s, and propelled only by
their oars, might be more dangerous for the large vessel than for the
"boat of corpses."

The Goths hesitated and stopped just before the burning beams.

But suddenly there arose a strong breeze from the south, rippling the
surface of the water.

"Do you feel the wind? It is the breath of the God of Victory! Set the
sails! Now follow me, my Goths!" cried a joyful voice.

The sails were set, and the wings of the royal galley, the "Wild Swan,"
spread wide to the breeze.

It was a magnificent spectacle as the great vessel, all its canvas
spread, and urged by a hundred oarsmen, came majestically up the river,
illuminated by the terrible light from the burning masts and boats.

With irresistible force the noble galley sailed up the stream.

On both sides of the upper deck, high above the heads of the oarsmen on
the lower deck, kneeled close rows of Gothic warriors, their shields
forming a brazen roof to protect them from the arrows of the foe.

Upon the bows of the ship an immense figure of a swan lifted high its
snowy wings.

Between these wings, upon the back of the swan, stood King Totila, his
sword in his right hand.

"Forward!" he cried. "Pull, my men, with all your might! Be ready,
Goths!"

Cethegus recognised the youth's tall figure. He even recognised the
voice.

"Let the galley approach quite close. When within twenty feet, shoot!
Not yet!--Now! now shoot!"

"Crouch close, Goths!" cried Totila.

A hail of arrows fell over the galley. But they rebounded from a roof
of shields.

"Damn them!" cried Piso, behind the Prefect. "They intend to break the
chain with the force of the shock. And they will surely do it, even if
every man on deck should fall! The oarsmen we cannot reach, and the
south wind cannot be wounded!"

"Fire the sails! fire the ship! Bring firebrands!" cried Cethegus.

Ever nearer rustled the threatening "Swan."

Ever nearer approached the ruinous shock against the tightly-stretched
chains.

Firebrands were hurled at the galley.

One flew into the sail of the main-mast, burnt quickly up, and then
died out.

A second--Cethegus himself had hurled it--passed close to the golden
locks of the King. It fell near him. He had not remarked it; but a
shepherd-boy, who carried no weapon but a shepherd's staff, ran up and
trampled it out.

The other brands rebounded from the shields and fell hissing into the
river.

And now the prow of the galley was only e