his wounds, and found
Marcus by his side bathing his face, was very short, setting the boy's
heart at rest and telling him that the past was entirely forgiven; and
the stern Roman judge merged once more in the loving father. For the
speech was this:

"My own brave boy!"

"Ah!" cried Caius Julius, who had just hurried back, after having been
away for a very brief time giving the orders which had set the whole
camp in motion. "This is bad for you, Cracis, for we start at once
straight for the pass, and as fast as we can go. Do you think you will
be able to sit a horse?"

"I will," said Cracis, firmly. "Yes, I am better now. My wounds are
mere scratches, and once I get to-day and to-night over I shall be
nearly myself again."

"Nearly," said Caius Julius, with a smile. "Well, we shall see. What
do you say, nurse?"

Marcus flushed up at the term by which he was addressed.

"If my father says he will do a thing he will," cried the boy.

"No doubt," said the general; "but do you feel well enough to give me
your counsel and make any suggestions about our return?"

"Yes, certainly," was the reply. "First, then, tell me if you are fully
aware of our position."

"Yes," said Julius, "we have scattered the Gauls in every direction, and
as soon as we start they will take it for granted that we are so
disheartened that we are hurrying back through the country in full
retreat, and they will begin to flow back upon us like a great tide,
fiercer and more venturesome than ever."

"That is enough," said Cracis. "I ought to have known your feelings,
but nearly helpless as I am, I was afraid that last triumph would make
you over confident, and that our followers would take their cue from
their leader and become careless at a time when our position will be
more hazardous than ever."

"Trust me, Cracis; I shall be ready for the enemy at any moment. Now,
Marcus, can I leave your father in your charge?"

"No," said Cracis, before the boy could speak, "I am not going to be a
burden to our men and join the train of litters and our wounded. My son
Marcus and his old follower, Serge, will join one of the cohorts, and
you will place him where I am sure he would like to be as his father's
son."

"And that is--?" said Caius Julius.

"Where would you like to be, my boy?"

Marcus flushed deeper than ever as he replied:

"Serge always taught me, father, that the place of honour was in the
front."

That morning, as the