aponed very vilely, and, seeing that their silly principles made each
the equal of his neighbour, were practically without heads or leaders
also.

So when the panic began, it spread like a malignant murrain through all
their ragged ranks, and there were none to rally the flying, none to
direct those of more desperate bravery who stayed and fought.

My scheme of attack was simple. I hunted them without a halt. I and my
fellows never stopped to play the defensive. We turned one flank, and
charged through a centre, and then we were harrying the other flank,
and once more hacking our passage through the solid mass. And so by
constantly keeping them on the run, and in ignorance of whence would
come the next attack, panic began to grow amongst them and ferment, till
presently those in the outer lines commenced to scurry away towards
the forests and the spoiled corn-lands of the country, and those in the
inner packs were only wishful of a chance to follow them.

It was no feat of arms this breaking up of the rebel leaguer, and no
practised soldier would wish to claim it as such. It was simply taking
advantage of the chances of the moment, and as such it was successful.
Given an open battle on their own ground, these desperate rebels would
have fought till none could stand, and by sheer ferocious numbers
would have pulled down any trained troops that the city could have sent
against them, whether they had advanced in phalanx or what formation
you will. For it must be remembered they were far removed from cowards,
being Atlantean all, just as were those within the city, and were,
moreover, spurred to extraordinary savageness and desperation by the
oppression under which they had groaned, and the wrongs they had been
forced to endure.

Still, as I say, the poor creatures were scattered, and the siege was
raised from that moment, and it was plain to see that the rebellion
might be made to end, if no unreasonable harshness was used for its
final suppression. Too great severity, though perhaps it may be justly
their portion, only drives such malcontents to further desperations.

Now, following up these fugitives, to make sure that there was no halt
in their retreat, and to send the lesson of panic thoroughly home to
them, had led us a long distance from the city walls; and as we had
fought all through the burning heat of the day and my men were heavily
wearied, I decided to halt where we were for the night amongst
some half-rui