used.

'The Winged Hats fought like wolves--all in a pack. Where they had
suffered most, there they charged in most hotly. This was hard for the
defenders, but it held them from sweeping on into Britain.

'In those days Pertinax and I wrote on the plaster of the bricked
archway into Valentia the names of the towers, and the days on which
they fell one by one. We wished for some record.

'And the fighting? The fight was always hottest to left and right of the
great statue of Roma Dea, near to Rutilianus's house. By the Light of
the Sun, that old fat man, whom we had not considered at all, grew young
again among the trumpets! I remember he said his sword was an oracle!
"Let us consult the Oracle," he would say, and put the handle against
his ear, and shake his head wisely. "And _this_ day is allowed
Rutilianus to live," he would say, and, tucking up his cloak, he would
puff and pant and fight well. Oh, there were jests in plenty on the Wall
to take the place of food!

'We endured for two months and seventeen days--always being pressed from
three sides into a smaller space. Several times Allo sent in word that
help was at hand. We did not believe it, but it cheered our men. 'The
end came not with shoutings of joy, but, like the rest, as in a dream.
The Winged Hats suddenly left us in peace for one night and the next
day; which is too long for spent men. We slept at first lightly,
expecting to be roused, and then like logs, each where he lay. May you
never need such sleep! When I waked our towers were full of strange,
armed men, who watched us snoring. I roused Pertinax, and we leaped up
together.

'"What?" said a young man in clean armour. "Do you fight against
Theodosius? Look!"

'North we looked over the red snow. No Winged Hats were there. South we
looked over the white snow, and behold there were the Eagles of two
strong Legions encamped. East and west we saw flame and fighting, but by
Hunno all was still.

'"Trouble no more," said the young man. "Rome's arm is long. Where are
the Captains of the Wall?"

'We said we were those men.

'"But you are old and grey-haired," he cried. "Maximus said that they
were boys."

'"Yes, that was true some years ago," said Pertinax. "What is our fate
to be, you fine and well-fed child?"

'"I am called Ambrosius, a secretary of the Emperor," he answered. "Show
me a certain letter which Maximus wrote from a tent at Aquileia, and
perhaps I will believe."

'I took it from