this spot, she paused and turned, as if +to take a last look at the scenes in which her past +life had been spent. The landscape lay calm and +smiling about her. Every feature in it was familiar +to her eyes; there was not one with which she had +not some happy association. But now the sight had +lost its power; her soul was occupied with more +profound emotions. The home of her childhood lay +beneath her feet, a blackened ruin; and there, upon +the sea, could be seen flashing in the sunlight the +oars of the Saxons’ departing galleys. +</p> + +<p> +It was a contrast full of significance, and the girl, in +whose pure and enthusiastic soul there seemed to be +something of a prophetic power, caught some of its +meaning. That ruined house was the past, the days +of the Roman domination. It had had its uses, it had +done its work, but it had become corrupt and feeble, +<pb n='304'/><anchor id='Pg304'/>and it was passing away for ever. And the future +was there, symbolized in the Saxon ships that, +brightened by the sunshine, were speeding their +way, instinct, as it seemed, with a vigorous and +hopeful life, across the waters. That was the new +power that was to shake this worn-out civilization, +and raise in the course of the ages a fair fabric of +its own. +</p> + +<p> +For the moment the present, with all its misery +and desolation, mastered the girl’s spirit with an +overpowering sense of loss. Thoughts of her ruined +home, her helpless country, and her own personal +loss, though almost unacknowledged to herself, in +the final parting with the young hero of her life, +came upon her with a force which broke down all +her fortitude. She covered her face with her hands +and wept. +</p> + +<p> +Then her fortitude and her conscience reasserted +themselves. <q>Courage, my friends,</q> she cried, +<q>God hath not deserted us, nor our dear country. +We have sinned much, and we shall have much to +bear. But He has chosen this land for a great work, +and He will make all things work together for good +till He has accomplished it.</q> She was silent for a +few moments. When she began to speak again, +some mighty inspiration seemed to carry her beyond +the present and out of herself. <q>Yes,</q> she cried, +<q>God hath great things in store for this dear +<pb n='305'/><anchor id='Pg305'/>country of ours. I see a great blackness of darkness. +From many houses, great and fair, where the +rulers of the land lived delicately, shall go up to +heaven the smoke of a great burning, and the fields +shall be untilled and desolate, and the rivers shall +run red with blood. But beyond the darkness I see +a light, and the light shines upon a land that is fair +as the garden of the Lord; and therein I behold great +cities thronged with men, and in the midst of them +stately houses of God, such as have never yet been +built by skill of human hand. And the people that +work and worship there are not of our race, nor yet +wholly strange. For the Lord shall make to Himself +a people from out of them that know Him not, +even from the rovers of the sea; they that pull +down His Church shall build it again, and they shall +carry His name to many lands, for the sea shall be +covered with their ships; and they shall rule over the +nations from the one end of heaven to the other.</q> +</p> +<pgIf output='txt'><then> + <p rend="ill">[Illustration: Carna on the Hillside.]</p> +</then><else> + <p><anchor id="fig304"/><figure url="images/i_343.jpg" rend="w100"><index index="fig" level1="Carna on the Hillside"/> +<head><hi rend='smallcaps'>Carna on the Hillside.</hi></head> +<figDesc>Carna on the Hillside</figDesc></figure></p> +</else></pgIf> +<p> +She sank upon her knees, and remained wrapt +in prayer, while the crowd stood round and watched +her with awe-stricken faces. When she rose again +to her feet she was calm. Resolutely she set her +face from the scene of her past life, and went her +way to meet the future that lay before her. +</p> + +</div><div type="chapter" n="30" rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n='306'/><anchor id='Pg306'/> +<index index="toc" level1="XXX. At Last"/> +<index index="pdf" level1="XXX. At Last"/> +<head>CHAPTER XXX.<lb/><lb/><hi rend="smaller">AT LAST.</hi></head> + +<p> +It was nearly sunset on the second day of the great +battle of Badon Hill.<note place="foot">The battle of Badon Hill, fought in 451, seems to be a +well authenticated historical fact. King Arthur defeated the +Saxons after a fierce conflict which lasted for two days. Badon +Hill is near Bath.</note> The long, desperate fight +was over, and the great British champion had turned +back for a time the tide of Saxon invasion. The +heathen dead lay, rank by rank, as they had fallen, +every man in his place, in the great wedge-like +formation which had resisted all the efforts of the +Britons during the first day of the struggle, and had +been with difficulty broken through on the second. +</p> + +<p> +The King was sitting amidst a circle of his knights +on the top of the hill, resting from his toils. His cross-hilted +sword stood fixed in the ground before him. On +one side lay his helmet, bearing for its crest a dragon +wrought in gold; on the other, his shield, on which +was blazoned the figure of the Virgin. +</p> + +<pb n='307'/><anchor id='Pg307'/> + +<p> +A priest approached, walking in front of a party of +four who were carrying a litter, and who, at a sign +from their leader, set it down before the King. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My lord,</q> said the priest, <q>I was traversing the +field to see whether I could serve any of the wounded +with my ministrations, when word was brought to +me that a Saxon desired to talk with me. He could +speak the British tongue, it was told me, a thing +almost unheard of among these barbarians. I did +not delay to visit the man, and finding that he +desired above all things to speak to your lordship, I +took it upon myself to order that he should be +brought.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The wounded man raised himself with some +difficulty, and by the help of one of the bearers, into +a sitting posture. He was of almost gigantic proportions, +and though his hair and beard were white +as snow, showed little of the waste and emaciation +of age. +</p> + +<p> +One of the King’s knights recognized him at once. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I noted him,</q> said he, <q>for a long time during +the battle. He was in the front rank, and stood +close to a young chief, whose guardian he seemed to +be. I observed that he was content to ward off blows +that were aimed at the young man, but never dealt +any himself. What came to him and his charge +afterwards I do not know, for the tide of battle +carried me away.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='308'/><anchor id='Pg308'/> + +<p> +<q>What do you want?</q> said the King. +</p> + +<p> +<q>My lord King,</q> said the old man, speaking +British fluently, though with a foreign accent, <q>the +knight speaks true. Neither to-day, nor yesterday, +nor indeed through all the years during which my +people have fought with yours, have I stained my +hands with British blood. Indeed for forty years I +have not set foot on this island. But this year I was +constrained to come, for the young Prince of my +people, Logrin by name, was with the army, and his +father had given him into my charge, and I could +not leave him. All day, therefore, I stood by him, +and warded off the blows with such strength and skill +as I had, and when his death hour came, for he fell +on the morning of the second day, I cared no more +for my own life. So much I say that you may listen +to me the more willingly, though report says of you +that you are generous, not to friends only, but also +to foes. But I have something to say that is of more +moment. Many years ago I was a prisoner in this +land, having been taken by one of the ships of Count +Ælius. Many things happened to me during my +sojourn here of which it does not concern me to +speak, except of this. There was in the household +of the Count a maiden, his daughter by adoption, +but of British birth, Carna by name. She was very +anxious to bring me to faith in her Master, Christ; +and I was no little moved by her words, and still +<pb n='309'/><anchor id='Pg309'/>more by the example of her goodness. But I loved +her, and this love seemed to hinder me, for how +could I tell whether it were truth itself or the love +that was persuading me? And would not he be the +basest of men who for love of a woman should leave +the faith of his fathers? So I remained, though it +was half against my own mind, in my unbelief, +and when she would not take me for her husband, +being unbaptized, we parted, and I saw her no more. +But her words, and the memory of her, have dwelt +with me unceasingly, and now that God has brought +me back to this land, I desire to have that which once +I refused. But tell me, my lord King, have you any +knowledge of this lady Carna?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Yes,</q> said the King, <q>I know her well, and by +the ordering of God, as I do not doubt, she is in this +very place this day, for she gives her whole time to +ministering to such as are in trouble or sorrow. She +shall be sent for forthwith, and the archbishop also, +who will, if he thinks fit, administer to you the holy +rite of baptism.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Cedric, for as my readers will have guessed it was +he, bowed his head in assent, and after swallowing a +cordial which the King’s physician put to his lips, +sank back upon the litter. +</p> + +<p> +In about half an hour Carna appeared. She was +dressed in the garb of a religious house, for she had +taken the vows, and she was followed by a small +<pb n='310'/><anchor id='Pg310'/>company of holy women who, like her, had devoted +their lives to the service of their poor and suffering +brothers and sisters in Christ. Time had dealt +gently with her, as he often does with gentle souls. +The glossy chestnut hair of the past was changed +indeed to a silvery white, and her face was wasted +with fast and vigil; but her complexion was clear +and delicate as of old, and her eyes as lustrous and +deep. +</p> + +<p> +When she saw and recognized the wounded man—for +she did recognize him at once—a sweet and +tender smile came over her face. Her gift of intuition +seemed to tell her that her prayers were +answered, and that the soul for which her supplications +had gone up day by day, from youth to age, +had been given to her. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Carna,</q> said the dying man, <q>God has brought +me back to you after many years, and before it is too +late. Your God is my God, and your country my +country—but not here. Once I could not own it, +fearing lest my love should be leading me into falsehood; +but all things are now made clear. But, my +lord King,</q> he went on, feebly turning his head to +Arthur, <q>bid them make haste, for I would be +baptized before I die, and my time is short.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The priest had departed on another errand, and +the King was perplexed. The physician whispered +in his ear— +</p> + +<pb n='311'/><anchor id='Pg311'/> + +<p> +<q>He has not many moments to live.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Baptize him, my lord King, yourself,</q> said Carna; +<q>it is lawful in case of need, and none can do it more +fittingly.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I will willingly be his sponsor,</q> said the knight +who had first spoken, <q>for there was never braver +man wielded axe or sword.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The King dipped his hand in a golden cup that +stood on the table by his chair, sprinkled the water +thrice on the dying man, as he pronounced the +solemn formula, and signed on his forehead the +sign of the Cross. He then put the cross-shaped +hilt of his sword to the lips of the newly baptized. +Cedric devoutly kissed it. The next minute he was +dead. +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 5; text-align: center"> +THE END. +</p> + +<p rend="margin-top: 5; text-align: center; font-size: small"> +UNWIN BROTHERS, LIMITED, PRINTERS, WOKING AND LONDON. +</p> + </div></body> + <back> +<div> + <pgIf output="pdf"> + <then/> + <else> + <div id="footnotes" rend="page-break-before: right"> + <index index="toc" level1="Footnotes"/> + <head>Footnotes</head> + <divGen type="footnotes"/> + </div> + </else> + </pgIf> + </div> +<div rend="page-break-before:right; x-class: boxed"> + <index index="pdf" level1="Transcriber's Note"/><index index="toc" level1="Transcriber’s Note"/> + <head>Transcriber’s Note</head> + <p>Variations in hyphenation (<q>countryside</q>, <q>country-side</q>; +<q>headquarters</q>, <q>head-quarters</q>) + have not been changed.</p> + <p>Other changes, which have been made to the text:</p> + <list> + <item><ref target="corr019">page 19</ref>, <q>tomount</q> changed to <q>to mount</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr023">page 23</ref>, quote mark added after <q>mishap.</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr033">page 33</ref>, <q>Lasetrygones</q> changed to <q>Laestrygones</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr076">page 76</ref>, <q>asid</q> changed to <q>said</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr079">page 79</ref>, quote mark added after <q>letter-carriers.</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr087">page 87</ref>, single quote mark changed to double quote mark after <q>long.</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr111">page 111</ref>, <q>oga</q> changed to <q>toga</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr115">page 115</ref>, quote mark added after <q>free.</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr139">page 139</ref>, quote mark added after <q>wanted.</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr156">page 156</ref>, <q>eemed</q> changed to <q>seemed</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr157">page 157</ref>, <q>greal</q> changed to <q>great</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr178">page 178</ref>, period added after <q>Sorbiodunum</q>, +comma changed to period after <ref target="corr178a"><q>them</q></ref></item> +<item><ref target="corr233">page 233</ref>, quote mark added after <q>man.</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr255">page 255</ref>, <q>Or</q> changed to <q>On</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr288">page 288</ref>, <q>inot</q> changed to <q>into</q></item> +<item><ref target="corr297">page 297</ref>, quote mark added after <q>man,</q></item> + + </list> + </div> +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> + <divGen type="pgfooter"/> + </div> + </back> + </text> +</TEI.2> diff --git a/44083-tei/images/cover.jpg b/44083-tei/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..562f620 --- /dev/null +++ b/44083-tei/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/44083-tei/images/i_002.jpg b/44083-tei/images/i_002.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a071aca --- /dev/null +++ b/44083-tei/images/i_002.jpg diff --git a/44083-tei/images/i_029.jpg b/44083-tei/images/i_029.jpg 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