t
hand. Being born and bred among the great country-houses in Gaul, he knew
the proper words to address to all--from Roman-born Centurions to those
dogs of the Third--the Libyans. And he spoke to each as though that man
were as high-minded as himself. Now _I_ saw so strongly what things were
needed to be done, that I forgot things are only accomplished by means of
men. That was a mistake.

'I feared nothing from the Picts, at least for that year, but Allo warned
me that the Winged Hats would soon come in from the sea at each end of the
Wall to prove to the Picts how weak we were. So I made ready in haste, and
none too soon. I shifted our best men to the ends of the Wall, and set up
screened catapults by the beach. The Winged Hats would drive in before the
snow-squalls--ten or twenty boats at a time--on Segedunum or Ituna,
according as the wind blew.

'Now a ship coming in to land men must furl her sail. If you wait till you
see her men gather up the sail's foot, your catapults can jerk a net of
loose stones (bolts only cut through the cloth) into the bag of it. Then
she turns over, and the sea makes everything clean again. A few men may
come ashore, but very few.... It was not hard work, except the waiting on
the beach in blowing sand and snow. And that was how we dealt with the
Winged Hats that winter.

'Early in the Spring, when the East winds blow like skinning-knives, they
gathered again off the East end with many ships. Allo told me they would
never rest till they had taken a tower in open fight. Certainly they
fought in the open. We dealt with them thoroughly through a long day: and
when all was finished, one man dived clear of the wreckage of his ship,
and swam towards shore. I waited, and a wave tumbled him at my feet.

'As I stooped, I saw he wore such a medal as I wear.' Parnesius raised his
hand to his neck. 'Therefore, when he could speak, I addressed him a
certain Question which can only be answered in a certain manner. He
answered with the necessary Word--the Word that belongs to the Degree of
Gryphons in the science of Mithras my God. I put my shield over him till
he could stand up. You see I am not short, but he was a head taller than
I. He said: "What now?" I said: "At your pleasure, my brother, to stay or
go."

'He looked out across the surf. There remained one ship unhurt, beyond
range of our catapults. I checked the catapults and he waved her in. She
came as a hound comes to a master. When she w