no; only just under the loose skin."

"Has it bled much?" said Marcus, anxiously.

"Plenty, my lad, but he won't die of it. Do you hear, Lupe, old boy?
Your doctor says he is not going to do anything in the way of tying you
up, for this is the sort of wound that has done bleeding and will heal
up without any more help than you can give it with your tongue; so go on
and do what you like to it, just the same as you began when you were
stopped."

The dog ceased beating the floor of the chariot as Serge went on talking
to him, and as soon as the old soldier had given him a final pat or two
he resumed the application of Nature's remedy, paying no heed to those
in the chariot, which was now rolling steadily on and leaving the scene
of the late encounter farther and farther behind.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

IN THE TRACK OF AN ARMY.

It was not easy to quiet down the half wild steeds. They had been going
through a long period of inaction since the fierce charge made on the
night of the encounter before crossing the snowy pass, and once their
driver had, to use the horsey phrase, given them their heads, and urged
them on to their top speed, their hot, wild blood had been bubbling
through their veins, making them snort and tear along heedless of rock,
rut, and the roughest ground. Marcus had told the driver to check them
twice over, but as soon as Lupe was in the chariot and both Marcus and
Serge busy seeing to his wound, the speed began to increase, till the
chariot was bumping over the open plain faster than ever; and though the
charioteer strove his best it was some time before he managed to get his
little pair into hand again so that the pace grew moderate and the
progress was made at a gentle canter, instead of a wild gallop which
threatened wreck over some projecting stone.

"They were half mad with excitement," cried Marcus, who was breathing
hard.

"Yes," grunted Serge. "I thought we were going to be upset over and
over again. Feel a bit frightened, boy?"

"Frightened?" said Marcus, looking wonderingly at his companion. "No!
I liked it. Why, it was glorious to rush over the plain like that."

"Wouldn't have been very glorious if one wheel had come bump against a
stone, flown all to pieces, and we two had gone flying one way and the
chariot the other."

"No," said Marcus, laughing; "but that wheel did not, and we are all as
right as can be, with the enemy left behind."

"Yes, that's all very true, boy