"

"Not that we have found as yet, boy, but they must have left some
wounded men, or sick, belonging to the army or the enemy. If they're
fighting their way, as is most likely, we may be sure that a good many
men have fallen."

"Yes, that's reasonable enough, Serge, but we have seen no signs of
one."

"Not one," said the old soldier. "So as there have been no traces, we
must go by guesswork, mustn't we?"

"Yes, of course," cried Marcus. "Well, you guessed and I guessed, and I
think my guess will be the better one."

"I know you do; but I don't, boy."

"Why?"

"Because there's no reason in yours and there is in mine."

"I can't see that," said Marcus, stubbornly. "Show me how your way can
be better than mine."

"That's soon done, boy," said Serge. "Caius Julius will have a big army
with him, won't he?"

"Yes, of course; a very large one."

"With plenty of mounted soldiers and chariots."

"Yes," said Marcus.

"Well, would he pick out the roughest part of the country all among the
rocks, like you have, or the lower and more even way like mine?"

"You are right and I'm wrong, Serge," cried Marcus, frankly. "Let's go
your way."

The old soldier nodded, the order was given, and the driver turned his
horses' heads more to the right; but before they had gone far Marcus
caught his companion by the arm.

"But suppose, Serge, that the army did not come this way at all? We do
not know that it did."

"How's that?" asked the old soldier.

"Why, it might have gone by some other way."

"Which?" growled Serge.

"Oh, I don't know," replied the boy. "There must be plenty of ways
through the mountains by which an army could go."

"No, there mustn't, and there arn't, without you go a long journey
round, and that a general is not likely to do. Passes through the
mountains are a long way apart; and besides, of course our new captain
knew the way that Caius Julius was going, and this is the way he meant
to follow if he had come on."

"Are you sure?" said the boy, doubtingly.

"Certain, my lad, or I wouldn't go this way."

Serge had struck for the right, and he proved to be right indeed, for
before an hour had passed the adventurers had good proof, the old
soldier suddenly giving vent to a grunt of satisfaction.

"What is it, Serge?" cried Marcus, eagerly, seeing that the old man was
smiling.

"I'm right," he said.

"What! Can you see anything?"

"Yes; look yonder, boy."

Marcus gazed in the d