It's terrible work, my boy."

"Horrible! Horrible indeed!" sighed Marcus, as he looked sadly round at
the traces of the fight that had taken place about the fallen horse.

"Yes, my lad, I can't help thinking just the same," said the old
soldier, as he stooped to pick up the spear he had laid down while he
bound his young companion's wound, and leaned upon the staff as he gazed
straight away in the direction where the fight seemed to be raging
still.

And the time passed on, till the tumult died away, and the old soldier
stood watching still and waiting anxiously, while Marcus lay silent in
the troubled sleep that came to dull his pain.

At last the boy stirred, and Serge bent over him.

"Awake, boy?" he said.

"Yes, Serge. Have been asleep?"

"Yes."

Marcus gazed around him, and shuddered at the traces of the fight.

"Horrible!" he sighed.

"Yes, boy," said the old warrior, gravely; "I suppose it is, in spite of
all the glory and triumph and the like; but," he continued, after a
pause, as he raised his spear, whose head glimmered in the pale light as
he pointed in the direction of the shining crest of one of the mountains
beyond, while far away lay Rome, "our country must rule the world."

Marcus sighed.

"And give up the bravest and the best of her sons to fight her cause!"
sighed the old soldier to himself. "But I hope the general won't forget
what even a boy can do."

Caius Julius did not, for a little later a group of mounted men
appeared, and the faint cheers of the wounded soldiery greeted them as
they passed.

"It was somewhere near here, Cracis," said one of the party, and then
pointing with his sword, "Ah, it must have been there. Yonder is my
poor horse. Yes, there lies your brave son not dead, for he has raised
and is waving his hand to you. Another great triumph for Rome, Cracis,
but I'd give up all the glory I have won to possess a son like yours."

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Marcus: the Young Centurion, by
George Manville Fenn

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MARCUS: THE YOUNG CENTURION ***

***** This file should be named 21379.txt or 21379.zip *****
This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/3/7/21379/

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
will be renamed.

Creating the works from public domain print editions mea