ts skirmishes, with victory constantly on the Roman
side.

There was no want of bravery on the enemy's part, but the discipline of
the little civilised division with its strong coherence was too much for
the loose dashes, ambushes, and traps that were laid.

The consequence was a slow, steady advance that nothing could impede,
through the fertile plains of the South and ever onward, with the
snow-capped mountains growing nearer and nearer, till the great pass was
at hand that had been traversed by the main army, and no difficulty was
then experienced as to the route, for its passage was marked plainly
enough by the traces of the many encounters and the ruin and destruction
that indicated its way.

"Shall we never overtake them?" said Marcus, one evening.

"Well, if we keep on I suppose we shall," replied the old soldier. "But
what's your hurry? Are you tired out?"

"Oh, no," cried the boy; "we don't go fast enough for that; but I am
anxious to join father once again."

"Humph!" grunted Serge. "I don't feel so much in a hurry myself.
Perhaps we shan't overtake him at all."

"But we are going to join the army."

"We are going just where our captain takes us, boy. He's doing his work
splendidly, and so are we."

"What, keeping on with these little petty skirmishes?"

"Of course, boy. Don't you see how we are keeping the enemy from
closing in about the army's rear, and saving them from destroying and
burning every homestead and village whose supplies are wanted for our
men?"

"Oh, I don't quite understand," cried Marcus, impatiently.

"Leave it to your leader, then, boy. That's what a good soldier ought
to do. But what's the matter with you? Cold?"

"Yes, horribly. Why, it was as hot as could be in the valley this
morning."

"Well, no wonder," said Serge, with a grim smile. "We were all amongst
the trees and pleasant grass down there, and now on each side and
straight before you--"

"Yes," said Marcus, as he glanced around him. "It looks all very bleak
and bare down here."

"Up here, boy. We have been steadily rising all the day. Look at the
ice and snow up yonder and straight before us. This time to-morrow we
shall be shivering amongst the snow."

"But we can't get the horses and the baggage right over that mountain in
front." And he pointed at the jagged peaks and hollows which were
glistening like gold in the last rays of the setting sun.

"No, boy, but we can go on along this rugge