was descending a steep slope at the bottom of which a stream
gurgled and rippled along, the boy awoke to the fact that the man had
been resting and bathing in the bottom of the tiny valley, and was now
ascending the opposite slope, where, in full sight of his
fellow-traveller, he stopped beneath a tree, divested himself of a
portion of his armour, and then lay down to rest.

To have gone on and passed him would have been the most sensible thing
to do, but to do this the boy would have had to creep along a rugged
path close beside the sleeper's halting place, at the great risk of
dislodging stones and awakening him if he were asleep, while, if he were
yet awake, to pass without being seen was impossible.

It was not the spot where Marcus would have chosen his resting place,
but there was no option, and, carefully keeping among the trees, he
dropped down at the most suitable place, and then lay for some time
vainly trying to sleep, till at last he lost consciousness, resting and
preparing for his next day's journey, waking at sunrise in the hope that
if he could not lose sight of his unwelcome fellow-traveller, the next
night would find him so near to Rome that another day's march would, at
least, bring him so close that there would be no more such anxious
travel.

But matters turn out in daily life very often in a different way from
what is expected, and so it was here. Marcus waited and watched till he
saw the warrior rise bare-headed, but not to go on at once after donning
his helmet, but to come back in his direction.

"He must have seen me," thought the boy excitedly, and he began to creep
carefully away through the low bushes; but, at the end of a minute, upon
glancing back, he found that the man was not following him, but had made
his way down to the little stream to drink and wash.

Relieved by this, Marcus reseated himself to watch unseen every action
of the soldier, who had left his helmet, shield and weapons at the foot
of the tree where he had slept; and, after bathing his face and hands,
he was on his way back, when, to Marcus' horror, he caught sight of a
glint of something bright, and, directly after, made out first one and
then another rough-looking, armed man, till he saw there were no less
than six creeping towards the spot where the Roman soldier had left his
weapons.

Marcus thought no more of himself at this, but was about to issue from
his hiding place when he grasped the fact that the soldier