irectly from Arbon, were obliged to run into the bay of what
we know as Friedrichshafen. For the land forces the leaders hoped to
find a passable route along the remains of an old military road, which
formerly--in Rome's better days--had extended also around the northern
shore of the lake. This steep hill, affording an unimpeded view in
every direction and dominating the whole neighborhood, was a model of
the positions where the Roman eagle was fain to alight for a brief rest
during its flights in quest of prey. Here a camp was to be formed,
whence the land of the Barbarians would be ravaged by small bodies of
troops in every direction, while the strong fortified camp should
maintain the connection with the lake, the fleet, and the southern
shore, until the whole enterprise was completed and the Romans could
return to the Emperor at Windisch.

CHAPTER II.

The experienced commanders had executed their tasks swiftly, skilfully,
and successfully. Arbon, the strongly fortified station of the great
military road, had, it is true, been repeatedly attacked, plundered,
and set on fire by the Alemanni in swift forays from the lake, but
never permanently occupied; they did not like to dwell in cities.

A few years previously Valentinian, Gratianus's warlike father and
predecessor, had repaired and strengthened the old walls, increased the
garrison, filled the store-houses with provisions, especially grain,
and stationed in the harbor a number of ships. These, though neither so
numerous nor so stately as those of the Venetian Fleet in the prouder
days of Rome, were quite sufficient to prevent the Barbarians from an
attack by water, nay, they constantly threatened them with a landing on
the northern shore.

The commander of the division intended for this fleet, the Comes of
Britannia, Nannienus, a man skilled in nautical matters and an
excellent officer, had reached the harbor fortification with his troops
very quickly by the excellent road from Windisch. The other column
needed a much longer time for its wearisome march, turning finally
eastward before it again reached the shore of the lake.

Caution was the first requisite during this advance through the
pathless land of the Barbarians; and no measure of prudence was omitted
by the well-trained, circumspect leaders. Natives of the country who
were perfectly familiar with the region acted as guides; though the
southern shore was inhabited ex