diff options
Diffstat (limited to '44083.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 44083.txt | 7620 |
1 files changed, 7620 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/44083.txt b/44083.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bb51cfa --- /dev/null +++ b/44083.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7620 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Count of the Saxon Shore by Alfred John +Church + + + +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 included with this eBook or +online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license + + + +Title: The Count of the Saxon Shore + +Author: Alfred John Church + +Release Date: October 31, 2013 [Ebook #44083] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COUNT OF THE SAXON SHORE*** + + + + + + [Illustration: The Burning of the Villa.] + + + + + + The COUNT + of the SAXON SHORE + _or_ + The Villa in VECTIS + + _A TALE OF THE DEPARTURE OF THE ROMANS FROM BRITAIN_ + + BY THE + REV. ALFRED J. CHURCH, M.A. + _Author of "Stories from Homer"_ + + WITH THE COLLABORATION OF + RUTH PUTNAM + + + +_Fifth Thousand_ + + +London +SEELEY, SERVICE & CO. LIMITED +38 GREAT RUSSELL STREET + + + + + + Entered at Stationers' Hall + By SEELEY & CO. + + COPYRIGHT BY G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, 1887 + (For the United States of America). + + + + + + PREFACE. + + +"Count of the Saxon Shore" was a title bestowed by Maximian (colleague of +Diocletian in the Empire from 286 to 305 A.D.) 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. + +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. + + A. J. C. + R. P. + + + + + + CONTENTS. + + + CHAP. PAGE + I. A BRITISH CAESAR 1 + II. AN ELECTION 13 + III. A PRIZE 21 + IV. THE VILLA IN THE ISLAND 32 + V. CARNA 47 + VI. THE SAXON 57 + VII. A PRETENDER'S DIFFICULTIES 70 + VIII. THE NEWS IN THE CAMP 83 + IX. THE DEPARTURE OF THE LEGIONS 94 + X. DANGERS AHEAD 107 + XI. THE PRIEST'S DEMAND 115 + XII. LOST 124 + XIII. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? 135 + XIV. THE PURSUIT 144 + XV. THE PURSUIT (_continued_) 152 + XVI. THE GREAT TEMPLE 164 + XVII. THE BRITISH VILLAGE 173 + XVIII. THE PICTS 182 + XIX. THE SIEGE 194 + XX. CEDRIC IN TROUBLE 207 + XXI. THE ESCAPE 216 + XXII. A VISITOR 224 + XXIII. THE STRANGER'S STORY 234 + XXIV. NEWS FROM ITALY 245 + XXV. CONSULTATION 256 + XXVI. FAREWELL! 266 + XXVII. MARTIANUS 271 +XXVIII. A RIVAL 281 + XXIX. AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL 293 + XXX. AT LAST 306 + + + + + + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +THE BURNING OF THE VILLA _Frontispiece_ + PAGE +CONSTANTINE ELECTED EMPEROR 18 +THE _PANTHER_ AND THE SAXON PIRATES 28 +CEDRIC AT THE FORGE 58 +JAVELIN THROWING 78 +THE DEPARTURE OF THE LEGIONS 104 +BRITISH CONSPIRATORS 112 +THE CAPTURE OF CARNA 128 +THE SACRIFICE 166 +CEDRIC AND THE PICT 196 +CEDRIC'S FURY 212 +CEDRIC'S ESCAPE 222 +CLAUDIAN'S TALE 234 +THE COUNT RECEIVING THE LETTER OF HONORIUS 252 +CARNA AND MARTIANUS 276 +CARNA ON THE HILLSIDE 304 + + + + + + + _THE COUNT OF THE SAXON SHORE._ + + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + A BRITISH CAESAR. + + +"Hail! Caesar Emperor, the starving salute thee!"(1) 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, "Gratianus Caesar Imperator Felicissimus." 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 _Quaestorium_, or, as we may put it, the paymaster's +office of the camp at the head of the Great Harbour.(2) 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. + +"Let me look at his Imperial Majesty," said another speaker; and he +scanned the features of the new Caesar--features never very dignified, and +certainly not flattered by the rude coinage--with something like contempt. +"Well, he does not look exactly as a Caesar 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." + +"Ah!" said a third speaker, picking out from a handful of silver a coin +which bore the head of Theodosius, "this was an Emperor worth fighting +under. I made my first campaign with him against Maximus, another British +Caesar, by the way; and he was every inch a soldier. If his son were like +him(3) things would be smoother than they are." + +"Do you think," said the second speaker, after first throwing a cautious +glance to see whether any officer of rank was in hearing--"do you think we +have made a change for the better from Marcus?(4) 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." + +"Marcus, my dear fellow," said the other speaker, "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." + +"Hang the fat rascals!" said the other. "Why 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?" + +"Come, come, comrades," interrupted the first soldier who had spoken; "no +more grumbling, or some of us will find the centurion after us with his +vine-sticks." + +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. + +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 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,(5) 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 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. + +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 accustomed to take +the auspices,(6) was now a Christian Church, duly served by a priest of +British birth. + +About a couple of hours later in the day a shout of "The Emperor! the +Emperor!" 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. + +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 "Hail, Caesar! Hail, Gratianus! Hail, +Britannicus!" 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. + +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. + +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 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 "Old Hand me the other,"(7) +was killed on the spot. The furious crowd then rushed to headquarters, +where Gratianus was entertaining 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. + +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. + +"What do you want, my children?" he said; but there was a tremble in his +voice which put fresh courage into the failing hearts of the mutineers. + +"Give us our pay, give us our arrears!" answered a soldier in one of the +back rows, emboldened to speak by finding himself out of sight. + +The cry was taken up by the whole multitude. "Our pay! Our pay!" was +shouted from thousands of throats. + +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: "Say to them, 'Follow me, and I will give +you all you ask and more.'" + +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 gave it a meaning, he might have been saved, at least for +a time. But his nerve, his presence of mind was hopelessly lost. "Follow +me--where? Whither am I to lead them?" he asked, in a hurried, agitated +whisper. + +His adviser shrugged his shoulders and was silent. He saw that he was not +comprehended. + +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. + +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 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, "The tyrant has +his deserts!" 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 Caesar had gone the way of a long +line of unlucky predecessors. + + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + AN ELECTION. + + +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 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. + +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. "No, my men," said he; "we were all mad last night, +and we must all take the blame." + +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, _incognito_, so to speak, in the crowd. + +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-established favourite with the soldiers, was pushed to the front. His +speech was short and sensible. "Comrades," he said, "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." + +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. + +"Does Decius," cried a burly German from the crowd--Decius was the name of +the centurion--"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(8) at the +least." + +A shout of applause showed that the speaker had expressed the feelings of +his audience. + +"I propose that we all take the oath to Decius himself!" said a Batavian; +"he is a brave man and an honest, and what do we want more?" + +The good Decius had heard undismayed the angry 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. + +"Comrades," he stammered, "what have I done that you should treat me thus? +If I have offended or injured you, kill me, but not this." + +More than half possessed by a spirit of mischief, the assembly answered +this piteous appeal by continuous shouts of "Long live the Emperor +Decius!" + +The good man grew desperate. He drew his sword from the scabbard, and +pointed it at his own heart. "At least," he cried, "you can't forbid me +this escape." + +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, +"Long live the Centurion Decius!" to which another answered, "Long live +Decius the subject!" and the worthy man felt that the danger was over. + +A number of candidates, most of whom were probably as little desirous of +the honour as Decius, were now proposed in succession. + +"I name the Tribune Manilius," said one of the soldiers. + +The name was received with a shout of laughter. + +"Let him learn first to be Emperor at home!" 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. + +"I name the Centurion Pisinna." + +"Very good, if he does not pledge the purple," for Pisinna was notoriously +impecunious. + +"I name the Tribune Cetronius." + +"Very good as Emperor of the baggage-guard." Cetronius had, to say the +least, no high reputation for personal courage, and was supposed to prefer +the least exposed parts on the field. + +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. + +"Comrades," he began, "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 Syria? Was it not from Britain +that there came forth the greatest of the successors of Augustus, the +Second Romulus, Flavius Aurelius Constantinus?"(9) + +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, "Long live Constantinus, Emperor Augustus!" 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. + + [Illustration: Constantine elected Emperor.] + +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. + +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 to mount 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 of less than half a year; but he showed no other +sign of emotion. + +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, "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." 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. + +"Comrades, I promise you a donative(10) within the space of a month." + +The assembly broke up in great good-humour, and the newly-made Emperor, +attended by the officers, went to take possession of headquarters. + + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + A PRIZE. + + +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 _Labarum_, 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. + +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, "one would easily believe him to +be a good man, and willingly believe him to be great." + +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. + +"The wind will hardly serve us as well as it has," said the Count, as his +practised eye, familiar with every yard of the coast, perceived that they +were well abreast of the extreme southern point of the coast. + +"No, my lord," said the old man, "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." + +"Ah! old croaker," replied the Count, with a laugh, "I verily believe that +you will be half disappointed if we get to our journey's end without some +mishap." + +"Good words, good words, my lord," 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. +"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. + + 'Never let your keel be wet, + When the Pleiades have set; + Never let your keel be dry, + When the Crown is in the sky.' + +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." + +"Very well for them, perhaps," said the Count, "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." + +"Yes, yes, I know all about that," answered the old man, who was +privileged to have the last word even with so great a personage as the +Count; "but there is a proverb, 'Much haste, little speed,' and I have +always found it quite as true by sea as by land." + +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 _Panther_--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. + +"Fine sailing, fine sailing," said the old helmsman, drawn almost in spite +of himself into an exclamation of delight, as the _Panther_, rushing +through the water with an almost even keel, began to widen the gap between +herself and her nearest follower. 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. "But we need not put about now," he said to himself. +"If this wind holds we shall fetch Lemanis(11) without requiring to tack." + +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, "A sail on the +starboard side!" 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. + +"If she is an enemy," he said to the old helmsman, "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 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." + +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 _Panther_ was putting to himself +with intense interest was, "Shall we be able to intercept them?" 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. + +For a time it seemed as if the escape of the pirate was certain. "Curse +the scoundrels!" cried the Count, as he paced impatiently up and down the +after deck. "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." + +The _Panther_, 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 _Panther_ 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 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 _Panther_ 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 _pros_ and _cons_ in the +matter. The _Panther_, 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 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 _Panther_ 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. + + [Illustration: The Panther and the Saxon Pirate.] + +"Carry him to my own cabin," he said. + +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. "Nay," +said he, "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." + +His voice grew feeble. The Count stopped, and asked whether there was +anything that he could do for him. + +"Nay," said the old man, "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." + +The next moment he was past speaking or hearing. + +It was his privilege, we must remember, to have the last word. + +The _Panther_ 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. + +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 +unconsciously; 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. + +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. + + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + THE VILLA IN THE ISLAND. + + +Count AElius was a man of the best Roman type, a man of "primitive virtue," +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 "fit to command an army," +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 of Corinth. Even the _parvenus_ of the Empire had in their turn +disappeared. The generals and senators, both of the old Rome and of the +new,(12) bore names which would have sounded strange and barbarous to +Cicero or even to Tacitus. An AElius 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 AEneas 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 AElii. Their +remotest ancestor--the Count never could hear an allusion to it without a +smile--was the famous cannibal king who ruled over the Laestrygones, a +tribe of Western Italy,(13) 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 AElii 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 son, it was true, better known by the famous +name of Sejanus, had nearly made himself master of the throne of the +Caesars. 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 "five +good Emperors";(14) though indeed there were purists in the matter of +genealogy who stoutly denied that this great soldier and scholar had any +of the real AElian blood in him. + +The Count's father had held civil office at Carthage, and the young AElius +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 young AElius 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 Cannae 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 AElius 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. + +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 +AElius' 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 AElius 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 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. + +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. + +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 "living" 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 remarkably pleasing. Behind it was a +sheltering range of hills,(15) 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.(16) 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. + +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 seawards. 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.(17) + +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 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 Caesar'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. + +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, 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. + +At the other end of the corridor was a door leading to the principal +chamber in this part of the 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +This sylvan retreat seemed made for a meeting of naiads and nereids. In +short, the spot was so 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. + + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + CARNA. + + +When AElius 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 AElia 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 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 AElia was as a law to him, and AElia +would have simply broken her heart to lose her playmate and sister Carna. + +The two friends were curiously unlike in person and disposition. AElia 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, 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 AElia 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. AElia 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 AElia, who could be exceedingly provoking at +times--had ever seen a 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 AElia, who could sing very charmingly, and play with no little +expression on the _cithara_, 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(18) 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 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 AElia'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. AElia was as +scornful as her love for her foster-sister allowed her to be. + +"My dearest Carna," she cried, "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!" + +"Oh, sister," said Carna, her eyes brimming with tears, "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?" + +"But surely," returned the other, "he is no worse off than his threescore +companions who went to the bottom the other day." + +"God be good to them," said Carna, "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." + +"It will only tear your poor, tender heart for no purpose. You had far +better come and talk to father." + +Carna was not to be persuaded, but hurried to the chamber to which the +wounded man had been borne. + +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. + +By the side of the wounded man stood the household physician, a +venerable-looking slave, who had 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. + +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. + +"Father," she cried, "can you do nothing, nothing at all for this poor +soul?" + +"My daughter," said the priest, "I am helpless. He knows nothing; he +understands nothing." + +"Can you not baptize him?" + +"Baptize him without a profession of repentance, without a confession of +faith! Impossible!" + +"Will you let him perish before your eyes without an effort to save him?" + +"Child," said the priest, with some impatience in his tone, "I have told +you that I am helpless. It was not I that brought these things about." + +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 muttered with his last breath "Valkyria." 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. + +Carna burst into a passion of tears. + +"He is gone," she cried, amidst her sobs, "he is gone, and we could not +help him." + +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. + +"Pardon me, lady," he said, "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." + +"You are right, father, as always," said the girl. "I have been selfish +and faithless. I was angry, I suppose, to find myself baffled and +helpless. You must set me a penance, father," she added, turning to the +priest. + +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. + + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + THE SAXON. + + +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. + +"I shall send him to the camp at the Great Harbour," said the Count, a few +days after the scene described in our last chapter. "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." + +Carna's face clouded over when she heard the Count's determination, but +she said nothing. The lively AElia broke in-- + +"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." + +"Well, Carna," said the Count, with a smile, "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?" + +"I hope," said the girl, "that you won't send him to the camp, where, I +fear, they hold the lives of such as he very cheap." + +"Well," replied the Count, "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." + +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 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. + + [Illustration: Cedric at the Forge.] + +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 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(19) and Lugdunum(20) 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 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. + +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 could only make herself, and +the message in which she had so profound a faith, understood. + +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.(21) 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. 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: "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." + +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. "We had a fairly successful time," went on +the young chief, with the absolute unconsciousness of wrong with which a +hunter might relate his exploits; "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,(22) 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." + +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 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? + +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(23) of heroes fighting with monsters, 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. 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. + +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. + +"Do not refuse to listen," she said to him, "for if He is infinitely good +to those who love Him, He can also be angry with those who love Him not." + +"What will He do with them?" asked the young Saxon. + +"He will send them to suffer in everlasting fire." + +"Ah!" answered the youth, "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." + +"Yes," said Carna, "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." + +"Will the Lord Christ then banish thither all who do not own Him as their +Master, and call themselves by His name?" + +"Yes--and think how terrible a thing it would be if it should happen to +you." + +"And that is why you are so anxious to persuade me?" + +"Yes." + +"And why you were so troubled about my brother when you could not make him +understand before he died?" + +"Yes. Oh! it was dreadful to think he should pass away when safety was in +his reach." + +"And you think that the Lord Christ has sent him to that place because he +did not know Him?" + +"I fear that it must be so." + +"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." + +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. + + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + A PRETENDER'S DIFFICULTIES. + + +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,(24) 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, 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. + +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. + +Julian began the discussion. + +"The army," he said, "must be employed, or it will find mischief to do at +home which all of us will be sorry for." + +"I have some one to introduce to your Majesty," said one of the officers +present, "who may have something to say which will influence your +decision. He is from Ierne,(25) and brings me a letter from the commander +at Uriconium. He came last night." + +"Let him enter," said Constantine, with his usual dull phlegmatic voice. + +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 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.(26) 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 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-- + +He was, or rather had been, a small king in South-eastern Ireland,(27) 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 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. + +"Are you a Christian?" asked Constans. + +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. + +"No!" he exclaimed; "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." + +Even Constans thought this zeal to be a little excessive. + +"And how many men can you bring into the field?" asked the more practical +Julian; "and what money can you find for the pay of the soldiers?" + +The stranger was taken aback at these direct questions. + +"All my subjects, all my treasures are yours," he said, after a pause. + +"I don't believe," said one of the tribunes in Latin to Julian, "that he +has any subjects besides this wretched interpreter, or any treasure beyond +what he wears on his neck and his fingers." + +"Shall he withdraw?" said Julian to his father. + +Constantine, who never spoke when he could avoid speaking, answered by a +nod, and the Irish Prince withdrew. + +"Let us have nothing to do," said the practical Julian, "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." + +"Perhaps you are right," said Constans; "but it would be a great work to +bring over a new nation to the orthodox faith." + +Julian answered with a laugh. "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." + +"What does your Majesty say to an expedition to chastise those thieving +Picts? They grow more insolent every day." + +This was the suggestion of one of the tribunes. + +"What is to be got?" was Julian's answer. + +"Glory!" answered the tribune. + +"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!" + +"The Count of the Shore has not yet taken the oath to his Majesty," said +an officer who had not spoken before. "We might give some employment to +the men in bringing him to reason." + +Constantine spoke for the first time since the council had begun its +sitting--"The Count is a good man and does his business well. Leave him +alone." + +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. + +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. + +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 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, "Comrades, you mistake; I am not +made of wood," and, signing to his attendants, walked quietly away. The +incident, however, made a great impression upon him, and a still greater +upon his sons. + + [Illustration: Javelin throwing.] + +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. + +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. + +"You have something to tell us?" said Julian. + +"Yes, I have," said the stranger, "but let me first show you my +credentials." + +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: + + +"_Alaric, the son of Baltha, King of the Goths, Emperor of the World, to +Marcus, Emperor of Britain and the West, greeting._" + + +A grim smile passed over Constantine's face as he heard this address. He +muttered to himself, "'Marcus,' indeed! Those who write to the Emperor of +Britain must have speedy letter-carriers." The letter proceeded thus: + + +"_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 __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 AEmona._" + + +"Marcus is no more," said Julian. "He was unworthy of his dignity. You are +in the presence of the most excellent Constantine, Emperor of Britain." + +"It matters not," said the Goth, with a haughty smile. "My lord the king +will treat as willingly with one as with another, so he be an enemy of +Rome!" + +"And what does he propose? What would he have us do?" + +"Make common cause with him against Honorius and Rome." + +"What shall we gain thereby?" + +"Half of the Empire of the World." + +"How shall that be?" + +"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 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 Caesar shall reign on this side +of the Alps and the Pyrenees. The future may bring other things, but that +may suffice for the present." + +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. "It shall be done," he said. + +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. + +"They are heretics--these Goths," grumbled Constans; "obstinate Arians +every one of them, I told----" + +"You shall convert them, my brother," answered Julian, "when you are +Bishop of Rome. When we divide the West between us, that shall be your +portion." + +"It shall be done," said Constantine again, as he rose from his chair. + + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + THE NEWS IN THE CAMP. + + +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,(28) 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. "Britain," he said, "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 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." + +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, +"Comrades, drink to our chief, Constantine Augustus, Emperor of Britain +and the West." + +The revel was kept up late into the night, the young Goth distinguishing +himself by the marvellous depth of his draughts and the equally marvellous +strength of his head. + +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. + +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 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. + +"What is the matter, father?" cried the elder of the girls, who had been +quick to perceive that all was not right. + +The centurion held up his hand and made a signal for silence. "Hush," he +said; "I have something to tell you, but it must not be here. Let us go +indoors." + +"Shall the children leave us alone?" said the centurion's wife, who had +now come up. + +"No," he answered, wearily, "let them be with us while they can," he added +in a low voice, which only the wife's ears, made keenly alive by affection +and fear, could catch. + +The gaiety of the young people was quenched, 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. + +"Our happy days here are over, my dearest," said the centurion, drawing +his wife to him, and tenderly kissing her, as soon as they were within +doors. + +"You mean," said she, "that the order has come." + +"Yes," he answered, "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 long." + +"And where are we to go?" 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. + +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. + +"We shall go to Gaul, certainly; where I cannot say," he answered, after a +long pause, and in a hesitating voice. + +"Oh, how delightful!" cried the girl; "exactly the thing that Lucia and I +have been longing for. And Rome? Surely we shall go to Rome, father? Are +you not glad to hear it, mother? I am sure that we are all tired of this +cold, foggy place." + +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. + +"The legion will go," he said, "but your mother and you----" + +"Oh, Lucius," cried the poor wife, "you do not, cannot mean that we are +not to go with you!" + +"Nothing is settled," he replied, "it is true; but I am much troubled +about it. _You_ 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." + +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 +stay behind. She covered her face with her hands and wept. + +"Lucia," cried the elder girl to her sister, "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," she added, ruefully, as she looked at her sister's +plump little figure, too hopelessly feminine ever to admit the possibility +of a disguise. "Cheer up, mother," she went on, "we shall find a way out +of the difficulty somehow." And she threw her arms round the weeping +woman, and kissed her repeatedly. + +There was silence for a few minutes, broken at last by the timid, +hesitating voice of the younger girl. + +"But must you go, father?" she said. "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." + +"My child," said the centurion, "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. 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." + +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 attention, once +awakened, had been kept alive by what she heard. + +"And at whose bidding are you going?" she said, in a startlingly clear +voice to come from one so feeble; "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!(29) That was an Emperor worth +having!" + +"Oh! mother," 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. "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." + +"Ay," muttered the old woman, "I can fancy it did not please the priests. +But why," she went on, raising her voice again, "why does not Britain have +an Emperor of her own?" + +"So she has, mother," said the centurion. "You forget our Lord +Constantine." + +"Our Lord Constantine!" she repeated. "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." + +"Peace, dear mother," said the centurion, soothingly, afraid that her +words might have other listeners. + +"Why not you," went on the old woman, unheeding; "you are better born." + +"I, Emperor!" cried the centurion. "Speak good words, dearest mother." + +"Well," said the old woman, dropping her voice again, "they are poor +creatures now-a-days." 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. + +The family discussed the position of affairs anxiously till far into the +night. + +"And what will happen," said the wife, "when the legions are gone?" + +"There will be a British kingdom, I suppose; and, if it were united, it +might stand. But it will not be united. It will be every man for himself." + +"And how about the Saxons and the Picts? If the legions hardly protected +us from them, how will it be when they are gone?" + +The centurion's look grew gloomier than ever. "I know," he said, "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." + + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + THE DEPARTURE OF THE LEGIONS. + + +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 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. + +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 course, the Count +of the Shore, and a despatch was immediately sent to him. It was the +production of Constans, and ran thus-- + + +"_Constantine, Emperor of Britain and the West, to Lucius AElius, Count of +the Saxon Shore, greeting._ + +"_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._ + +"_Given at the Camp of the Great Harbour._" + + +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. + +"'Constantine, Emperor.' How many more Emperors are we to have in this +unlucky island? 'Of Britain and the West.' And I doubt whether he can call +a foot of ground his own fifty miles from the camp. 'To deliver other +provinces from oppression and violence.' Why not begin by trying his hand +at home? 'Full confidence in my loyalty.' Truly valuable praise from so +excellent a judge in the matter. 'Such assistance as may be in my power.' +Well, I should be glad to see the last of this crew of adventurers and +villains; but he sha'n't have my ships." + +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 +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. + +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. + +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. + +"My lord," he said, "you have asked me to help in the transport of your +army across the Channel. Briefly then I have not the means. I have but +three ships ready for sea, and not one of these can I spare." + +"The Emperor can command their services," said Julian. + +"I have received no instructions from my master," returned the Count, "to +use them except for the protection of the coast." + +"You have them now," said Julian, "and you will refuse to obey them at +your peril." + +"My commission is made out by Flavius Honorius Augustus, and I know no +other to whom I can yield obedience." + +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. + +"A single cohort can bring him to order," cried the young Prince. + +"Can drive him out of the villa doubtless," said the more prudent +Constans, "but not bring us an inch nearer getting the ships." + +"We may at least count on your friendship," said Constans, Julian retiring +sulkily from the negotiations; "you will not hinder the passage." + +"I have nothing to do with the disposition of the legions," answered the +Count, "and, as I said before, have no instructions except to defend the +shore against the Pirates." + +"His Majesty will not be ungrateful," said Constans. + +"I owe no duty but to Honorius, and desire no favour but from him," was +the Count's reply, and the conference was at an end. + +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. + +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 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(30) and Anderida,(31) +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 from thence to Bononia.(32) 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. + +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. + +"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 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." + +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. + +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 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? + + [Illustration: The Departure of the Legions.] + +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 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. + +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 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 "Farewell," 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 Caesar had brought to the island. + + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + DANGERS AHEAD. + + +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 +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. + +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 +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 "tyrant" being meant "usurper." 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(33) 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 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. + +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 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. + +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(34) +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 toga of brilliant white, his long-sleeved tunic +of some dark purple stuff, his elegant sandals, were all such as a dandy +of the Palatine 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. + +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 "trews" 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 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. + + [Illustration: British Conspirators.] + +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 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. + + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + THE PRIEST'S DEMAND. + + +"So the time has come at last," said Ambiorix; "at last the yoke is broken +from off the neck of Britain. Blessed be the day that saw the legions of +the oppressor depart!" + +"Yes," replied Martianus, "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." + +"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 free." + +"Free; yes, if it has not forgotten how to move." + +"We haven't all learnt to play the slave," said Ambiorix fiercely, as he +started from his seat. "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." + +"Peace, my son," interposed the aged priest; "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." + +"These are but the wild words of youth, father," said Martianus. "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." + +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 of Britain, +Martianus, who, whatever his faults, had at least a genuine admiration for +ability, held out his hand-- + +"This is wonderful!" he said. "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." + +"I never doubted for a moment," returned the young man, "but that when +this Roman incubus was removed all would go well. Besides, who is there to +attack us? We have no enemies." + +"No enemies!" replied the other, in a tone of surprise. "Do you forget the +Saxons by sea and the Picts by land." + +"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." + +Martianus could not help smiling sarcastically. "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." + +"In any case, we can defend ourselves," returned the young chief, "though +I do not think that the need will occur." + +"Let us hope not," said Martianus, but his tone was not confident or +cheerful. + +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. + +"My children," he said, "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 matter in which I cannot be mistaken, and +from which I cannot go back." + +The young chief nodded assent, but said nothing. He was evidently +disturbed. + +"What do you mean, father?" he said. + +"The sacrifice which the gods most prize," answered the old man, "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 MAN." + +Martianus grew pale. "It is not possible," he stammered. + +"Not only possible, but necessary," calmly returned the priest. "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." + +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 bloodshed, +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. + +"Father," he said, "such a thing would ruin us. Such a deed would raise +the whole country against us. A human sacrifice! It is monstrous!" + +"You are right so far," returned the priest, "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." + +"And the victim?" + +"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." + +"And have you any such victim in your thoughts?" + +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-- + +"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 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." + +"And her name, father?" said both of the conspirators together. + +Again the priest hesitated; a close observer might even have seen a trace +of agitation in that stern countenance. + +"It is Carna," he said, after a pause, which raised the suspense of his +hearers almost to agony. "It is Carna, adopted daughter of Count AElius." + +And he looked steadfastly at his companions' faces, as if he would have +said, "I dare you to challenge my decision." + +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 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. + +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. + +"Priest," he thundered, "it shall not be. I would sooner the whole scheme +came to ruin; I would sooner die. A curse on your hideous worship!" + +The priest had now crushed down the risings of human feelings which his +training had not sufficed to eradicate. + +"You have sworn by the gods," he said, "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?" he went on, +turning to Ambiorix. "You do not draw back?" + +The young chief returned a muttered assent. + +The older man, meanwhile, was in a miserable condition of indecision and +terror. Unbeliever as he was, 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. + +"You must have your own way," he muttered, sullenly. + +"My son," said the priest, in a tone which he made studiously cautious, +"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," he +added in a lower voice, for he had to play off the two rivals against each +other, "believe me, whatever sacrifice you make shall not miss its +reward." + + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + LOST. + + +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 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 with extravagant gestures of contrition, was tenderly +reproached, pardoned, and allowed to go on. + +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. + +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 +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. + +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. + +"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?" + +"Utta, my lady," said one of the party, "is not to be found any more. She +died a week since." + +"But," said Carna, with rising anger, "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?" + +"Pardon me, lady," returned the first speaker, in a tone in which respect +and command were curiously blended, "but you have not been brought for +nothing. You have a better work to do than ministering to a sick old +woman." + +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. 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-- + +"Do not bind me as though I were a slave. On the faith of a Christian, I +will not attempt to escape." + +"Lady, we trust you," said the leader of the party, and at the same time +directed one of his companions to unbind the ropes. "Be comforted," he +went on; "we do not intend you harm; on the contrary, high honour is in +store for you." + + [Illustration: The Capture of Carna.] + +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. + +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 arm of the sea now +known as Fishbourne Creek. Here they found a rowing boat in waiting. + +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 +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. + +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 importance, 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. + +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 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 +Belgae, 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. + +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 Belgae 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 initiation. Here, then, the party waited securely with their +prisoner till the time should come for the solemn visit to _Choir Gawr_, +the Great Temple, known to us by the name of Stonehenge. + + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + WHAT DOES IT MEAN? + + +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, and that she would not have made the +request had she not known it. + +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. "He has been tied up and has broken away," said +the Count, when this was pointed out to him. "And if I know the dear +little thing," broke in AElia, "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." And this was the general impression, though, who could have ventured +on so audacious an outrage it was impossible to guess. + +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 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 _thought_ then struck his mind, quickened to its utmost capacity of +intelligence by love and grief. We may translate it into human language +thus: "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." This was his conclusion, +anyhow. How he arrived at it only He knows who makes all things great and +small, and "divideth to all severally as He will." He turned back, ran +with breathless speed to the villa, and did all that could be done, short +of speaking, to show that his dear mistress was in trouble. + +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. + +One of the slaves who was early astir on the following morning found fixed +to an outside gate of 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: + + +"_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._" + + +"So she is held to ransom by a set of brigands," cried the Count, when he +had read this document. "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 wanted." + +"Perhaps," said the Count's secretary, whom he had summoned to consult +with him, "the peddler can help you. He has the reputation of being richer +than he looks." + +"Well," replied the Count, "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." + +It was found that eighty gold pieces were forthcoming, and the peddler was +summoned and asked whether he could make up the balance. + +"My Lord," said the man when he was brought into the Count's presence and +had heard the story, "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?" + +The Count handed him the document, and he examined it long and carefully. + +"My lord," he said, "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." + +The Count, who had previously had reasons for thinking well of the +peddler's intelligence, bade him proceed. + +"In the first place," continued the man, "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." + +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. + +"What, then, is your conclusion?" he asked. + +"About that," returned the other, "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. 'Three days,' you see it says. That would be three days +lost. No, my lord, it is not by robbers that this has been planned." + +"What then?" cried the Count, flushing a fiery red as a sudden thought +occurred to him. "Carna is very beautiful. Do you think----" + +"No," said the peddler, "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----" + +He paused, and continued after a few minutes of silence. "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." + +To this the Count readily agreed, and preparations for immediate departure +were made. It was with difficulty that AElia 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. + +"My lord," said the peddler, to whom the young man had communicated his +earnest desire to be allowed to go; "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." + +"Very well," replied the Count, with a smile, "let him go. After all, it +is quite as safe to take a lion about with one, as to leave him at home." + +The pet dog was, of course, a valued member of the expedition. + + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + THE PURSUIT. + + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +The Count asked his companions for their opinions. + +"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." + +"It is my opinion," said the peddler, "that they have crossed to the +mainland; but it is only an opinion, and I have little or nothing to urge +for it." + +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. + +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 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. + +"Ah!" said the peddler, "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." + +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. + +After various opinions had been given, the Count turned to the peddler. +"And what do you think of the affair?" + +"I have a notion," the man replied, "but it may be only a fancy--still I +seem to myself to have a notion of what their purpose is." + +"Do you mean," pursued the Count, as the other paused, and seemed almost +unwilling to speak, "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?" + +The other was still silent for a few minutes, and seemed to be collecting +his thoughts. At last he said: + +"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." + +"Druids!" cried the Count, "I did not know that there were any Druids. I +thought that the last of them had disappeared years ago." + +"Not so," replied the peddler; "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." + +"But tell me," said the Count, with a certain impatience, "what has this +got to do with my daughter?" + +"This, my lord," answered the other, "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." + +The Count staggered back as if he had been struck. "Impossible!" he cried. +"Such things cannot be in Britain: and why should they fix upon her?" + +"For two reasons," said the peddler. "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." + +"But where," cried the Count, "where is this monstrous thing to be done?" + +"That," replied the other, "I think I know. It can hardly be done anywhere +but at the Great Temple, the Choir Gawr, as they call it themselves." + +"And where is this Great Temple?" + +"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." + +"And when?" + +"At the full moon. I should say." + +"And how much does it want to the full moon now?" + +"It will be full moon to-morrow night." + +"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!" + +"Do not fear, my lord; we shall do it," said the peddler; but added, in a +low voice, "if nothing happens." + +At that moment the galley came in sight. "That is right," cried the Count; +"anyhow, we begin well; no time will be lost in getting across." + + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + THE PURSUIT (_CONTINUED_). + + +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. + +"My lord," said the peddler, when they had embarked, "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(35) 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." + +"Then," said the Count, "the Temple cannot be far from Sorbiodunum. Why +not make for the Great Harbour, and go by the Great Road to Venta(36) and +from Venta to Sorbiodunum.(37) The travelling would be much easier." + +"I have thought of that," said the other, "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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +"My lord," he said, "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." + +"We must go," said the Count, in a determined voice, "though the snow were +over our heads." + +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 +incessant 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 _detour_. 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 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,(38) 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. + +The Count held a council of war. The situation indeed seemed 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 with astonishment. As for him, he was full of impatience at the +delay. + +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. + +"When do they perform their horrible rites?" said the Count to the +peddler. + +"When the full moon shines through the great south entrance of the +Temple," was the answer. + +"And when will that be?" + +"To-night, and about an hour before midnight, as far as I can guess." + +"And what must be done? What is your advice?" + +"There seems to me only one thing possible. Those who can must press on. I +count a great 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 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." + +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. + +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 +stowing away some provisions for the day, started on their journey about +two hours before noon. + +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. + +"Authorities!" he said, "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 _are_ 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." + +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. + +In about half an hour he returned. His expression was now a shade more +cheerful than before. + +"Ah!" he said, "I was right about the woman's wit. She _has_ 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 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." + +This advice was so obviously right, that the guide, who was in command of +the party, had no hesitation in accepting it. + +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 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. + + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + THE GREAT TEMPLE. + + +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,(39) 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. + +All the preparations for the sacrifice were complete when Cedric--for we +may as well henceforth 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 +possible, 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 "stern, black-bearded kings" 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. + + [Illustration: The Sacrifice.] + +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 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 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 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. "The curse of +Thor upon this foolish toy!" 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 in his fall, and he lay senseless and +helpless on the ground. + +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. + +"Martianus," she cried, "what are you doing here? What mixes you up with +these horrible doings--you, my father's friend, you, a Christian man?" + +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. + +"See!" cried the man, "there is a party coming. It is not likely that they +are friends--let us be off." + +And indeed the moonlight clearly showed a number of persons who were +rapidly advancing up one of the great avenues. + +Martianus did not hesitate. + +"You are right," he said to the man, "we must 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," he went on, +addressing himself to the two attendants, "take up your master and carry +him off. We have something of a start, and it is possible that they may +not pursue us." + +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. + + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + THE BRITISH VILLAGE. + + +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, scorned the idea of being carried, and +indeed seemed to find no difficulty in keeping close to Carna's litter on +the homeward journey. + +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 +_schola_ 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. + +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 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, "Quomodo dicitis animae meae, Transmigra in montem sicut +passer?"(40) 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. + +"Antichrist," he cried, adapting to the day, as Christian preachers have +done in every age, the language of the apostles--"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," he added, with a telling reference to the +event of the night before, "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: 'He that letteth will let till he be +taken out of the way,' 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." +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. "He that +hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one," cried the preacher, +in his final apostrophe to his people, "and he will find that as his day +so shall his strength be, and that the Lord can deliver by few as by many, +Gideon's three hundred, as by the eight hundred thousand men that drew +sword in Israel." + +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. + +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, AElius allowed his followers to rest and +refresh themselves for the remainder of the day at Sorbiodunum. 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. + +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 +them. + +"Take something for your poor," said AElius, when his arguments were +exhausted. + +"My people," answered the priest, "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." + +"Then you cannot refuse some ornament for your church," the Count went on. + +The good man hesitated for a moment. His church was dear to his heart, and +he would gladly have seen it made as fair as art and wealth could make it. + +"My lord," he replied, after his brief hesitation, "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." + +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. + +"My lord," said the good man, when the Count renewed his offer in its +fresh shape on the following day, "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(41) and Augustine, I should be well content. I have heard of +the great preacher of Antioch and Constantinople, John the Golden +Mouth,(42) but, alas, I cannot read Greek." + +"You shall have them as soon as they can be got," said the Count. + +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 +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. + +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.(43) From Venta, by following another main road he and his party +would make their way easily to the Camp of the Great Harbour. + + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + THE PICTS. + + +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. + +"See," said he, with a sigh, "there Constantius had his camp, the great +Constantius to whom we owe so much." + +"And was Constantine himself ever there?" 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. + +"I doubt it," returned the Count. "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." + +"Why should it?" exclaimed the girl, almost forgetting in her excitement +that she was speaking to a Roman. "Why should it? Why should not Britain +be happy and safe and free without the legions? Forgive me, father," she +added, remembering herself again; "I am the last person in the world who +should be ungrateful to Rome." + +"I don't blame you," 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--"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," he went on, +"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 strength +to strike a sufficient blow for herself. I am thankful that you will be +safely away before it comes." + +Carna was about to speak, but checked herself. It was not the time she +felt to speak out her heart. + +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, AElius could get no rational answer to the +questions which he put. "The Picts! The Picts! They are upon us!" at last +said a man whom a sudden 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. + +"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." + +"Have they ever been here before?" + +"Never quite here. You see, sir, the camp at Calleva(44) 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." + +"But why don't you defend yourselves?" + +"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 +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?" + +The Count made no answer; indeed, none was possible. + +"And you expect to find shelter at Venta?" + +"I don't say that I expect it, but it is our only chance. The place has at +least walls." + +"And any one to man them?" + +"There should be some old soldiers, but how many I cannot say; anyhow, +scarcely enough for a garrison." + +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.(45) 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 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. + +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. + +If he had hoped to find an official with whom it would be possible or +profitable to co-operate in the _Princeps_ 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 had reached the valorous stage of +drunkenness, and was loud in his declarations that there was no possible +danger. + +"They will know better," he said, "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." + +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. + +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 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. "Where are they?" "How soon +will they be here?" 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. + +"Comrade," he said, "I see that you have followed the eagles." + +The veteran recognized something of the tone of command in the Count's +voice, and made a military salute. + +"Yes, sir, so I have, though my sword has been hanging up for more than +thirty years." + +"And what do you think of the prospect?" + +"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,(46) 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." + +"They are the Picts, I hear. Have you ever had to do with them?" + +"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;" and the old man, who was steadfastly loyal to the +Emperor, bared his head as he spoke. "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 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." + +"But you are safe here in Venta, I suppose?" + +"Safe! I wish we were. If we had a proper garrison here, there is no one +to command them. You have seen the _Princeps_?" + +The Count said nothing, but his silence was significant. + +"But there is no garrison. There are not more than fifty men in the place +who have ever carried arms." + +"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." + +"True, sir, if they have two things--a spirit and a leader; and these +people, as far as I can tell, have neither." + +"That is a bad look out. But tell me--how soon do you think the enemy will +be here?" + +"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." + +After making an appointment with his new acquaintance for a meeting on the +following day, the Count rejoined his party. + +The next day the _Princeps_ 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 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. + + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + THE SIEGE. + + +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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + + [Illustration: Cedric and the Pict.] + +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 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. + +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. + +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-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 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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +"We must cut our way through," said the Count. "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." + +"Cut our way through all those thousands of savages!" said the _Princeps_, +who was one of the few who had escaped from the town. "No; we should be +fools to leave the shelter of these walls." + +"Shelter!" cried the old centurion; "will they shelter you against famine? +No; let us go while we have strength to walk." + +"But how," said another of the townspeople, "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." + +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. + +But now Cedric came again to the rescue with the happy thought which had +made him carry off the 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 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. + +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 _Princeps_ especially protested +loudly against trusting their lives to the good faith of a couple of +savages. "A Pict and a Saxon!" he cried, "the worst enemies that Britain +has, and you think that they are going to save us!" 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. + +"Do as you please," was AElius's first utterance, "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." + +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. + +It is sufficient to say that he kept his word, for the party reached the +coast without molestation. + + + + + + CHAPTER XX. + + CEDRIC IN TROUBLE. + + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. He went to and fro among them with a scorn which was +not the less evident because it was not expressed in words. + +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. + +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 villa became worse and +worse, and it was not long before matters came to a crisis. + +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. + +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 +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. + +"Pagan dog!" he cried, "do you dare to touch with your beast's foot a +Christian boy?" and he struck at the Saxon with a long cart whip which he +had in his hand. + +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. "The form of his visage was changed," as it was in the +Babylonian king(47) 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, 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. + + [Illustration: Cedric's Fury.] + +"Dogs of slaves," cried Cedric, "do you dare to growl at your master;" 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 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 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 _protege_. 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. + + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + THE ESCAPE. + + +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. + +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. 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. + +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 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, 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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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 he would probably have +parleyed with the fugitive. The officer in command was not so considerate. + +"Shoot," he cried, "he is trying to escape," 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. + +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. + +His quick eye had discerned a great mass of sea-weed floating on the water +about fifty yards away, 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. + + [Illustration: Cedric's Escape.] + +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. + + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + A VISITOR. + + +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. + +The fact was that the Count had found little or no disposition in the +native States to take up and carry 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. + +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. 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. + +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? + +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! + +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 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. + +"Girl," he said to her on one occasion, when she had urged her +intercession with tears, "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." + +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. + +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 +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:-- + + +"_In case I should not be able to speak for myself, I invoke by these +words the compassionate protection of the Count AElius. 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._" + + +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 AElius 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 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. + +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. + +"By heaven! another, fairer Proserpine!" said the sick man. + +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. + +She held up her finger to her lips. "Do not speak," she said; "you have +been very ill, and must not tire yourself." + +"Lady," said the sick man, with a smile, "you must at least let me ask you +where I am." + +"Yes, you shall hear, if you will promise to ask no more questions, but to +be content with what you are told. You are with friends, in the island of +Vectis, in the house of AElius, Count of the Saxon Shore. And now be quiet, +and don't spoil all our pains in making yourself ill again." + +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. + +"And now," she said, "you must sleep"--a command which he was ready enough +to obey. + +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. "You will want, of course," he said, "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"--AElia, now that no nursing had to be done, was often with +her foster-sister--"the Count will see you when I give permission." + +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 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. + +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. + +After a few kindly inquiries as to his health, the Count went on, +"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." + +"Yours is a true hospitality," answered the stranger, with a smile, "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 nothing in it which is unfit for them to hear, and they have been +good enough to show some interest in an unhappy man." + +"They shall come, if you wish it," said the Count, "indeed they have been +almost dying of curiosity." + +It was to this audience that the stranger told his story. + + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + THE STRANGER'S STORY. + + +"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." + +"What! the poet!" cried the Count, "the Virgil of these later days?" + +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? + +"Ah! sir," he replied, "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 forgiven, 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." + + [Illustration: Claudian's Tale.] + +"But what of Stilicho?" said the Count. "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."(48) + +"Ah! sir," said Claudian, "have you not then heard?" + +"Heard!" cried the Count; "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." + +"You did not know, then, that Stilicho was dead?" + +"Dead! But how?" + +"Killed by the order of the Emperor." + +"What! killed? by the Emperor's orders? It is impossible. The man who +saved the Empire, the very best soldier we have had since Caesar! And you +say that the Emperor ordered him to be killed?" + +The Count rose from his seat, and walked about in incontrollable emotion. + +"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?" + +"They said he was a traitor, that he wanted the Empire for himself, or for +his son, that he intrigued with the barbarians." + +"Well, he was fond of power; and who can wonder that he was dissatisfied +when he saw in what hands it was lodged? But tell me--what do you think?" + +"I don't say," resumed Claudian, "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." + +"Tell me of his end," said the Count. "You saw it?" + +"Yes," said the poet; "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----" + +"Yes," interrupted the Count; "he would have been safe here, if I know +anything of Britain." + +"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 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.(49) 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 as his life was worth to be seen communicating +with us. 'An old comrade,' said Stilicho, who never forgot a face. 'He +served with me in Greece.' The flower was a little red thing; the +'shepherd's hourglass' they call it, because it shuts when there is rain +coming. It was a warning. There was danger close at hand. The general +said, 'We must take sanctuary.' Then he called me to him. 'Leave me, +Claudian,' he said; '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?' 'I don't know about that, my Lord,' I answered; 'you +remember the fable of the trumpeter.(50) Anyhow, I shall follow you as far +as I can.' 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 +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 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." + +"And about yourself?" said the Count. + +"Well," went on the poet, "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 drops out +of his wine cup, said, 'To Apollo and the Muses.' 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. 'Will you not do the same,' he went on, 'of +all men in the world there is no one who has better cause.' Pardon me, +illustrious Count, if I repeat his flatteries. 'Whom do you take me for?' +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. 'These +wine-bibbers here,' he went on, '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.' 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 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 +Bastarnae,(51) 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," added the poet, with a sad little smile, "even my wife, for +it was not my courting, but the Lady Serena's(52) letter that won her for +me. But to go on, 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." + +"We will put off the future to another day," said the Count; "meanwhile +you may count on me for anything that I can do." + +"Your kindness does much to reconcile me to life," said the poet, "and now +I will retire, for I feel a little tired." + +"Ah," said Carna half to herself, when he had left the room, "now I +understand about Proserpine." + +"About Proserpine? What do you mean?" asked AElia. + +"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." Carna suppressed the flattering epithet. +"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?" + +"Yes, I remember," replied the other, "and you have had a Pluto, too, to +carry you off. Luckily he was not so successful as the god." + + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + NEWS FROM ITALY. + + +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. + +But the Count's chief perplexities were within 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 AElius 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 it happened to him as it happens to so many of us, that his mind was +made up for him. + +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. + +The sailing-master of one of the galleys approached and saluted. + +"There is a galley," he said, "coming up the Haven, and I thought that you +should know at once, since it seems to have something of importance on +board." + +"What makes you think so?" said the Count. + +"I have been watching it for the last hour," said the man. "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."(53) + +"The Labarum!" exclaimed the Count; "I have not seen that flying from any +mast but my own for a year past. Well, that ought to mean something." + +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. + +"Do I address Lucius AElius, Count of the Saxon Shore?" he asked. + +"I am he," the Count briefly replied. + +"I bring the commands of Augustus," said the messenger, producing from a +pocket in his tunic a vellum roll, bound with a broad purple cord, and +bearing the Imperial seal. + +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. + +"It will be more respectful and more convenient to read his Majesty's +gracious communication in private. Will you please come with me to my +house?" + +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-- + +"May I presume that you have a general acquaintance with the contents of +this document?" + +"I have," replied the young man. + +"Then you will know that the answer is not one which can be given in a +moment. But," and he went on with a rapid change of voice and manner, +"_cras seria_.(54) 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." + +The Imperial messenger was an Italian of the north of the Peninsula, who +had been fond of following 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. + +"Ah!" said the Count, as he pointed northward to where the great Anderida +Forest(55) might be seen stretching far beyond the range of sight, "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(56) 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." + +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. + +The meal, to which the Count had invited the captains of his galleys and +the principal persons in the little colony which was now gathered about +the villa, passed off very well. The young Italian was loud in his praises +of everything. "Your oysters," he said, "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." + +"Ah!" said the Count, with a sigh, "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." + +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-- + +"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." + +"Yes," said the Count, "evil times, and no one knows how to deal with +them; and if God does send us a capable man, we treat him as if he were an +enemy." + +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: + + +"_Flavius Honorius Augustus to the faithful and valiant Lucius AElius, +Count of the Saxon Shore, greeting._ + +"_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 __with its own +resources. We charge you, therefore, our well-beloved and faithful AElius, +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,_(_57_)_ in the year of our Lord +408, and the fifteenth year of our reign._" + + + [Illustration: The Count receiving the letter of Honorius.] + +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 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. + +The Count was the first to break the silence. "This," he said, "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." + +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-- + + "The elemental order there she drew, + And Jove's high dwellings; there you saw + The needle tell how ancient Chaos grew + To harmony and law; + + "How Nature set in order due and rank + Her atoms, raised the light on high, + And to the middle place the weightier sank; + There lustrous shone the sky, + + "The heavens were pink with flame, the ocean rolled, + The great world hung in mid suspense. + Each was of diverse hue; she worked in gold + The starry fires intense, + + "Bade ocean flow in purple, and the shore + With gems upraised. Divinely wrought, + The threads embossed to swelling billows bore + Strange likeness; you had thought + + "They dashed the seaweed on the rocks, or crept + Hoarse murmuring thro' the thirsty sands. + Five zones, she added. In mid place she kept + With red distinct the lands + + "Leaguered with burnings; all the region showed + Scorched into blackness, and the thread + Dry as with sunshine that eternal glowed; + On either hand were spread + + "The realms of life, lapt in a milder breath + Kindly to men; and next appear, + On this extreme and that, dull lands of death: + She made them dark and drear + + "With year-long frost, and saddened all the hue + With endless winter; last she showed + What seats her sire's grim brother holds; nor knew + The fated dark abode."(58) + + + + + + CHAPTER XXV. + + CONSULTATION. + + +The next morning the Count invited the Imperial messenger to a private +conference. His daughter and Carna were present, as was also Claudian. + +"You have the latest news," the Count began. "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." + +"Well," replied the messenger, "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." + +"You crossed from Gaul, I suppose?" the Count went on. "How are matters +there?" + +"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." + +"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." + +He rose from his seat, and walked up and down the room in an agitation +which he could not conceal. + +"And the only man who could keep the Empire together is gone; butchered, +as if he were a criminal!" + +The messenger said nothing to this outburst. He went on, "I believe his +Majesty proposes to admit Constantine to a share of the Imperial honours, +to make him Caesar of Gaul and Spain." + +"What!" said the Count. "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!"(59) + +"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," +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, +"your lordship is aware that the honours thus unexpectedly bestowed do not +always turn out to the advantage of those who receive them." + +"What do you mean?" asked the Count. + +"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."(60) + +"Well," said the Count, "this is not the old way Rome had of dealing with +her enemies. But, 'other times, other manners.' Tell me now, if the +Augustus has arranged or is going to arrange with Constantine, what about +Alaric?" + +"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?" + +"No, indeed," replied the Count. "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 _him_, too, a share in the Empire?" + +"Not exactly; but I will tell what has taken place. He marched on Rome." + +"Yes," interjected the Count, "and there was no Stilicho to save it!" + +"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. +'Give us an honourable peace,' said their spokesman, 'or you will repent +of having driven to despair a nation of warriors, a nation that has +conquered the world.' The king laughed; he knew what the Romans have come +to. 'The thicker the hay,' he said, 'the easier to mow.' 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. +'Give me,' he said, '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.' 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. 'What do you leave us, then?' they said. 'Your lives!' 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." + +"May I ask you to leave us for a while?" said the Count to the young +Italian. + +When he had left the room the Count turned to his daughter, and said-- + +"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?" + +"What else can we do?" asked the girl. + +"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?" + +"I would not advise you to sail eastward," said the poet. "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 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?" + +"Yes, let us go, dear father," said AElia, "and leave this dreadful world +with all its troubles and quarrels behind us. Don't you think so, Carna?" + +Carna only smiled sadly. + +"Or," continued the poet, "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." + +"And what says Carna?" said the Count, turning, with an affectionate look, +to his adopted daughter. + +The girl thus appealed to flushed painfully. For a moment she seemed about +to speak, but not a syllable passed her lips. + +"Speak," cried the Count; "you always see clearer and farther than the +rest of us." + +"My father," the girl went on, "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, 'Go +home to Rome or Ravenna, or wherever else the Emperor bids you.' After +all, it is your country, and it never needed the help of good and brave +men more than it does now." + +"By heaven! Claudian," cried the Count, after a brief silence, "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?" + +"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." + +"So that is settled," exclaimed the Count. + +"Oh, Carna," cried AElia, throwing her arms round her sister, "shall we +ever be as happy again as we have been in this dear place?" + +Carna clung to her, and sobbed as if her heart would break. + +"Does it trouble you so much to go?" asked the Count. "Surely the place is +not so much to you. You can be happy, wherever you may be, with those you +love." + +The girl lifted up a tear-stained face to him. + +"Father," she said--"more than father, for you have loved me without any +tie of kindred--I cannot go, my home is here." + +"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," he added, with a smile, +"are you going to leave us for a husband?" + +The girl blushed crimson as she shook her head. When she could recover her +speech, choked, as it was, with sobs, she said-- + +"You asked me just now what you should do, and I said 'Go home to your +country.' 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!" + +"But where will you live?" broke in the Count's daughter; "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," she went on, as she clasped her still closer, "how +can I live without you?" + +"My dearest sister," sobbed the girl, "don't make 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." + +"But, Carna, what can you do?" said AElia. "You seem to be sacrificing +yourself for nothing." + +"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." + +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. + +"Carna is right," said the Count, when she had gone, "but I feel as if she +were going to her death." + + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI. + + FAREWELL! + + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +"We _may_ get safely across," said the senior of them, "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 pirates--well, +a man might as well go into battle with his hands tied." + +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, +"It will not do," he said, "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 _not_ come +back. No! we will sink or swim together." + +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. AElia, 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. + +"Good-bye, Carna," she cried, throwing her arms round the girl's neck. +"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." + +"Remember, Carna," said the Count, "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." + +Carna's heart was too full to let her speak. She caught the Count's hands +and kissed them. Then she turned to AElia, 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, "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!" + +"Kneel, my children," 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 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. + + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII. + + MARTIANUS. + + +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. + +Carna found plenty of employment of the kind in 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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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 AElia, 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. + +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. + +The British chief Martianus stood before her. + +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. + +Martianus began in a tone of the deepest respect. "Lady, I am truly glad +that you condescend to honour this poor house of mine with your presence." + +"This house of yours!" repeated the girl, with astonishment. + +"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." + +"I know nothing of these matters," said Carna, coldly, "but I will take +care not to intrude again." + +"Intrusion!" said the chief. "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," he added in a whisper. + +"Friends with you! Surely that is impossible. You cannot wish it yourself, +after what has happened. You seem to forget." + +"Lady, Carna--I used to call you Carna when you were a child--I do try to +forget that dreadful 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." + + [Illustration: Carna and Martianus.] + +Carna remained silent. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"Let it be as you will," she said, with a cold dignity, "but you can +imagine that these recollections are not pleasing to me. And now I will +bid you farewell." + +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. + +"I will listen to what you have to say, but do not touch me." + +"You give me little encouragement," Martianus began, "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 +compelled 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." + +"A crown does not tempt me," said Carna, looking the speaker straight in +the face. + +"Ah! it is not that," replied the suitor; "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." + +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. + +Martianus saw his advantage, but, happily for 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. + + + + + + CHAPTER XXVIII. + + A RIVAL. + + +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 imposed at least upon the +ignorant, of Roman refinement, and Martianus flattered himself that he was +at least a passable successor of Count AElius. + +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 "glorifies clown and satyr" 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 conduct 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +"You know," he said, "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." + +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 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 "it did not +concern them." + +"We are too insignificant to be harmed," she said. + +"Pardon me, Carna," replied Martianus. "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." + +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 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. + +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 Caesar. 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 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. + +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, brought it into 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. + +During the night the besiegers were not idle. They constructed a +mantelet(61) 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 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. + +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 hitherto assisted the flames, altogether died away, +the discharge ceased. + +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. + +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. + +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. Indeed 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. + +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. + +"Britons, brothers," she cried, in a sweet but penetrating voice, which +made itself heard through the throng, "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?" + +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. + + + + + + CHAPTER XXIX. + + AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL. + + +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 he exercised on all about him, pointed him out, +young as he was, for command. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 long after midnight +he was able to reach the spot very soon after the attack had commenced. + +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 there any thought of +resistance, and the Saxons won their victory almost without losing a drop +of blood. + +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. + +"Spare these poor creatures," she said, pointing to her terrified +companions. + +"Your lives are safe," said Cedric in British. "Go with this man," and he +pointed to one of his attendants, to whom at the same time he gave some +brief directions. He turned to Carna: "Lady," he said, "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 my heart. +It is yours, and all that I have. Come and be a queen in my home and among +my people." + +The girl's eyes, which she had turned to the ground at his first address, +were now lifted to meet his gaze. "I cannot leave my people," she said. + +"Yet," he answered, "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." + +"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." + +"Come with me and teach the truth to my people and me," cried the young +man, feeling that there was nothing which he would not do to win this +bright, brave, beautiful maiden. + +"Listen, Cedric," 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--"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 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." + +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. + +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. + +"A noble maiden!" he whispered to Cedric, "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." + +"Peace!" said Cedric, turning fiercely upon him, "Peace! Would you have me +wed a slave? My wife must come to me freely, or come not at all." + +He spoke to Carna again. "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." + +Without another word, she obeyed his bidding, and passed into the court, +followed by Cedric and his attendants. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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.(62) + +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. + +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. + +"Dear friends," she said, "God has delivered us 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." + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +Then her fortitude and her conscience reasserted themselves. "Courage, my +friends," she cried, "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." 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. "Yes," she cried, "God hath great things +in store for this dear 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." + + [Illustration: Carna on the Hillside.] + +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. + + + + + + CHAPTER XXX. + + AT LAST. + + +It was nearly sunset on the second day of the great battle of Badon +Hill.(63) 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. + +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. + +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. + +"My lord," said the priest, "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." + +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. + +One of the King's knights recognized him at once. + +"I noted him," said he, "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." + +"What do you want?" said the King. + +"My lord King," said the old man, speaking British fluently, though with a +foreign accent, "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 +AElius. 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 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?" + +"Yes," said the King, "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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +"Carna," said the dying man, "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," he went on, feebly turning his head to Arthur, "bid them make +haste, for I would be baptized before I die, and my time is short." + +The priest had departed on another errand, and the King was perplexed. The +physician whispered in his ear-- + +"He has not many moments to live." + +"Baptize him, my lord King, yourself," said Carna; "it is lawful in case +of need, and none can do it more fittingly." + +"I will willingly be his sponsor," said the knight who had first spoken, +"for there was never braver man wielded axe or sword." + +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. + + + + + + THE END. + + + + + + UNWIN BROTHERS, LIMITED, PRINTERS, WOKING AND LONDON. + + + + + + + FOOTNOTES + + + 1 A reference to the well-known salutation of the gladiators as they + passed the Emperor in his seat at the Public Games. "Ave Caesar + Imperator! Morituri te salutant." _Hail! Caesar Emperor, the doomed + to death salute thee._ + + 2 Now known all over the world as Portsmouth Harbour. + + 3 Honorius and Arcadius, who ruled over the Western and Eastern + Empires respectively, were the weak sons of the vigorous Theodosius. + + 4 Marcus was the first of three usurpers successively saluted Emperor + by the legions of Britain. + + 5 Vespasian, appointed by Claudius in A.D. 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. + + 6 The observation of omens, or signs, supposed to indicate the future, + was one of the duties of a commanding officer. + + 7 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. + + 8 "Decimation" 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. + + 9 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. + + 10 A _donative_ was a distribution of money made to the soldiers on + such occasions as the accession of an Emperor. + + 11 Lymne, in Kent, now some miles inward, on the edge of Romney Marsh. + + 12 Constantinople. + + 13 His capital is said to have been near the ancient Caieta and modern + Gaieta. + + 14 The "five" are, Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus + Aurelius, whose united reigns extended from 97 to 180 A.D.--a period + of peace and prosperity such as Rome never enjoyed again. + + 15 The hills that run as far as Arreton and the valley of the Medina. + + 16 Brading Haven. + + 17 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 _Urbana_, containing the rooms in which the family + resided, and including also the garden terraces, &c.; the _Rustica_, + occupied by slaves and workmen but in this case, as will be seen, + partly used for another purpose; and the _Fructuaria_, containing + cellars for wine, &c., barns, granaries, and storehouses of various + kinds. + + 18 The British bishops were notoriously poor, and their clergy were + doubtless still more slenderly provided for. + + 19 Lutetia Parisiorum, now Paris. + + 20 Now Lyons. + + 21 The Elbe. + + 22 Probably the Channel Islands, always a dangerous place for + navigation. + + 23 Perhaps something like the early Saxon poem which we know under the + name of Beowulf. + + 24 Possibly the reason why so much buried money belonging to the later + days of the Roman occupation of Britain has been found. + + 25 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. + + 26 This was exactly what had happened not many years before to St. + Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland. + + 27 Probably somewhere near Wexford. + + 28 With us tables are cleared after a meal; with the Romans they seem + to have been actually removed. + + 29 Theodosius ordered a massacre at Thessalonica on account of some + offence offered to him by the populace of that city. + + 30 Chichester. + + 31 Pevensey. + + 32 Boulogne. + + 33 Commonly known by his Romanized name of Caractacus. + + 34 Streets of Rome. + + 35 This river, of course, must have been the Avon. + + 36 Winchester. + + 37 Salisbury. + + 38 Now known as Downton, a small market town, about five miles south of + Salisbury. + + 39 A trilith consists of two upright stones with a third placed across. + + 40 "How say ye then to my soul that she should flee as a bird unto the + hill?"--PSALM xi. 1. + + 41 Commonly called Jerome. + + 42 John Chrysostom, at Antioch 386-398, at Constantinople 398-404. + + 43 Winchester. + + 44 Calleva Attrebatium, now known as Silchester, one of the most + perfect specimens of a Roman camp to be seen in this country. + + 45 Princeps Civitatis. + + 46 The wall of Antoninus, built to defend Northern Britain from the + Caledonians, and held by Roman forces till far on in the fourth + century. + + 47 Daniel iii. 19. + + 48 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. + + 49 "Stilichonis apex et cognita fulsit + Canities." + + "There shone Stilicho's towering head and well-known locks of + white"--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. + + 50 In one of AEsop'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. + + 51 A tribe that occupied a region included in what is now known as + Russian Poland. + + 52 Serena was wife to Stilicho, and, as has been said before, niece to + the Emperor Theodosius. + + 53 The Imperial standard (see page 21). + + 54 Business to-morrow. + + 55 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. + + 56 The Black Forest, part of which was known to the Romans. + + 57 July 21st. + + 58 This is the translation of a passage from the first book of an + unfinished poem by Claudian, entitled _De Raptu Proserpinae_, "The + Carrying off Proserpine." 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. + + 59 This was actually done about this time, and with the result + foreshadowed in the conversation given above. + + 60 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. + + 61 Mantelet: a shield of wood, metal, or rope, for the protection of + sappers, &c. + + 62 A skeleton has been found in the well of the Brading Villa. + + 63 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. + + + + + + TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE + + +Variations in hyphenation ("countryside", "country-side"; "headquarters", +"head-quarters") have not been changed. + +Other changes, which have been made to the text: + + page 19, "tomount" changed to "to mount" + page 23, quote mark added after "mishap." + page 33, "Lasetrygones" changed to "Laestrygones" + page 76, "asid" changed to "said" + page 79, quote mark added after "letter-carriers." + page 87, single quote mark changed to double quote mark after + "long." + page 111, "oga" changed to "toga" + page 115, quote mark added after "free." + page 139, quote mark added after "wanted." + page 156, "eemed" changed to "seemed" + page 157, "greal" changed to "great" + page 178, period added after "Sorbiodunum", comma changed to period + after "them" + page 233, quote mark added after "man." + page 255, "Or" changed to "On" + page 288, "inot" changed to "into" + page 297, quote mark added after "man," + + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COUNT OF THE SAXON SHORE*** + + + + CREDITS + + +October 31, 2013 + + Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1 + 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) + + + + A WORD FROM PROJECT GUTENBERG + + +This file should be named 44083.txt or 44083.zip. + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/4/0/8/44083/ + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one -- the old editions will be +renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the +General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and +distributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works to protect the Project +Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered +trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you +receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of +this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook +for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, +performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given away +-- you may do practically _anything_ with public domain eBooks. +Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + + THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE + + +_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._ + +To protect the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or +any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Gutenberg"), +you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + + Section 1. + + +General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works + + + 1.A. + + +By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work, +you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the +terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) +agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this +agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee +for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work +and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may +obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set +forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + + + 1.B. + + +"Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or +associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be +bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can +do with most Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works even without complying +with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are +a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works if you +follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + + + 1.C. + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" or +PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual +work is in the public domain in the United States and you are located in +the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, +distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on +the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of +course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} mission of +promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project +Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for +keeping the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} name associated with the work. You can +easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License when you +share it without charge with others. + + + 1.D. + + +The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you +can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant +state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of +your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before +downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating +derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work. +The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of +any work in any country outside the United States. + + + 1.E. + + +Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + + + 1.E.1. + + +The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access +to, the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License must appear prominently whenever +any copy of a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work (any work on which the phrase +"Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" +is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or +distributed: + + + 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 + included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org + + + 1.E.2. + + +If an individual Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work is derived from the +public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with +permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and +distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or +charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you +must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 +or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + + + 1.E.3. + + +If an individual Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic work is posted with the +permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply +with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed +by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project +Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License for all works posted with the permission of the +copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + + + 1.E.4. + + +Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License +terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any +other work associated with Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}. + + + 1.E.5. + + +Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic +work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying +the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate +access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License. + + + 1.E.6. + + +You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, +marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word +processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version posted +on the official Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} web site (http://www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form. +Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License as +specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + + + 1.E.7. + + +Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, +copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works unless you comply +with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + + + 1.E.8. + + +You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or +distributing Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works provided that + + - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to + the owner of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} trademark, but he has agreed to + donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 + days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally + required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments + should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, + "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary + Archive Foundation." + + - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} License. + You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the + works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and + all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works. + + - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + + - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} works. + + + 1.E.9. + + +If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic +work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this +agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from both the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Hart, the owner of the +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in +Section 3 below. + + + 1.F. + + + 1.F.1. + + +Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to +identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread public domain +works in creating the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} collection. Despite these +efforts, Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works, and the medium on which they +may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, +incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright +or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk +or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot +be read by your equipment. + + + 1.F.2. + + +LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES -- Except for the "Right of +Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for +damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE +NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH +OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE +FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT +WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, +PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY +OF SUCH DAMAGE. + + + 1.F.3. + + +LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND -- If you discover a defect in this +electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund +of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to +the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a +physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. +The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect +to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the +work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose +to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in +lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a +refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem. + + + 1.F.4. + + +Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in +paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + + + 1.F.5. + + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the +exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or +limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state +applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make +the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state +law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement +shall not void the remaining provisions. + + + 1.F.6. + + +INDEMNITY -- You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark +owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and +any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution +of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs +and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from +any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of +this or any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} work, and (c) any Defect +you cause. + + + Section 2. + + + Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} + + +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic +works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including +obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the +efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks +of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance +they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}'s goals and ensuring +that the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} collection will remain freely available for +generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} and future generations. To learn more about the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations +can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation web page at +http://www.pglaf.org. + + + Section 3. + + + Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of +Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. +The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. +Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. Contributions to the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full +extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. +S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 North +1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact information +can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page at +http://www.pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + + + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + + Section 4. + + + Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive + Foundation + + +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} depends upon and cannot survive without wide spread +public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the +number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment +including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are +particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. +Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable +effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these +requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not +received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or +determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have +not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against +accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us +with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any +statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the +United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation methods +and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including +checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please +visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + + Section 5. + + + General Information About Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} electronic works. + + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with +anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} +eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~} eBooks are often created from several printed editions, +all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless a copyright +notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance +with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's eBook +number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, compressed +(zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over the +old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org + + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg{~TRADE MARK SIGN~}, including how +to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, +how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email +newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + + + + + +***FINIS*** +
\ No newline at end of file |