tale, which we begin to believe--that Rome falls!"

'"Give me three years' peace on the Wall," cried Maximus, "and I will show
you and all the ravens how they lie!"

'"Ah, I wish it too! I wish to save what is left of the corn from the
millstones. But you shoot us Picts when we come to borrow a little iron
from the Iron Ditch; you burn our heather, which is all our crop; you
trouble us with your great catapults. Then you hide behind the Wall, and
scorch us with Greek fire. How can I keep my young men from listening to
the Winged Hats--in winter especially, when we are hungry? My young men
will say, 'Rome can neither fight nor rule. She is taking her men out of
Britain. The Winged Hats will help us to push down the Wall. Let us show
them the secret roads across the bogs.' Do _I_ want that? No!" He spat
like an adder. "_I_ would keep the secrets of my people though I were
burned alive. My two children here have spoken truth. Leave us Picts
alone. Comfort us, and cherish us, and feed us from far off--with the hand
behind your back. Parnesius understands us. Let _him_ have rule on the
Wall, and I will hold my young men quiet for"--he ticked it off on his
fingers--"one year easily: the next year not so easily: the third year,
perhaps! See, I give you three years. If then you do not show us that Rome
is strong in men and terrible in arms, the Winged Hats, I tell you, will
sweep down the Wall from either sea till they meet in the middle, and you
will go. _I_ shall not grieve over that, but well I know tribe never helps
tribe except for one price. We Picts will go too. The Winged Hats will
grind us to this!" He tossed a handful of dust in the air.

'"Oh, Roma Dea!" said Maximus, half aloud. "It is always one man's
work--always and everywhere!"

'"And one man's life," said Allo. "You are Emperor, but not a God. You may
die."

'"I have thought of that, too," said he. "Very good. If this wind holds, I
shall be at the East end of the Wall by morning. To-morrow, then, I shall
see you two when I inspect; and I will make you Captains of the Wall for
this work."

'"One instant, Caesar," said Pertinax. "All men have their price. I am not
bought yet."

'"Do _you_ also begin to bargain so early?" said Maximus. "Well?"

'"Give me justice against my uncle Icenus, the Duumvir of Divio in Gaul,"
he said.

'"Only a life? I thought it would be money or an office. Certainly you
shall have him. Write his name on these tablets--on the re