lmets of the sentries
sliding back and forth like beads. Thirty feet high is the Wall, and on
the Picts' side, the North, is a ditch, strewn with blades of old swords
and spear-heads set in wood, and tyres of wheels joined by chains. The
Little People come there to steal iron for their arrow-heads.

'But the Wall itself is not more wonderful than the town behind it. Long
ago there were great ramparts and ditches on the South side, and no one
was allowed to build there. Now the ramparts are partly pulled down and
built over, from end to end of the Wall; making a thin town eighty miles
long. Think of it! One roaring, rioting, cock-fighting, wolf-baiting,
horse-racing town, from Ituna on the West to Segedunum on the cold
eastern beach! On one side heather, woods and ruins where Picts hide,
and on the other, a vast town--long like a snake, and wicked like a
snake. Yes, a snake basking beside a warm wall!

'My Cohort, I was told, lay at Hunno, where the Great North Road runs
through the Wall into the Province of Valentia.' Parnesius laughed
scornfully. 'The Province of Valentia! We followed the road, therefore,
into Hunno town, and stood astonished. The place was a fair--a fair of
peoples from every corner of the Empire. Some were racing horses: some
sat in wine-shops: some watched dogs baiting bears, and many gathered in
a ditch to see cocks fight. A boy not much older than myself, but I
could see he was an officer, reined up before me and asked what I
wanted.

'"My station," I said, and showed him my shield.' Parnesius held up his
broad shield with its three X's like letters on a beer-cask.

'"Lucky omen!" said he. "Your Cohort's the next tower to us, but they're
all at the cock-fight. This is a happy place. Come and wet the Eagles."
He meant to offer me a drink.

'"When I've handed over my men," I said. I felt angry and ashamed.

'"Oh, you'll soon outgrow that sort of nonsense," he answered. "But
don't let me interfere with your hopes. Go on to the Statue of Roma Dea.
You can't miss it. The main road into Valentia!" and he laughed and rode
off. I could see the statue not a quarter of a mile away, and there I
went. At some time or other the Great North Road ran under it into
Valentia; but the far end had been blocked up because of the Picts, and
on the plaster a man had scratched, "Finish!" It was like marching into
a cave. We grounded spears together, my little thirty, and it echoed in
the barrel of the arch, but no