and rustle of excited men.

Three rods from his hut, Nicanor was jostled violently by one who
wheeled with an oath to see who had run against him.

"Have a care, Balbus!" Nicanor said shortly. "What is thy haste? Dost
hope that thou wilt be chosen, man-killer? What wouldst give to be in my
place? For I shall go, having neither religion nor blood upon my head."

Balbus snarled at the taunt. It had been flung at him before, with
variations, until his temper was frayed to breaking-point. From Nicanor
it was not to be endured; for since the day of the rat-fight encounters
between the two had been frequent and bloody, in spite of the guards'
whips. Now jealousy was added to the wrath of Balbus, and with this the
devil in him broke its chains. But after his nature, he was treacherous.
He said nothing, nor gave warning that his anger was more than
skin-deep; and made as though to pass Nicanor and go his way. Nicanor
went on, laughing carelessly. But he was scarcely past when Balbus
wheeled around and struck. There was the glimmer of a blade, a smothered
oath, and that was all. Nicanor turned as though to attack his
assailant, who had sprung back, staggered, pitched forward, and fell,
rolling down the slight declivity. He struggled a moment to rise, and
lay down again, very quiet, and the slope of ground hid him from casual
observation in the camp.

Balbus drove his weapon into the earth to clean it, hid it in his shirt,
and hurried into the crowd of miners, who, as the roll-call progressed,
were being divided into two groups.

"Nimus!" the superintendent called, and a man stepped forward and joined
the smaller group. "Nico! Niger! Nicanor!"

And at this Balbus pressed forward, elbowing to the superintendent's
side.

"Master, the man Nicanor hath been fighting, it would seem, although
with whom I do not know. When I came by, I saw him lying dead upon the
ground by the huts."

"Nonius! Ollus!" cried the overseer, and in the same breath--"When I
have started these I will send men to bury him.--Ossian!"

Shortly after sunrise three hundred and fifty men were started under
escort to their lord's assistance, equipped as well as might be with the
means at hand.

When Nicanor struggled back to consciousness, after unmarked hours, the
noise of the tramping of men had ceased, and again the world was dark.
He tried to move, and a twinge of agony hot as flame shot through him,
shocking him into full wakefulness. He sat upright