s, and the whinnying and squealing of horses,
accompanied by angry cries from those who were harnessing them again.

"And I was so tired, Serge," said Marcus, as he finished hurrying on his
armour. "What does it mean?"

"An alarm or an advance; I can't say which, boy. But be smart. We may
get our orders at any moment."

"I shall be ready directly. There, he has done harnessing the horses.
Down, Lupe! Quiet! Keep away from their heads."

The dog crouched in front, just beyond the reach of one of the horses,
waiting patiently for what was next to come.

"Ah, you are the best off, after all," said Marcus, "You just get up on
all four legs, give yourself a shake, and you are ready for anything."

The dog looked up, gave the speaker a friendly growl, and then let his
head rest again upon his extended paws, while Marcus walked to the side
of his chariot horses to pat and caress their arched necks, friendly
advances which were now accepted by the savage little animals without
any attempts to bite, while he could pass behind them now without having
to beware of a lightning-like kick.

"All ready?" growled Serge, who had just loosened the throwing spears he
had laid in the bottom of the chariot.

"Oh yes, I am ready; but can't I lie down and sleep till the order comes
to advance?"

"No, you can't," growled Serge. "A soldier shouldn't want to sleep when
he is waiting for the trumpet to sound."

"Oh, I don't know," said Marcus, peevishly. "I should have thought he
ought to snatch a little sleep whenever he could."

"That's right," said the old soldier, grumpily. "But he can't now."

"Why?" said Marcus, with a yawn.

"Because the foot soldiers are starting now, and the horse went scouting
on ten minutes ago. I wonder we haven't got our orders before this."

"Why, we shouldn't have been ready if they had come," said Marcus.

"No," growled Serge. "We with the chariots are horribly slow. It's all
through having to depend upon these driver fellows and our horses having
to drag a clumsy car at their heels. Now look here, I am beginning to
think that the enemy's afoot coming down to surprise us, and, if so, we
with the chariots shall have our turn."

"What makes you think that?" cried Marcus, shaking off his drowsiness at
these words.

"I don't know, boy, only I do. In with you. Now we are off."

The driver was already in his place as Marcus sprang into the chariot,
and seized one of the throwing spear