Turning him over, we saw by his belt-buckle that he was a Goth of an
Eastern Legion. Suddenly he opened his eyes and cried loudly, "He is
dead! The letters were with me, but the Winged Hats sank the ship." So
saying, he died between our hands.

'We asked not who was dead. We knew! We raced before the driving snow to
Hunno, thinking perhaps Allo might be there. We found him already at our
stables, and he saw by our faces what we had heard.

'"It was in a tent by the sea," he stammered. "He was beheaded by
Theodosius. He sent a letter to you, written while he waited to be
slain. The Winged Hats met the ship and took it. The news is running
through the heather like fire. Blame me not! I cannot hold back my young
men any more."

'"I would we could say as much for our men," said Pertinax, laughing.
"But, Gods be praised, they cannot run away."

'"What do you do?" said Allo. "I bring an order--a message--from the
Winged Hats that you join them with your men, and march South to plunder
Britain."

'"It grieves me," said Pertinax, "but we are stationed here to stop that
thing."

'"If I carry back such an answer they will kill me," said Allo. "I
always promised the Winged Hats that you would rise when Maximus fell.
I--I did not think he could fall."

'"Alas! my poor barbarian," said Pertinax, still laughing. "Well, you
have sold us too many good ponies to be thrown back to your friends. We
will make you a prisoner, although you are an ambassador."

'"Yes, that will be best," said Allo, holding out a halter. We bound him
lightly, for he was an old man.

'"Presently the Winged Hats may come to look for you, and that will give
us more time. See how the habit of playing for time sticks to a man!"
said Pertinax, as he tied the rope.

'"No," I said. "Time may help. If Maximus wrote us a letter while he was
a prisoner, Theodosius must have sent the ship that brought it. If he
can send ships, he can send men."

'"How will that profit us?" said Pertinax. "We serve Maximus, not
Theodosius. Even if by some miracle of the Gods Theodosius down South
sent and saved the Wall, we could not expect more than the death Maximus
died."

'"It concerns us to defend the Wall, no matter what Emperor dies, or
makes die," I said.

'"That is worthy of your brother the philosopher," said Pertinax.
"Myself I am without hope, so I do not say solemn and stupid things!
Rouse the Wall!"

'We armed the Wall from end to end; we told the officer