smiled when he saw my necklace. We made them welcome, for they were
ambassadors. We showed them Allo, alive but bound. They thought we
had killed him, and I saw it would not have vexed them if we had. Allo
saw it too, and it vexed him. Then in our quarters at Hunno we came to
council.

'They said that Rome was falling, and that we must join them. They
offered me all South Britain to govern after they had taken a tribute
out of it.

'I answered, "Patience. This Wall is not weighed off like plunder.
Give me proof that my General is dead."

"'Nay," said one elder, "prove to us that he lives"; and another said
cunningly, "What will you give us if we read you his last words?"

"'We are not merchants to bargain," cried Amal. "Moreover, I owe this
man my life. He shall have his proof." He threw across to me a letter
(well I knew the seal) from Maximus.

"'We took this out of the ship we sank," he cried. "I cannot read, but
I know one sign, at least, which makes me believe." He showed me a
dark stain on the outer roll that my heavy heart perceived was the
valiant blood of Maximus.

"'Read!" said Amal. "Read, and then let us hear whose servants you
are!"

'Said Pertinax, very softly, after he had looked through it: "I will
read it all. Listen, barbarians!" He read that which I have carried
next my heart ever since.'

Parnesius drew from his neck a folded and spotted piece of parchment,
and began in a hushed voice:

"'To Parnesius and Pertinax, the not unworthy Captains of the Wall,
from Maximus, once Emperor of Gaul and Britain, now prisoner waiting
death by the sea in the camp of Theodosius--Greeting and Goodbye!"

"'Enough," said young Amal; "there is your proof! You must join us now!"

'Pertinax looked long and silently at him, till that fair man blushed
like a girl. Then read Pertinax:

"'I have joyfully done much evil in my life to those who have wished me
evil, but if ever I did any evil to you two I repent, and I ask your
forgiveness. The three mules which I strove to drive have torn me in
pieces as your Father prophesied. The naked swords wait at the tent
door to give me the death I gave to Gratian. Therefore I, your General
and your emperor, send you free and honourable dismissal from my
service, which you entered, not for money or office, but, as it makes
me warm to believe, because you loved me!"

"'By the Light of the Sun," Amal broke in. "This was in some sort a
Man! We may have