d
been Theodosius's right hand in the Pict War! Not only had he given me
my Centurion's stick direct, but three steps in a good Legion as well!
A new man generally begins in the Tenth Cohort of his Legion, and works
up.'

'And were you pleased?' said Una.

'Very. I thought Maximus had chosen me for my good looks and fine
style in marching, but, when I went home, the Pater told me he had
served under Maximus in the great Pict War, and had asked him to
befriend me.'

'A child you were!' said Puck, from above.

'I was,' said Parnesius. 'Don't begrudge it me, Faun. Afterwards--the
Gods know I put aside the games!' And Puck nodded, brown chin on brown
hand, his big eyes still.

'The night before I left we sacrificed to our ancestors--the usual
little Home Sacrifice--but I never prayed so earnestly to all the Good
Shades, and then I went with my Father by boat to Regnum, and across
the chalk eastwards to Anderida yonder.'

'Regnum? Anderida?' The children turned their faces to Puck.

'Regnum's Chichester,' he said, pointing towards Cherry Clack,
'and'--he threw his arm South behind him--'Anderida's Pevensey.'

'Pevensey again!' said Dan. 'Where Weland landed?'

'Weland and a few others,' said Puck. 'Pevensey isn't young--even
compared to me!'

'The headquarters of the Thirtieth lay at Anderida in summer, but my
own Cohort, the Seventh, was on the Wall up North. Maximus was
inspecting Auxiliaries--the Abulci, I think--at Anderida, and we stayed
with him, for he and my Father were very old friends. I was only there
ten days when I was ordered to go up with thirty men to my Cohort.' He
laughed merrily. 'A man never forgets his first march. I was happier
than any Emperor when I led my handful through the North Gate of the
Camp, and we saluted the guard and the Altar of Victory there.'

'How? How?' said Dan and Una.

Parnesius smiled, and stood up, flashing in his armour.

'So!' said he; and he moved slowly through the beautiful movements of
the Roman Salute, that ends with a hollow clang of the shield coming
into its place between the shoulders.

'Hai!' said Puck. 'That sets one thinking!'

'We went out fully armed,' said Parnesius, sitting down; 'but as soon
as the road entered the Great Forest, my men expected the pack-horses
to hang their shields on. "No!" I said; "you can dress like women in
Anderida, but while you're with me you will carry your own weapons and
armour."

"'But it's hot,"