he recognized her
and pushed her gently but irresistibly back.

"No, no!" he said, laughing. "You mustn't go out, you little red
serpent! I should get a double drubbing--from the Tribune on the right
and the Prefect on the left. Stay inside."

Bissula, her eyes brimming with tears of impotent rage, was obliged to
go back: and there, outside the gate, liberty was beckoning; there
laughed (she saw it again, for the first time through the open gate) in
its azure splendor her beloved lake; there on the right rustled the
trees which surrounded Adalo's hall, and there flew a gull, screaming
loudly with delight in life and joy in its free movement, across the
rushes of the marshy shore. Alas! and she must go back into the camp,
to an uncertain fate. To-morrow she was to leave the country, to
go--whither?

"Oh, Adalo, help soon!"

Since the night before she had constantly whispered his name, again and
again, as though it were a protecting spell.

On reaching her tent, she untied the bear, which was becoming wildly
excited by the noise of the soldiers, and dragged it by the collar
inside of the inclosure, where she remained all day. She was not
disturbed. Prosper brought wine and food, and told her that his
master's whole time was claimed by Nannienus and the other guests; but
early the next morning she must be ready to take ship for Constantia,
then to go to the Emperor at Vindonissa, and lastly, to his beautiful
home. Bissula made no answer.

Leaving the viands untouched, she crouched like some captured wild
beast in the corner of her tent farthest from the entrance, with her
eyes fixed intently upon it, listening with anxiety and dread to every
sound which drew nearer to her tent from the streets of the camp.
Faithful Bruna lay across the threshold; she was the girl's only
comfort.

CHAPTER XLVII.

So the hours of the day had passed. The sun had sunk majestically into
the lake; darkness had gathered quickly; there was no moon. The Comes
of Britannia had left Ausonius's table early, the hospitable host had
vainly tried to induce him to empty one more goblet.

"As many as you please, after the victory, Ausonius. But a sailor must
keep sober. Besides, his place is on the water, not on forest-clad
heights. I feel here, away from my ships, like a whale left stranded by
the tide and lying gasping on the shore. Truly, the only right kind of
water is salt water--"

"Because we can't drin