he mountain trail, for there were several
points on it where horsemen could be seen through the trees, even from
where we were.

I unfastened the coach door next the swamp, we kissed each other again and
again, and, as the horsemen came in sight away across the meadows where
they emerged from the woods, we exchanged a last farewell kiss and I
slipped out and across the swamp.

BOOK IV

DISSIMULATIONS

CHAPTER XXIX

FELIX

From the marsh my path homewards led me past the villa, for it was
directly between my cottage and the swamp. The very first human being I
encountered was the _Villicus_ himself.

"Hullo, Felix," he said. "I've been looking for you. We need you. Septima
says she hasn't seen you since early yesterday. Where have you been all
night?"

"Up a tree," I replied. "Bulla told me day before yesterday that he and
his lads planned a spectacular capture and robbery on the highway south of
Diana's Crag for yesterday afternoon. Most of the days lately on which you
haven't wanted me I have spent on top of the crag, watching the traffic on
the road. I went up there about the third hour yesterday morning, to view
the show Bulla had promised me. I expected to enjoy it, but, somehow, when
I saw the victims' coaches come in sight, the idea of a Roman lady in the
clutches of Bulla's gang went against my gorge. I ran down alongside the
crag towards where Selinus was grazing in the roadside pasture. He came to
me and I galloped up the highway and up the first crossroad to warn the
constabulary, who had gone up that road about noon, on some false
information given them by someone at Bulla's suggestion. Their officer
took my horse and I had to run with the infantrymen. My breath gave out
and my legs too and I dropped behind when they left the highway south of
the crag and struck off across country after the bandits, who had been
scared off by the cavalrymen. It took me a long time to get my breath and
rest my legs. When I felt able to walk it was after sunset. I can gentle
any beast by daylight, but after dusk I'm no better off than any other man
facing a lion or tiger. The brigands had opened scores of cages and the
freed beasts began to roar and snarl soon after sunset. I climbed a maple
and spent the night in a fork about six yards from the ground, where I
felt safe as long as I could keep awake. I dreaded to fall if I dozed, and
I was frightfully drowsy after such a hot day and such a long run. When