in herds. The mountains here towered up higher and higher in
their stern frowning majesty, scantily furnished with growth, save here
and there the earth that had been washed down from above afforded
sustenance to a patch of spear-like pines with their dark, sombre,
blackish green needles. The roughest of rough stony tracks was now the
detachment's path, and it became hard work, approaching to climbing, for
the heavily-armed foot soldiers, difficult for the cavalry--whose horses
needed the sure-footedness of mules to get along, their riders having to
dismount and lead their steeds--while for the little train of chariots
the difficulties were almost insurmountable. The pony-like pairs that
drew them were safer footed and got on better than the heavier animals
that bore the Roman mounted men, but the chariots were always in need of
help. Sometimes one wheel would be high in the air, sometimes the
other, while often the drivers and riders had to make a rush to help
drag or push the low, heavy vehicles over some more rugged spot.

For there was no regular road now that they were beyond the Roman
dominions, where directly a country was conquered the new owners set
themselves to form a level military road, but simply a rough,
rock-encumbered track.

"Yes, it's bad going," Serge said, "but it would want a far worse way
than this to keep back a Roman army. Our men with all their baggage
have been along here, as you see, so of course we can follow; and it's
splendid for us in the way of safety."

"Yes," agreed Marcus; "every attack must come now from the front or
rear. These mountain walls make splendid allies to guard our flanks."

"Front--rear--flanks! Well done!" cried Serge. "I like that. You're
getting quite the soldier, my boy."

Matters proved to be better still as they moved higher up the pass, not
in the way of the road improving, but respecting the difficulties with
the enemy, for after the latter had made a brave stand in one spot where
the pass widened out for a space, and fought stubbornly for a while, the
little Roman force cut their way through and into the narrow portion
where the walls of the gorge closed quite up on either side, leaving
only room for the grey muddy stream and the road track along which
Marcus and his friends made their way, completely freed from all attack
save from the rear, where a fierce pursuit was kept up, fresh parties of
the enemy giving up and retreating after delivering th