rcus caught sight through the haze of
snow which seemed to hold the darkness of night above, the head of a
column of the foot soldiers making a steady advance, looking as if they
were wearing a fresh form of decoration, every man's helmet plume being
increased in size by a trimming of the purest, whitest swans-down or
filmy, flocculent silver itself.

But there was no time for studying appearances; all now was stern,
earnest work. At the first order given by the chief, Lupe seemed to
take it that he was concerned, and set up a hoarse barking, which seemed
to animate the chariot horses, notably his friends attached to Marcus'
chariot, which began to stamp and paw up the snow beneath their feet,
while when their driver took his place by their heads they plunged
forward, tugging the heavy vehicle out of the ruts into which the wheels
had cut for themselves. Then with the snow squall driving on before
them leaving the trampled snow ahead freshly smoothed, and lighting the
darkness of the night, there was a dull, grinding, creaking sound of
wheels and yielding snow as it was trampled down into a better road, and
good progress was made, for the slope in advance was more gradual, and
the hollows and pitfalls between the rugged stones that strewed the way
were levelled down.

It was a strange and weird procession, as Marcus tramped on step by step
with Serge, behind the chariot, into which Lupe had suddenly leaped to
stand with his paws planted upon the front of the vehicle, which now
looked as if it had been turned into silver. And there were moments
when the boy felt that it must all be part of a dream.

But there was nothing dream-like in the sounds that came downward
between the great snowy walls, for they were those of desperate
fighting--the shouts of defiance of the Roman soldiers mingled with the
barbarous cries of the Gauls, who had gathered together again in the
great gateway from which they had been driven by the troops of Caius
Julius, and were now striving to prevent the descent of the Roman
rear-guard into their fruitful plains, and if possible entrap these new
troops between their own forces, which were holding them shut in the
deep, long, wintry gorge.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

A GOOD COMPANION.

It was a curious sound, that made by the snow which lay so thickly
beneath sandal, hoof and wheel. As it was pressed together it literally
squeaked as if it possessed feeling and remonstrated at being crushed