ey did.

I stood, gazing questioningly, first at the swinging corpse, then at the
_Villicus_.

"Felix," said he, "I perceive that you do not understand. Tiro meant to
kill you, and would most likely have succeeded had not Napsus first
tripped him and then killed him. Napsus shall be handsomely rewarded in
every fashion within my power. Tiro has been dealt with as he deserved, as
any similar fool deserves. I propose to protect you to the extent of my
abilities and authority, which includes peremptory execution of any estate
slave whom I so much as suspect; I don't have to wait for any overt act,
nor for any threat, uttered or whispered or hinted. You can rely on all
the protection I can give you and I fancy it will suffice. If there is any
other fool about let him take notice."

He spoke loudly, so as to be audible to everyone of the gathering.

I stared numb, puzzled, almost dazed.

"But," I blurted out, "why did he try to kill me? Why should anyone want
to kill me?"

"You don't know Umbria, lad," spoke the _Villicus_, indulgently. "Many
eyes in addition to those of the teamsters and beast-wardens beheld you on
Selinus, galloping your fastest northwards along the highroad. Many saw
you turn Selinus up the crossroad the _viarii_ had taken. Many saw their
officer on Selinus when the cavalrymen charged down the highroad and
scattered the bandits. Many saw you afoot among the infantrymen when they
turned from the crossroad into the highway and as they double-quicked down
it. Every partisan of the outlaws blames you for their discomfiture, and
regards you as a detestable traitor, many a one is looking for such a
chance at you as Tiro thought he saw. I'll give you a body-guard of men I
can trust, for the rest of this beast-catching job. But keep a bright
lookout, yourself. You may need all your own strength and quickness to
save yourself."

The strain of this surprise and anxiety was a hundredfold as trying as the
most daunting beast-catching. I felt it.

I felt it more after a second similar attempt that very afternoon. I had
threaded a dense patch of undergrowth, approached a lurking leopard,
caught her and led her out of the thicket, led her almost to her waiting
cage. By this time our helpers were so used to seeing me cage lions,
panthers, leopards and tigers that they no longer, as at first, hovered at
a distance, gaping at me as I, completely alone with my catch, led it
towards its cage, set ready by its wagon,