human being, that is, a man; for she followed
the red elf everywhere."

"Suspicious! Did Bissula know the animal? Did she call it by any name?"

"No. But she was very much pleased when she saw the she-bear; her face
flushed and paled. So much pleased that I asked, as you did just now:
'Bissula, do you know each other? How does it happen that the beast
will have nothing to do with anybody except you? Hark! how friendly her
growl sounds: why doesn't she treat us the same?'

"'Oh,' replied Bissula, laughing, 'she comes from our country and she
knows that I am the only one who understands her Alemanni language.
Don't you believe me? Well, then ask her,' she added, still laughing,
shaking back her curling locks, 'maybe she will tell you.'

"In short, the monster would not leave her side, and followed her into
the tent when she went to bed. So the bear's growling waked me. I
started up and saw by the light of the campfire a man, running at full
speed, vanish around the corner of the nearest tent.

"I rushed in. The young girl had seen nothing--she had fallen asleep.
She was trying to soothe the furious animal, which, bleeding from a
dagger thrust in its right fore-paw, was angrily crunching in its jaws
a piece of brown cloth. At last Bissula, while washing the wound,
coaxed it away. Here it is."

He gave it to Saturninus. The Roman General examined it closely.

"This is certainly--but stay! Do you speak first, Rignomer. What do you
think it is?"

"A fragment from the hem of a mantle."

"What kind of a mantle?"

"A Roman one: a sagum,"

"Who wear brown mantles--the only ones?"

"The Thracian spearmen and the mailed riders."

"Right. Say nothing of this matter to any one; and go."

"And my punishment?"

"You are pardoned. But drink gift wine cautiously in future."

"Indeed I will, General."

"In the inspection I am about to make you will act shrewdly and
prudently, as I order. And listen: one thing more. You owe the young
girl some atonement: do you perceive it?"

"Unfortunately."

"Will you make it?"

"Gladly."

"Then mark me. She has complained that I have her watched continually,
even during the day. Thrax, my fat scribe, to whom I gave the secret
commission, has acted very awkwardly; she found him out long ago. I
promised to rid her of him. But she must not remain unguarded."

"Certainly not."

"After this attack less than ever. You, Rignomer,--I will relieve you
meanwhile from any other duty