Bevis: The Story of a Boy

by Richard Jefferies

ofthis ribbon when I come back."

  Off he went, having bribed Scylla, but he met Charybdis in the gateway,where he came plump on the Bailiff.

  "What's up now?" he gruffly inquired.

  "Picnic."

  "Mind you don't go bathing; the waves be as big as cows."

  "Bathing," said Bevis, with intense contempt. "We don't bathe in theevening. Here, you--" donk, he was going to say, but forebore; he gavethe Bailiff a summer apple, and went on. The Bailiff bit the apple,muttered to himself about "mischief," and walked towards the rick-yard.In a minute Mark came to meet Bevis.

  "You did him?" he said.

  "Yes," said Bevis, "and Polly too."

  "Hurrah!" shouted Mark. "They're all there but one, and he's coming infive minutes."

  Bevis found his army assembled by the gate leading to the New Sea. Eachsoldier wore a blue ribbon round the left arm for distinction; Tim, whohad been sent by Pompey to be with them till all was ready, wore a redone.

  "Two and two," said Caesar Bevis, taking his sword and instantlyassuming a general's authoritative tone. He marshalled them in doublefile, one eagle in front, one halfway down, where his second lieutenant,Scipio Cecil, stood; the basket carried in the rear as baggage. Caesarand Mark Antony stood in front side by side.

  "March," said Bevis, starting, and they followed him.

  The route was beside the shore, and so soon as they left the shelter ofthe trees the wind seemed to hit them a furious blow, which pushed themout of order for a moment. The farther they went the harder the windblow, and flecks of brown foam, like yeast, came up and caught againstthem. Rolling in the same direction as they were marching, the waves ateach undulation increased in size, and when they came to the bluff Beviswalked slowly a minute, to look at the dark hollows and the ridges fromwhose crests the foam was driven.

  But here leaving the shore he led the army, with their brazen eaglesgleaming in the sun, up the slope of the meadow where the solitary oakstood, and so beside the hedge-row till they reached the higher ground.The Plain, the chosen battle-field, was on the other side of the hedge,and it had been arranged that the camps should be pitched just withoutthe actual campaigning-ground. On this elevated place the gale camealong with even greater fury; and Mark Antony said that they would neverbe able to light a camp-fire that side, they must get through and intoshelter.

  "I shall do as I said," shouted Bevis, scarcely audible, for the windblew the words down his throat. But he kept on till he found a hawthornbush, with brambles about the base, a detached thicket two or threeyards from the hedge, and near which there was a gap. He stopped, andordered the standard-bearer behind him to pitch the eagle there. Thearmy halted, the eagles were pitched by thrusting the other end of therods into the sward, the cloaks, coats, and rug thrown together in aheap, and the soldiers set to work to gather sticks for the fire. Ofthese they found plenty in the hedge, and piled them up in the shelterof the detached thicket.

  Bevis, Mark Antony, and Scipio Cecil went through the gap to reconnoitrethe enemy. They immediately saw the smoke of his camp-fire rising onthe other side of the Plain, close to a gateway. The smoke only rose alittle above the hedge there--the fire was on the other side--and wasthen blown away by the wind. None of Pompey's forces were visible.

  "Ted, I mean Pompey, was here first," said Mark Antony. "He'll be readybefore us."

  "Be quick with the fire," shouted Caesar.

  "Look," said Scipio Cecil. "There's the punt."

  Behind the stony promontory at the quarry they could see the punt fromthe high ground where they stood; it was partly drawn ashore just insideFir-Tree Gulf, so that the projecting point protected it like abreakwater. The old man (the watcher) had started for the quarry to geta load of sand as usual, never thinking, as how should he think? thatthe gale was so furious. But he found himself driven along anyhow, andunable to row back; all he could do was to steer and struggle into thegulf, and so behind the Point, where he beached his unwieldy vessel.Too much shaken to dig sand that day, and knowing that he could not rowback, he hid his spade and the oars, and made for home on foot. But thejourney by land was more dangerous than that by sea, for he insensiblywandered into the high road, and came to an anchor in the first inn,where, relating his adventures on the deep with the assistance of ardentliquor, he remained.

  Bevis, who had gone to light the fire with the matches in his pocket,now returned through the gap, and asked if anything had been seen ofPompey's men. As he spoke a Pompeian appeared, and mounting the sparsof the distant gate displayed a standard, to which was attached a whitehandkerchief, which fluttered in the breeze.

  "They're ready," said Mark Antony. "Come on. Which way shall we march?Which way are you going?"

  The smoke of Caesar's fire rose over the hedge, and swept down by thegale trailed along the ground towards Pompey's. Bevis hastened back tothe camp, and tied his handkerchief to the top of an eagle, Markfollowed. "Which way are you going?" he repeated. "Where shall we meetthem? What are you going to do?"

  "I don't know," said Caesar, angrily pushing him. "Get away."

  "There," growled Mark Antony to Scipio, "he doesn't know what he's goingto do, and Phil is as cunning as--"

  The standard-bearer sent by Caesar pushed by him, got through the gap,and held up the white flag, waving it to attract more attention. Inhalf a minute, Pompey's flag was hauled down, and directly afterwardssome one climbed over the gate and set out running towards them. It wasCharlie. "Run, Tim," said Caesar Bevis; "we're ready." Tim dashedthrough the gap, and set off with all his might.

  "Two and two," shouted Caesar. "Stand still, will you?" as they movedtowards the opening. "Take down that flag."

  The eagle-bearer resumed his place behind him. Caesar signing to thelegions to remain where they were, went forward and stood on the mound.He watched the runners and saw them pass each other nearly about themiddle of the great field, for though little, Charlie was swift of foot,and full of the energy which is more effective than size.

  "Let's go."

  "Now then."

  "Start."

  The legions were impatient and stamped their feet, but Caesar would notmove. In a minute or two Charlie reached him, red and panting withrunning.

  "Now," shouted Bevis, "march!" and he leaped into the field; Charliecame next for he would not wait to take his place in the ranks. Thelegions rushed through anyhow, eager to begin the fray.

  "Two and two," shouted Caesar, who would have no disorder.

  "Two and two," repeated his first lieutenant, Mark Antony.

  "Two and two," said Scipio Cecil, punching his men into place.

  On they went, with Caesar leading, straight across the wind-swept plainfor Pompey's camp. The black swifts flew about them, but just clearingthe grass, and passing so close as to seem almost under foot. Therewere hundreds of them, they come down from the upper air, and congregatein a great gale; they glided over the field in endless turns andwindings. Steadily marching, the army had now advanced a third part ofthe way across the field.

  "Where's Pompey?" said Scipio Cecil.

  "Where shall we meet and fight?" said Mark Antony.

  "Silence," shouted Bevis, "or I'll degrade you from your rank, and youshan't be officers."

  They were silent, but every one was looking for Pompey and thinking justthe same. There was the gate in full view now, and the smoke ofPompey's camp, but none of the enemy were visible. Bevis was thinkingand trying to make out whether Pompey was waiting by his camp, orwhether he had gone round behind the hedge, and if so, which way, to theright towards the quarry, or to the left towards the copse, but he couldnot decide, having nothing to guide him.

  But though uncertain in his own mind, he was general enough not to letthe army suppose him in doubt. He strode on in silence, but keeping thesharpest watch, till they came to the waggon track, crossing the fieldfrom left to right. It had worn a gully or hollow way leading down tothe right to the hazel hedge, where there was a gate. T
hey came to theedge of the hollow way, where there were three thick hawthorn bushes andtwo small ash-trees.

  "Halt!" said Caesar Bevis, as the bushes partly concealed them fromview. "Stay here. Let no one move."

  Bevis himself went round the trees and looked again, but he could seenothing: Pompey and his army were nowhere in sight. He could not tellwhat to do, and returned slowly, thinking, when looking down the hollowway an idea struck him.

  "Scipio, take your men,"--("Cohort," said Antony)--"take your cohort,jump into the road, and go down to the gate there. Keep out of sight--stoop: