deal, had his goblet repeatedly filled by the slave who
was his cup-bearer, and remarked again that the campaign would soon be
over. "When the ships come," he added in conclusion, "the Barbarians
will sue for peace." Glancing up merrily his eyes chanced to rest on
the young girl's face. To his surprise a mocking, nay, angry smile was
hovering around lips pouting in defiance; her brow was frowning, and
she made no reply. The conversation flagged. Herculanus watched the
rising cloud sharply, and eagerly fanned the flame.

"What?" he cried. "Peace? Bondage; extirpation! The Caesar will soon
drag the last remaining Alemanni before his triumphal chariot to the
Capitol: the leaders will be strangled, the rest sold cheap: a German
for a cabbage."

Tears of rage filled Bissula's eyes. She could find no words; fury
choked her voice. She searched her thoughts, her memory, for aid and
defence. Adalo was the only name which came to her. "Yes, Adalo, if you
were here, or if I had your swift speech, whispered by Odin! Stay--his
verse--his verse of defiance. How, did it run?" She closed her eyes to
think, resting her elbows on the table, with both little clenched hands
pressed against her throbbing brow.

"I will offer a toast," Herculanus went on, raising his goblet; "pledge
me. You, the pupil of Ausonius, are surely one of us: Disgrace and
death to the Alemanni!" Bissula sprang up. Her blue eyes were blazing;
her red tresses fluttered around her head; a blow from her clenched
fist sent the silver goblet rattling on the floor; and, in the language
of her people, she cried loudly:

"Woe to the Latins!
Vengeance on Romans!
Break down their castles,
Shatter their strongholds,
Swing ye the sword
Till the base robbers flee!
All this region
Hath Odin given
To his sons of victory--
To us, the Alemanni!

"Oh, I thank you, I thank you, Adalo!" And she rushed out of the tent.

"How foolish!" Ausonius said reproachfully to his nephew. "How
inhospitable! How could you so incense our guest?"

"Guest? Our, that is, the Illyrian's, slave-girl. But forgive me,
uncle. It shall not happen again. How little a Barbarian woman suits
the society of Romans! Our thoughts, our wishes--she is implacably
hostile to all. And Adalo? I have already heard the name. Isn't it--?"