ristians. In
every great movement there will be an immense class composed of
neutrals, who either from interest or indifference remain unmoved. These
people will invariably join the strongest side, and where danger
threatens will evade it by any concessions. Such was the condition of
large numbers in Rome. They had friends and relatives among the
Christians whom they loved, and for whom they felt sympathy. They were
always ready to assist them, but had too much regard for their own
safety to cast in their lot with them. They attended the temples and
assisted at the worship of the heathen gods as before, and were
nominally adherents of the old superstition. Upon these now the
Christians were forced to depend for the necessaries of life.

The expeditions to the city were now accompanied with greater danger,
and only the boldest dared to venture. Such, however, was the contempt
of danger and death with which they were inspired that there was never
any scarcity of men for this perilous duty.

To this task Marcellus offered himself, glad that he could in any way do
good to his brethren. His fearlessness and acuteness, which had formerly
raised him so high as a soldier, now made him conspicuous for success in
this new pursuit.

Numbers were destroyed every day. Their bodies were sought for and
carried away by the Christians for purposes of burial. This was not very
difficult to accomplish, since it relieved the authorities of the
trouble of burning or burying the corpses.

One day tidings came to the community beneath the Appian Way that two of
their number had been captured and put to death. Marcellus and another
Christian went forth to obtain their bodies. The boy Pollio also went
with them, to be useful in case of need. It was dusk when they entered
the city gate, and darkness came rapidly on. Soon, however, the moon
arose and illumined the scene.

They threaded their way through the dark streets, and at length came to
the Coliseum, the place of martyrdom for so many of their companions.
Its dark form towered up grandly before them, vast and gloomy and stern
as the imperial power that reared it. Crowds of keepers and guards and
gladiators were within the iron gates, where the vaulted passage ways
were illuminated with the glare of torches.

The keepers knew their errand, and rudely ordered them to follow. They
led them on till they came to the arena. Here lay a number of bodies,
the last of those who had been slain