they will
ravage. But the die is cast, Crassus. You will carry out the orders."

"I will send out the messengers within an hour. This very morning there
has come news that the Barbarians are through the old gap in the wall,
and their outriders as far south as Vinovia."

The Governor shrugged his shoulders.

"These things concern us no longer," said he. Then a bitter smile broke
upon his aquiline clean-shaven face. "Whom think you that I see in
audience this morning?"

"Nay, I know not."

"Caradoc and Regnus, and Celticus the Icenian, who, like so many of the
richer Britons, have been educated at Rome, and who would lay before me
their plans as to the ruling of this country."

"And what is their plan?"

"That they themselves should do it."

The Roman soldier laughed. "Well, they will have their will," said he,
as he saluted and turned upon his heel. "Farewell, your excellency.
There are hard days coming for you and for me."

An hour later the British deputation was ushered into the presence of
the Governor. They were good, steadfast men, men who with a whole heart,
and at some risk to themselves, had taken up their country's cause, so
far as they could see it. At the same time they well knew that under the
mild and beneficent rule of Rome it was only when they passed from words
to deeds that their backs or their necks would be in danger. They stood
now, earnest and a little abashed, before the throne of the viceroy.
Celticus was a swarthy, black-bearded little Iberian. Caradoc and Regnus
were tall middle-aged men of the fair flaxen British type. All three
were dressed in the draped yellow toga after the Latin fashion, instead
of in the bracae and tunic which distinguished their more insular
fellow-countrymen.

"Well?" asked the Governor.

"We are here," said Celticus boldly, "as the spokesmen of a great number
of our fellow-countrymen, for the purpose of sending our petition
through you to the Emperor and to the Roman Senate, that we may urge
upon them the policy of allowing us to govern this country after our
own ancient fashion." He paused, as if awaiting some outburst as an
answer to his own temerity; but the Governor merely nodded his head as a
sign that he should proceed. "We had laws of our own before ever Caesar
set foot in Britain, which have served their purpose since first our
forefathers came from the land of Ham. We are not a child among the
nations, but our history goes back in our own traditio