another side, and there it is
for us."

"Are you sure?"

"As that I am here, boy. That's the Roman army, or part of it, for I
can't be certain that Julius and Cracis are there. But if it's only a
part it will do for us, for the general who commands can receive our
message and go to yon poor fellows' help. Now, then, forward at once,
for though that camp looks so near we have miles to travel before we can
march up and be stopped by their sentries ready to challenge us in the
good old Latin tongue. Why, boy, you said yesterday that all was bad
and everything had failed. What do you say now?"

"Forward!" cried Marcus, "and at once!"

The ponies had done little work that day, for the advance had been made
cautiously on account of the many bands of the enemy's warriors which
swarmed throughout the country, and the empty chariot had formed the
load; but now without further conversation Marcus sprang in.

"If we walk, Serge," he said, "we shall not get there till after dark."

"And then have a lot of trouble about going up to the camp," said
Serge--"perhaps get a spear in one's ribs; but I wouldn't hurry.
Besides, we don't know whether the country's clear between us and them."

It was a glorious evening, and for the first time the land with its
forest and verdant hills looked beautiful to Marcus by comparison with
the rugged barren mountains they had traversed, and whose peaks lowered
up stern and forbidding in the distance, as they glanced back from time
to time.

A sharp look-out was kept, as whenever the trees were not too close the
adventurers made cautious observations of the surrounding country, but
nothing suggestive of the enemy was seen, the broad track made by the
advancing Roman army marked their way, descending gradually from the
edge of the forest into one of the valleys beyond which extended the
range of verdant hills. Upon the special one that they had marked down
they had a clear view of the busy soldiery passing to and fro and
looking diminutive in the extreme, before the track led farther into the
woody valley and the hills were completely shut out.

The distance proved greater than they had expected, but there was their
guide wandering here and there up ascents or down into the depths of the
valley along which meandered a lovely little river whose moist
meadow-like sides were sadly trampled and cut up. Still there was no
sign of danger, and the river bank was followed for some distance.

"