oung men from
listening to the Winged Hats--in winter especially, when we are hungry?
My young men will say, 'Rome can neither fight nor rule. She is taking
her men out of Britain. The Winged Hats will help us to push down the
Wall. Let us show them the secret roads across the bogs.' Do I want
that? No!" He spat like an adder. "I would keep the secrets of my
people though I were burned alive. My two children here have spoken
truth. Leave us Picts alone. Comfort us, and cherish us, and feed us
from far off--with the hand behind the back. Parnesius understands us.
Let him have rule on the Wall, and I will hold my young men quiet
for"--he ticked it off on his fingers--"one year easily: the next year
not so easily: the third year, perhaps! See, I give you three years.
If then you do not show us that Rome is strong in men and terrible in
arms, the Winged Hats, I tell you, will sweep down the Wall from either
sea till they meet in the middle, and you will go. I shall not grieve
over that, but well I know tribe never helps tribe except for one
price. We Picts will go too. The Winged Hats will grind us to this!"
He tossed a handful of dust in the air.

"'Oh, Roma Dea!" said Maximus, half aloud. "It is always one man's
work--always and everywhere!"

"And one man's life," said Allo. "You are Emperor, but not a God. You
may die."

"'I have thought of that too," said he. "Very good. If this wind
holds, I shall be at the East end of the Wall by morning. Tomorrow,
then, I shall see you two when I inspect, and I will make you Captains
of the Wall for this work."

"'One instant, Caesar," said Pertinax. "All men have their price. I
am not bought yet."

"'Do you also begin to bargain so early?" said Maximus. "Well?"

"'Give me justice against my uncle Icenus, the Duumvir of Divio in
Gaul," he said.

"'Only a life? I thought it would be money or an office. Certainly you
shall have him. Write his name on these tablets--on the red side; the
other is for the living!" and Maximus held out his tablets.

"'He is of no use to me dead," said Pertinax. "My mother is a widow.
I am far off. I am not sure he pays her all her dowry."

"'No matter. My arm is reasonably long. We will look through your
uncle's accounts in due time. Now, farewell till tomorrow, O Captains
of the Wall!"

'We saw him grow small across the heather as he walked to the galley.
There were Picts, scores, each side of him, hidden behind