had realised
his danger, and, springing forward with a shout, he made a dash to reach
his resting place first.

The strange men were evidently shaken by his bold action, but only for a
few moments, and turned to meet the soldier, knife in hand; but their
hesitation gave the warrior time to reach shield and sword, when,
without waiting to be attacked, the men advanced upon him at once.

Such an encounter as this was quite new to Marcus, and he stood there
hidden from all concerned for quite a minute, with his heart beating
rapidly, trembling with excitement, and taking the position of a
spectator, gazing with starting eyes at the party of strangers as if the
fight were no concern of his.

Strangers? Yes, they were all strangers--enemies perhaps; and then,
like a flash, it struck him that these rough-looking, knife-armed men
were robbers intent upon spoiling the warrior and perhaps taking his
life.

This flash of intelligence opened the way for another, making him see
the cowardice of six attacking one while that one was brave as brave
could be.

For a few moments, as he watched the encounter in the bright morning
light, Marcus was full of admiration for the brave and clever way in
which, hemmed in though he was, the big warrior interposed his shield
and turned off blow after blow. But all the same it was very evident
that numbers would gain the day and some desperate thrust lay the poor
fellow low.

Marcus' thoughts passed very quickly in his excitement, and now another
came like a question: You are in armour, with a good shield, a sharp
sword and spear. You have taken upon yourself the part of a Roman
soldier, and you stand there doing nothing but look on.

That thought seemed to smite Marcus right in the face, and the next
moment he was running hard, spear in hand, down the steep hill slope, to
leap the rivulet and, with lowered spear, charge up the other side
towards the contending party, a loud shout ringing out upon the morning
air.

So fully were the attacking party taken up by their work of escaping the
single swordsman's blows and trying to get in a thrust, that they paid
no heed to the shout of the boy, and were not even conscious of his
presence till he was close at hand.

But his approach was noted by the brave soldier, just as an attack from
behind was delivered simultaneously with one in front, and it gave him
strength to make a last effort which enabled him to lay one of his
assailants low;