is chilly and cheerless; but we can't get
away from here without fighting."

This last thought came with a look of excitement, for the boy's brain
was growing clearer and he was rapidly grasping the fact that they were
surrounded by a vast number of the enemy.

"What has become of Serge?" he said, half aloud.

The old soldier came into sight almost as he asked the question,
carrying a vessel of water in one hand and something that looked like a
cake of bread in the other.

"Awake, boy?" he said, as he came out. "I thought you'd be hungry when
you did open your eyes, and so I managed to get this, but I've nigh had
it snatched away three times as I came back, for our fellows are getting
savage for want of food. Not that it matters much, for they'll fight
all the better to get down to the plains and plunder."

"Then we're going to fight, Serge?" cried Marcus, eagerly.

"Not much doubt about that, boy."

"And start downward for the plains?"

"Ah, there's a deal of doubt about that, my lad. I dare say the chief
would like to, but we're regularly shut up in this rocky hole."

"But he ought not to have let the enemy shut us up, ought he?"

"It was a case of can't help it, my boy," growled Serge. "From the time
we halted this morning the barbarians have been gathering round and
streaming down from the mountains, till there they are, thousands upon
thousands of them, hanging on the hills and running down the hollows
till they look like human rivers. We were obliged to have a rest and
refresh, for a man can't go on fighting and marching for ever, even if
he be a Roman; and ever since we've been resting the enemy has been
collecting, till they are like you see. Well, why don't you look
round?"

"I did," cried Marcus, "and saw all this before you came. Then we're in
a sore strait, Serge?"

"Yes, a very sore one, boy; but eat your bread."

"Not now," said Marcus, quickly. "Let me have a drink of water."

He took hold of the vessel and had a long, deep draught, one which
seemed to clear away the last mental cobweb from his brain.

"Now eat a bit," said Serge, offering the cake; but the boy shook his
head and swept the surroundings with anxious eyes.

"Very well," said the old soldier. "You'll be hungry by-and-by." And
slipping the cake into his wallet, he looked sternly at the boy, who
turned to him directly.

"Then you think that we shall not be able to cut our way out, Serge?" he
said.

"Sure of it