walls, made this all plain enough, while the shouting from the rear grew
nearer and nearer; and then it seemed that the rear-guard was coming
more rapidly on, just as the order to move forward came from the front
and passed along the line.

With a couple of halts for rest the troops plodded on and the horses
struggled for another hour, and then, to the great delight of all, the
word came back from the front that the height of the pass had been
reached, that the head of the column was beginning to descend, and that
not far in front their comrades were holding the enemy in check.

This intelligence was like an invigorating breath of air to the little
force. The men stepped out and dragged and pushed, and the cries of the
drivers had a cheering sound, as they called upon their horses in a tone
of voice which made the struggling beasts exert themselves more than
ever.

It was still terribly hard work, but there was no upward drag; the great
strain was gone, for the descent was steep, and a great portion of the
weight the chariot horses had to draw seemed to have been taken off.

The pass was still walled in by towering heights, but it was rapidly
opening out, and at the end of another hour the advance force, which had
contented themselves with holding one of the narrowest portions of the
way, had been strengthened, and pressed back the enemy.

There was another halt of the chariots, to enable a portion of the
troops from the rear to close up and pass through to the front to join
the advance, a manoeuvre which the panting men, as they struggled over
the beaten snow, obeyed with alacrity, eager to get into action and
bring to an end the hours of suspense through which they had passed in
comparative inaction while listening to the echoes of the fighting going
on in front and rear.

"There, boy," said Serge, cheerfully, as they found time now to talk as
well as rest; "this don't look like being beaten, does it?"

"I don't know," said Marcus, dubiously. "We seem as much shut up as
ever."

"Nay, not us! Why, the walls are ever so much farther back, and we have
got more room to breathe."

"But it's horribly dark still," said Marcus, rather wearily, "and the
snow seems as deep."

"Not it," cried Serge. "And see how it's trampled down. Then it isn't
so cold."

"Not so cold!" cried Marcus. "Why, it's terrible!"

"Not it! Why, since we have been coming down a bit we have got more
into shelter, and that cutting w