y.

"'Shamed of you? No, boy. I feel proud."

"There, Serge," cried Marcus, leaving the pony, to go and lay his hand
upon the old soldier's shoulder, "I've done, and I will try and never
complain any more. I do see now what a lot we have to be thankful for.
Now then; what's the next thing we ought to do?"

"Same as usual, my lad," said Serge, rising and sheathing his sword,
which went back into its scabbard with a quick glide till the hilt was
nearly reached, when it required a firm thrust to get it close into its
place. "Well, to begin with, forage first. I often think it's a pity a
man wasn't made like a horse. Look at those two ponies! How their
coats shine in the sunshine! They began eating their breakfast before
it was light, for I was watching and wakeful, and I got thinking like
this as I heard them busy at it, crop and blow, crop and blow, and after
they had eaten all they wanted they had a drink of water, and there they
are fit for the day, while we three have got to find out some place or
another where we can buy, or frighten them into giving us some bread and
milk. We always have been lucky enough so far, and I don't see why we
shouldn't be again to-day."

"But which way shall we go, Serge? It's of no use to try to follow up
the army as we did yesterday, and then have to turn back because the
enemy are between us and it."

"No, boy; I think the best thing we can do is to leave that till we have
done foraging, for we must have something to eat. Then we'll try if we
can't creep round these tribes, or get in between them somehow. Perhaps
we may have a bit of luck to give us a little help. Anyhow, we are not
going to despair."

"No, Serge," cried Marcus, firmly; "anything but that."

"Hah!" cried Serge. "That's spoken like Cracis' son."

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

ON THE BRINK.

Evening was coming on on the following day, when, growing tired but in
higher spirits, Marcus and Serge were cautiously following the traces
well marked along the side of a forest which gave unmistakable evidence
of the passing of a large body of men.

There had been rain some hours before, which had left the earth softened
and refreshed, ready, too, for yielding to the pressure of horses' hoofs
and the clearly-indicated lines formed by chariot wheels. These formed
a splendid guide for the adventurers, who added their own traces as they
pressed eagerly on.

"They are our people, Marcus, boy, and they are not f