who tried Myrsinitis last
week. I know them by the helmets which they took from the Markmen.'

'And with whom are they fighting?'

No one could see. Fighting they certainly were: but their victims were
beyond them, and the party galloped on.

'That was a smart business at Myrsinitis. The Ausurians appeared while
the people were at morning prayers. The soldiers, of course, ran for
their lives, and hid in the caverns, leaving the matter to the priests.'

'If they were of your presbytery, I doubt not they proved themselves
worthy of their diocesan.'

'Ah, if all my priests were but like them! or my people either!' said
Synesius, chatting quietly in full gallop, like a true son of the
saddle. 'They offered up prayers for victory, sallied out at the head
of the peasants, and met the Moors in a narrow pass. There their hearts
failed them a little. Faustus, the deacon, makes them a speech; charges
the leader of the robbers, like young David, with a stone, beats his
brains out therewith, strips him in true Homeric fashion, and routs the
Ausurians with their leader's sword; returns and erects a trophy in due
classic form, and saves the whole valley.'

'You should make him archdeacon.'

'I would send him and his townsfolk round the province, if I could,
crowned with laurel, and proclaim before them at every market-place,
"These are men of God." With whom can those Ausurians be dealing?
Peasants would have been all killed long ago, and soldiers would have
run away long ago. It is truly a portent in this country to see a fight
last ten minutes. Who can they be? I see them now, and hewing away
like men too. They are all on foot but two; and we have not a cohort of
infantry left for many a mile round.'

'I know who they are!' cried Raphael, suddenly striking spurs into his
horse. 'I will swear to that armour among a thousand. And there is a
litter in the midst of them. On! and fight, men, if you ever fought in
your lives!'

'Softly!' cried Synesius. 'Trust an old soldier, and perhaps--alas! that
he should have to say it--the best left in this wretched country. Round
by the hollow, and take the barbarians suddenly in flank. They will not
see us then till we are within twenty paces of them. Aha! you have a
thing or two to learn yet, Aben-Ezra.'

And chuckling at the prospect of action, the gallant bishop wheeled his
little troop and in five minutes more dashed out of the copse with a
shout and a flight of arrows, and rushe