would soon come in from the sea at each
end of the Wall to prove to the Picts how weak we were. So I made
ready in haste, and none too soon. I shifted our best men to the ends
of the Wall, and set up screened catapults by the beach. The Winged
Hats would drive in before the snow-squalls--ten or twenty boats at a
time--on Segedunum or Ituna, according as the wind blew.

'Now a ship coming in to land men must furl her sail. If you wait till
you see her men gather up the sail's foot, your catapults can jerk a
net of loose stones (bolts only cut through the cloth) into the bag of
it. Then she turns over, and the sea makes everything clean again. A
few men may come ashore, but very few... It was not hard work, except
the waiting on the beach in blowing sand and snow. And that was how we
dealt with the Winged Hats that winter.

'Early in the spring, when the East winds blow like skinning-knives,
they gathered again off Segedunum with many ships. Allo told me they
would never rest till they had taken a tower in open fight. Certainly
they fought in the open. We dealt with them thoroughly through a long
day: and when all was finished, one man dived clear of the wreckage of
his ship, and swam towards shore. I waited, and a wave tumbled him at
my feet.

'As I stooped, I saw he wore such a medal as I wear.' Parnesius raised
his hand to his neck. 'Therefore, when he could speak, I addressed him
a certain Question which can only be answered in a certain manner. He
answered with the necessary Word--the Word that belongs to the Degree
of Gryphons in the science of Mithras my God. I put my shield over him
till he could stand up. You see I am not short, but he was a head
taller than I. He said: "What now?" I said: "At your pleasure, my
brother, to stay or go."

'He looked out across the surf. There remained one ship unhurt, beyond
range of our catapults. I checked the catapults and he waved her in.
She came as a hound comes to a master. When she was yet a hundred
paces from the beach, he flung back his hair, and swam out. They hauled
him in, and went away. I knew that those who worship Mithras are many
and of all races, so I did not think much more upon the matter.

'A month later I saw Allo with his horses--by the Temple of Pan, O
Faun--and he gave me a great necklace of gold studded with coral.

'At first I thought it was a bribe from some tradesman in the
town--meant for old Rutilianus. "Nay," said Allo