the army again, eh, Serge?"

"I hope so, boy, but after what I've seen I'm afraid that the passage of
our army has roused up the whole country, and that we shall be meeting
enemies every step of the way."

"Oh, don't say disheartening things after this escape, Serge," cried the
boy, excitedly. "That's right, lad; keep them going for a bit longer,
and then steady down again to give them breath. Look at the beautiful
beasts, Serge. I wish we were mounted upon them, instead of letting
them drag this heavy chariot."

"I'm looking at the enemy, my boy," cried Serge. "They don't seem to
know the truth yet, but scores of them are coming after us at a run. I
don't think they'll catch us though, for we are going four feet to their
one."

"Yes, but we must not distress the horses. Steady! Steady! An easy
gallop now. That's better. A quarter of an hour like this, and we can
laugh at them, unless old Serge is right and enemies are ready to spring
up everywhere in our way."

"Ah!" shouted Serge, at that moment, and the ponies took his cry to mean
faster, and increased their speed. "No, no," he cried. "Steady,
steady! Look, Marcus, boy, we are going right," and the old soldier
pointed to another of the grim traces of war in the shape of an
overturned chariot, with the skeletons of the horses that had drawn it
looking ghastly and strangely suggestive of what might have been their
fate, or might happen even yet.

Before long the crowded together lines of the enemy began to grow more
and more confused; then the idea of distance manifested itself more and
more, and those who had pursued melted away into the main body, while
the gallant little steeds, whose pace had been slackened down into a
steady hand gallop, were eased more and more, to proceed at a gentle
trot such as they could easily keep up, till they were checked in the
midst of a green slope that ran along by a pine wood, pleasant
indications of the mountain land being left behind.

Here a clear cool stream ran prattling along, towards which the ponies
stretched out their necks and were allowed to drink, their example being
followed by those they had drawn, a short distance higher up, and Marcus
rose looking eager and refreshed.

"We shall do it, Serge," he cried; "but I have seen no signs lately of
the army having passed this way. Have you?"

Serge gave him a peculiar look.

"Yes," he said, roughly; "there has been fighting just yonder, if you
look fo