welcome and triumph
as they returned from their successful campaign against their former
oppressors. Among no people were family ties held more precious than
among the Gauls, and the rough military order which the tribesmen had
preserved upon their march was at once broken up when the two parties
met.

Wives rushed into the arms of husbands, mothers embraced their sons,
girls hung on the necks of their fathers and brothers. There was nothing
to mar the joy of the meeting, for messengers had from time to time
carried news from the army to the village, and the women who had lost
those dearest to them in the campaign remained behind in the village, so
that their mourning should not mar the brightness of the return of the
tribe.

Brunilda, the wife of the chief, stood with her daughters a little
apart from the crowd on a rising knoll of ground, and the chief, who
was mounted upon a horse taken from the Romans at the Trebia, spurred
forward towards them, while Malchus hung behind to let the first
greeting pass over before he joined the family circle. He had, however,
been noticed, and Clotilde's cheeks were colouring hotly when her father
rode up, from some laughing remark from her sisters. Brunilda received
Malchus cordially, saying that she had often heard of him in the
messages sent by her husband.

"He has come to stop the winter with us," Allobrigius said. "I promised
him a warm welcome, and he needs rest and quiet, as do we all, for it
has been hard work even to seasoned men like us. What with snow and rain
I have scarcely been dry since I left you."

"That would not matter to the young Carthaginian lord," the eldest girl
said with a smile; "we know that he rather likes getting wet, don't we,
Clotilde?" she said, turning to her sister, who was, contrary to her
usual custom, standing shyly behind her.

"I am afraid I shall never hear the last of that," Malchus laughed; "I
can only say that I meant well."

"Of course you did," Allobrigius said; "you could not know that our
Gaulish maidens could swim and march, and, if necessary, fight as
stoutly as the men. The Romans before now have learned that, in
the absence of the men from the camp, the women of Gaul can fight
desperately for country, and home, and honour. Do not let yourself be
troubled by what these wild girls say, my lord Malchus; you know our
Gaulish women are free of tongue, and hold not their men in such awe and
deference as is the custom among other