master for ever forgetting
anything. We shall have it, and sharply too, after him and Julius have
come and done what they've got to do in the way they know how."

"Pst! Don't talk," whispered Marcus. "Look, this officer is giving his
orders to the leaders of the chariots, and here he comes to us."

The boy was right, for a few minutes later the officer came quickly to
him, and his words were very short.

"You have your orders from the chief, young man?" he said. "Stand fast
there among these rocks till the line of chariots has moved off, and
then go down to the lower camp where the foot soldiers are as soon as
they have changed their station."

He turned away directly, and as their driver sprang up, quite on the
alert as he saw that something was on the way, Marcus went to one pony,
Serge to the other, to see that every portion of the harness was in
proper trim; and Lupe leaped out of the chariot and then back to the
front, to raise himself upon his hind legs and plant his paws on the
front as if he were in command and issuing his orders, which took the
form of a deep bay.

Directly after a sub-officer, who was in command of the line, gave an
order, each chariot was manned, and following one another in file they
began rattling and bumping in and out amongst the rocks and hollows,
slowly and noisily in the direction of the highest point of the pass
from which the way had been fought so short a time before.

"Look yonder, Serge," cried Marcus, as he gazed beyond the outposts in
the direction of the hills that were dotted with the enemy.

"Was looking, boy," growled the old soldier, "It's running all round us
wherever the enemy can see. Why, it's like putting a stick into a
wasp's nest and giving it a stir round."

"Yes, look, look, look!" cried Marcus. "What an excitement! Does it
mean that they are going to attack at once? Because if they are we
shan't get off."

"Nay, they are only getting ready. You'll see them settle down again
directly to watch our men and make sure what we are going to do."

The chariots moved on, one following the other till the rough line was
all in motion, only one standing fast, and that one calling for the help
of both Marcus and Serge, who at a word from the driver ran to the heads
of the ponies to assist in controlling them. For as the last chariot
started off they made a desperate plunge forward to follow, so taking
the driver by surprise that the pair went on a few yar