e could endure it no longer. His eyes, glaring round, rested on a
sacrificial axe, which some priest had left in the chamber: he seized
it. With the desperate strength of his gigantic arm, he attempted to hew
his way through the walls.

Meanwhile, the streets were already thinned; the crowd had hastened to
disperse itself under shelter; the ashes began to fill up the lower
parts of the town; but, here and there, you heard the steps of fugitives
cranching them warily, or saw their pale and haggard faces by the blue
glare of the lightning, or the more unsteady glare of torches, by which
they endeavored to steer their steps. But ever and anon, the boiling
water, or the straggling ashes, mysterious and gusty winds, rising and
dying in a breath, extinguished these wandering lights, and with them
the last living hope of those who bore them.

In the street that leads to the gate of Herculaneum, Clodius now bent
his perplexed and doubtful way. 'If I can gain the open country,'
thought he, 'doubtless there will be various vehicles beyond the gate,
and Herculaneum is not far distant. Thank Mercury! I have little to
lose, and that little is about me!'

'Holla!--help there--help!' cried a querulous and frightened voice. 'I
have fallen down--my torch has gone out--my slaves have deserted me. I
am Diomed--the rich Diomed--ten thousand sesterces to him who helps me!'

At the same moment, Clodius felt himself caught by the feet. 'Ill
fortune to thee--let me go, fool,' said the gambler.

'Oh, help me up!--give me thy hand!'

'There--rise!'

'Is this Clodius? I know the voice! Whither fliest thou?'

'Towards Herculaneum.'

'Blessed be the gods! our way is the same, then, as far as the gate.
Why not take refuge in my villa? Thou knowest the long range of
subterranean cellars beneath the basement--that shelter, what shower can
penetrate?'

'You speak well,' said Clodius musingly. 'And by storing the cellar
with food, we can remain there even some days, should these wondrous
storms endure so long.'

'Oh, blessed be he who invented gates to a city!' cried Diomed.
'See!--they have placed a light within yon arch: by that let us guide
our steps.'

The air was now still for a few minutes: the lamp from the gate streamed
out far and clear: the fugitives hurried on--they gained the gate--they
passed by the Roman sentry; the lightning flashed over his livid face
and polished helmet, but his stern features were composed even