ve thought you would have been soldier enough to have
seen what would follow."

"A desperate fight?" said Marcus.

"Most likely, boy; but don't you see what will happen then?"

"A horrible slaughter, Serge," said Marcus, excitedly.

"Perhaps, boy, but it may happen that when the enemy finds how he has
been out-manoeuvred and that he is trapped he may surrender."

"But everything has proved that the enemy is too stubborn for that."

"He has never been in such a fix as this yet, my boy."

"But he has equal chances with us, Serge, and may fight to the last and
drive us back."

"Not when he finds out the truth."

"That our men are better disciplined than his?"

"No, boy; he must have found that out long ago. Not that, but that, as
I said before, he has been completely out-manoeuvred by your father."

"Well, you said that before, Serge," said Marcus, impatiently; "but I
don't see matters as you do, though I have tried very hard."

"Then you ought to have seen," cried the old soldier, gruffly. "The
captain is still holding the pass, isn't he?"

"Yes, we have heard so."

"Well, boy, knowing him, do you think he will go on holding it without
doing anything when we advance and close the enemy in more and more?"

"Ah! I see now!" cried Marcus, eagerly. "He will come down from the
pass with his men, and attack the Gauls in the rear."

"To be sure he will, and do the greater part of the fighting and driving
the enemy on to our troops. Why, in a very short time, as I see it, I
mean after the attack, half their men will be prisoners, for no matter
how clever the Gaul general may be he is bound to give up or have his
forces cut down to a man."

"Yes," said Marcus, eagerly.

"Just you take warning, then, boy, by this day's work: never you, when
you grow up to be a general with an army at your command, never you let
yourself be driven into a hole like this where you may be caught between
two fires."

"I never will if I can help it," said Marcus, smiling.

"Forewarned is forearmed, boy. You know now."

"Yes, Serge; but I am anxious to see what this afternoon brings forth."

"Not much but a little marching and counter marching to get things quite
exact and to the satisfaction of our generals. I expect this battle
will be fought out before night."

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

AFTER THE BATTLE.

Serge was right. The weather was glorious; the hot sun blazed down; but
the heat was tempered by the gentle b