ind that came up the pass isn't
whistling about one's ears."

"Well, no," said Marcus. "That is better."

"Better, yes; and so's everything else. It won't be long now before the
pass widens ever so much, and we shall begin to leave the snow behind;
and then as soon as we get on to level ground the captain will get his
horse to work to drive the barbarians back towards the plains below, and
then--you'll see that our turn will come."

"To fight, Serge?"

"Yes, boy. He'll be letting loose his chariots then, and when he does,
the fighting will be over for to-day."

"For to-day!" said Marcus, with a faint laugh.

"Well, yes, it must be getting towards morning, and before many hours we
shall be seeing the sun again, and if we are lucky have made a jump out
of winter into spring. But there, keep up your spirits, boy. I can see
a good breakfast ahead, and a long sleep in the sunshine waiting for us
down below when we have cleared these flies out of our path. They are a
worry now, but you'll see before long."

Marcus was destined to see more than his old companion anticipated
during the next few hours, and events began to crowd rapidly one upon
another's heels.

Their advance was no sooner strengthened by the foot-men who had been so
long inactive while crossing the pass, than changes began to occur,
foremost among which was the progress forward, the little force now
pressing steadily on downward.

It was wintry and dark and the fighting was still going on with the
enemy, who were slowly giving way, while to balance this the attack on
the rear was still kept up. But the pass was opening more and more, and
during the next few hours the progress of the little force had been slow
but steady, the first rays of the sun shining upon the jaded men and
horses halted in a sterile amphitheatre surrounded by rocks which
afforded a fair amount of protection, Nature having formed the hollow
with but one entrance and one exit, her instrument for carving out the
depression having probably been a huge river of ice descending from the
heights behind towards the plains below, of which glimpses now began to
appear.

Rest was imperative, and evidently feeling that his position was far
from safe, their leader had set a portion of his men to strengthen the
opening front and rear by means of the ample supply of scattered rocks,
many of which only needed a few well-directed thrusts to partly block up
the rugged track and form an ade