Bissula. English
Page 46
CHAPTER XLVI.
The largest galley, an old war ship which still bore the figure ofAmphitrite on its prow, displayed a purple streamer, and the smallestforesail was of the same color; for she carried the Commander of thesquadron.
"At last!" the able officer exclaimed as, the first man in the wholearmada, he leaped from his galley into the boat which lay rocking atits bowsprit. He ran across the whole line of small vessels to theshore, and sprang with one impatient leap from the last boat across themarshy ground to the solid land to meet the Illyrian, who received himwith outstretched arms.
"At last, my friend, I bring ships and men. It has been a long delay."
"I know it was no fault of yours."
"The Caesar has already sent the guilty men to the mines. Where is thePrefect?"
"Up above, in the camp. He is not well."
"I have letters for him from the Emperor."
"Has no news come from the Emperor Valens yet?" asked Saturninusanxiously.
"Yes, very late news."
"How do matters stand between him and the Goths?"
"Well for him and badly for the Barbarians. They are suffering terriblyfrom hunger. His last letter declines, and right arrogantly, anyassistance from Gratianus and our army."
"He doesn't wish to share the fame of the victory with his nephew,"said the Tribune, mounting his horse and inviting his friend to ride upthe mountain on the beautiful charger brought for his use. Nannienusswung himself into the saddle, and continued:
"A decisive battle is impending, Valens writes. He is marching uponAdrianople, where the Goths are encamped. Why, the horse is sinkinghere! Are there marshes so far up?"
"Yes, it is the ancient bottom of the lake. So, the die has probablyalready fallen yonder on the Ister! Well, our little campaign willprobably soon be over too. How many helmets do you bring?"
"Thirteen hundred."
"More than enough. Early to-morrow morning we will divide our forces.Five hundred men will remain in the camp: You will march with the resttoward the northeast, I to the northwest, until we at last find andscatter these incomprehensible foes. Did you see nothing suspicious onyour voyage across the lake?"
"Nothing at all. Not a sail, far or near."
"Now that we have ships, we can also search the two tracts of marshlandovergrown with rushes, which stretch for leagues on the right and left.We once thought we saw a column of smoke rising in the western marsh."
"That shall be done to-morrow, before we march. A naval battle on LakeVenetia! It has scarcely happened since the days of Tiberius."
"But I am glad to know that you are here on land with your men: Welcomeonce more to the Barbarian country and to my camp."
With these words the two commanders, followed by a glittering train ofNannienus's officers and the Tribune's mailed riders, passed throughthe Porta Decumana, which now stood wide open; for the Tribune's menwere pouring out, down the mountain side and through the damp meadowsand bogs of the half league of country to the shore, to greet theircomrades on the fleet.
Bissula had crouched and made herself as small as possible, that shemight slip out unseen like a little mouse from her hiding-place east ofthe lake gate. But the Illyrian guards were rigidly trained: twogigantic Thracians--one on each side of the threshold--held theirspears crossed before the opening, and scanned sharply every one whowent in or out. The young girl had crept successfully between theoutstretched legs of one, when she struck her head against the shaft ofthe other's spear. The man's attention was attracted; he recognized herand pushed her gently but irresistibly back.
"No, no!" he said, laughing. "You mustn't go out, you little redserpent! I should get a double drubbing--from the Tribune on the rightand the Prefect on the left. Stay inside."
Bissula, her eyes brimming with tears of impotent rage, was obliged togo back: and there, outside the gate, liberty was beckoning; therelaughed (she saw it again, for the first time through the open gate) inits azure splendor her beloved lake; there on the right rustled thetrees which surrounded Adalo's hall, and there flew a gull, screamingloudly with delight in life and joy in its free movement, across therushes of the marshy shore. Alas! and she must go back into the camp,to an uncertain fate. To-morrow she was to leave the country, togo--whither?
"Oh, Adalo, help soon!"
Since the night before she had constantly whispered his name, again andagain, as though it were a protecting spell.
On reaching her tent, she untied the bear, which was becoming wildlyexcited by the noise of the soldiers, and dragged it by the collarinside of the inclosure, where she remained all day. She was notdisturbed. Prosper brought wine and food, and told her that hismaster's whole time was claimed by Nannienus and the other guests; butearly the next morning she must be ready to take ship for Constantia,then to go to the Emperor at Vindonissa, and lastly, to his beautifulhome. Bissula made no answer.
Leaving the viands untouched, she crouched like some captured wildbeast in the corner of her tent farthest from the entrance, with hereyes fixed intently upon it, listening with anxiety and dread to everysound which drew nearer to her tent from the streets of the camp.Faithful Bruna lay across the threshold; she was the girl's onlycomfort.