vied with each other in seeking death.

So their retreat became a triumphal procession of Gothic heroes, and
every halting-place a monument of courageous self-sacrifice. Thus,
among the leaders of the "doomed rear-guard," old Haduswinth fell near
Nuceria Camellaria; the young and skilful archer, Gunthamund, at Ad
Fontes; and the swift rider, Gudila, at Ad Martis. But these
sacrifices, and the King's generalship, were not without influence on
the fate of the nation.

Near Fossatum, between Tudera and Narnia, a night attack took place
between the rear-guard under Earl Markja, and the horsemen of Cethegus,
which lasted from afternoon till sunrise.

When at last the returning light illumined the hastily-constructed
earthworks thrown up by the Goths, they were as still and silent as the
grave.

The pursuers advanced with the utmost caution. At last Cethegus sprang
from his horse and on to the parapet of the earthworks, followed by
Syphax.

Cethegus turned and signed to his men: "Follow me; there is no danger!
You have only to step over the bodies of our enemies, for here they all
lie--a full thousand. Yonder is Earl Markja; I know him."

But when the earthworks were demolished, and Cethegus and his horsemen
continued their pursuit of the main army--which had gained a great
advance they soon learned from the peasants of the neighbourhood that
the Gothic army had not passed on the Flaminian Way at all.

By the noble sacrifice of this night, King Teja had been enabled to
conceal the further direction of his retreat, and the pursuers had lost
the scent.

Cethegus advised Johannes and Alboin, the one to send a portion of his
men to the south-east, the other to the left on the Flaminian Way, to
try to find the lost track. He himself longed to get to Rome. He wished
to reach that city before Narses. Once there, he hoped to be able to
checkmate him, as he had done Belisarius, from the Capitol.

After discovering that King Teja had evaded all pursuit, Cethegus
summoned his trusty tribunes, and told them that he was resolved--if
necessary, by force--to rid himself of the constant supervision of
Alboin and Johannes--who were at present weakened by the division of
their troops at his advice--and to hasten with his Isaurians alone
straight to Rome by the Flaminian Way, which was now no longer blocked
by the Goths.

But even while he was speaking, he was interrupted by the entrance of
Syphax, who led into the tent a Roman cit