countrymen who had witnessed the struggle. But the men of the Ebergau
were dismayed by their leader's fall; they hesitated--stopped--yielded.

"Forward, down to the lake!" shouted the Tribune. "You see they are
giving way." It was a dangerous moment; for, confused by the retreat of
the Ebergau men, the band next behind them was wavering.

CHAPTER LII.

"Stand, men of the Linzgau!" shouted a clear, resonant voice, and a
youth with golden-brown locks fluttering around his handsome head
forced a passage through the Alemanni and Romans toward the Tribune.

But the Romans had neither the inclination nor the habit of letting
their General fight single combats with the Barbarian princes. A
gigantic Illyrian stepped from the left of the ranks in front of his
leader and aimed his spear at the youth's face. But the weapon did not
fly; before he could hurl it a German boy leaped from below against the
warrior, and thrust his little spear into the arm-pit, now unprotected
by his suit of mail. He fell with a loud cry.

"I thank you, little brother!" exclaimed Adalo and now, pressing close
upon Saturninus, he called to him in Latin: "Where is Bissula?"

But the Roman General had no thought to give to a Barbarian girl; the
recollection of the captive had darted only once through his brain with
the speed of lightning, when he heard her she-bear growling in the
camp. He made no reply, except to wave the sword still dripping with
Ebarbold's blood.

The Adeling's spear flew; Saturninus caught it on his shield; but being
burdened by the long lance, this was now so difficult to manage that he
let it fall, and sprang with a well-aimed sword thrust toward the
youth, who had instantly drawn his short battle-axe from his girdle.
Each was so furiously resolved to fell the other, that neither thought
of his own defence. So both struck, and both fell.

With his utmost strength--and it was great--the German had aimed at his
adversary's forehead: the latter involuntarily bowed his head, putting
the helmet forward, but the terrible stroke cleft this best work of the
Roman armorers at Trier, and pierced through the bronze and the double
leather of the lining to the skull. The helmet was found afterwards;
and this "Suabian stroke" was long celebrated in the hall of the stag's
antlers. But the lord of the hall seemed destined never to return to
it, but to follow Ebarbold and Ebarvin; for, at the same time, the