id, in their harsh
Punic; "what have you to do with plunder of this kind? and how came you by
her?"

"She's one of those Christian rats, your worship," answered the fellow,
who, strong as he was, did not relish a contest with some dozen of armed
men. "Long live the Emperor! We'll teach her to eat asses' heads another
time, and brew fevers. I found her with a party of Christians. She's
nothing but a witch, and she knows the consequences."

"Let her go, you drunken animal!" said the constable, still keeping his
distance. "I'll never believe any woman is a Christian, let alone so young
a one. And now I look at her, so far as I can see by this light, I think
she's priestess of one of the great temples up there."

"She can turn herself into anything," said the other of her capturers,
"young or old. I saw her one night near Madaura, a month ago, in the tombs
in the shape of a black cat."

"Away with you both, in the name of the Suffetes of Sicca and all the
magistracy!" cried the official. "Give up your prisoner to the authorities
of the place, and let the law take its course."

But the Canaanites did not seem disposed to give her up, and neither party
liking to attack the other, a compromise took place. "Well," said the
guardian of the night, "the law must be vindicated, and the peace
preserved. My friends, you must submit to the magistrates. But since she
happens to be on your shoulder, my man, let her even remain there, and we
depute you, as a beast of burden, to carry her for us, thereby to save us
the trouble. Here, child," he continued, "you're our prisoner; so you
shall plead your own cause in the _popina_ there. Long live Decius, pious
and fortunate! Long live this ancient city, colony and municipium! Cheer
up, my lass, and sing us a stave or two, as we go; for I'll pledge a
_cyathus_ of unmixed, that, if you choose, you can warble notes as sweet
as the manna gum."

Callista was silent, but she was perfectly collected, and ready to avail
herself of any opportunity to better her condition. They went on towards
the Forum, where a police-office, as we now speak, was situated, but did
not reach it without an adventure. The Roman military force at Sicca was
not more than a century of men; the greater number were at this moment at
the great gate, waiting for the mob; a few, in parties of three and four,
were patrolling the city. Several of these were at the entrance of the
Forum when the party came up to it; and it ha