rtyard was bright with the lights of many
torches, and several horsemen galloped off to the different gates of
the city.

"Six thousand solidi to whoever takes him alive; three thousand if he
be brought in dead!" cried Cethegus, swinging himself into the saddle.
"Up, Sons of the Wind, Ellak and Mondzach, Huns and Massagetae! Ride as
you have never ridden before!"

"But whither?" asked Syphax, as he galloped out of the gate at his
master's aide.

"That is difficult to say. But all the gates are closed and guarded.
They can only escape by a breach."

"There are two large breaches."

"Look at Jupiter, which is just rising from behind the clouds in the
east. It seems to sign to me. In that direction----"

"Lies the breach near the Tower of AEtius."

"Good! Then thither--I follow my star!"

Meantime the fugitives had happily reached the breach, where Paulus,
the son of Dromon, let them pass. In the pine-grove of Diana they found
their faithful Wachis and two horses.

The husband and wife mounted Wallada. The freedman took the other horse
and rode off at a gallop towards the river, which at this point was
very broad.

Witichis held Rauthgundis before him.

"My wife--losing thee I had lost all: life and courage. But now I will
once more try for the kingdom. Oh, how could I ever let thee go, thou
soul of my soul!"

"Thine arm is wounded with the chaffing of the chain. Lay it across my
neck, my Witichis."

"Forward, Wallada--quick! It is for life or death!"

They now issued from the grove into the open country. They reached the
shore of the river.

Wachis was trying to urge his rearing steed into the dark flood. The
animal shyed and resisted.

The freedman sprang off.

"It is very deep, very rapid," he said. "For three days the river has
been unusually full. The ford is useless. The horses will have to swim,
and the current will drag us far to the left. There are rocks in the
stream, and the moonlight is so inconstant and deceptive."

He looked doubtfully and searchingly up and down the river.

"Hark! what was that?" asked Rauthgundis. "It was not the wind in the
trees."

"It is horses!" cried Witichis. "They approach rapidly. I hear the
clatter of arms. There--torches! Now into the river for life or
death--but softly!"

He urged his horse into the water.

"There is no footing. The horses must swim. Hold fast by the mane,
Rauthgundis. Forward, Wallada!"

Snorting and trembling, the noble anima