by Felix Dahn
CHAPTER LIV.
Hitherto Herculanus had remained concealed from both Romans and Germansin the tent on the cross street where he had sought refuge. Noweverything around had become so still that he might have supposed thecamp to be deserted, but the cautious fugitive probably would not haveleft the tent yet if the fire, and still more the smoke, of theconsuming leather had not driven him away. Peering timidly between thefolds, he glided out, and his first glance fell upon the hated girl towhom he believed he owed his downfall. With a short, half stifled cryof savage delight in vengeance, he sprang toward her, the quiveringdagger uplifted, when he saw that he was discovered. But Bissula had agood start; he was obliged to pass the fifty paces of the cross streetbefore reaching the corner tent where she had just been kneeling, andhis aching feet would not permit him to follow as fast as his hatedesired.
Meanwhile Bissula fled like a hunted deer down the central street tothe gate; there she glanced back. Alas, he must have guessed thedirection of her flight, for he also ran toward the gate and saw herpass out into the open country. He followed.
At first hate and revenge urged him recklessly on. But now, afterobeying these impulses, he said to himself while running:
"Ausonius is dead; I am his heir. And perhaps the few others who knewof the incident died, too, in this hour, like Davus; only the Barbariangirl lives. Has he, meantime, made her his heiress? Hardly! And even ifit were so, the will has probably burned with the other things in thecamp; and even if it should be saved, what harm can it do, if theperson named as heiress also perishes during this night of universalslaughter? However that may be, she shall not--must not live."
He too had reached the gate. The gray dawn of day was already diffusingsufficient pale light for him speedily to discover the flying figure onthe opposite side of the ditch; her white garments and fluttering redlocks betrayed her when the wind bore the glare from the burning campin her direction.
Herculanus leaped into the ditch, but uttered a cry of pain, and fell:his feet were too lame. Climbing and dragging himself up with hishands, with great difficulty and keen suffering he succeeded inreaching the southern side of the trench. The fugitive had gained alonger distance in advance. The Roman perceived this with furious rageand, battling with the pain, forcing his reluctant feet to bear himonward, he redoubled his efforts to overtake her.
Bissula was doubtless greatly terrified when, after passing through thegate into the open country, she again saw flames rising before, as wellas behind her, and heard the din of the raging battle. She had learnedfrom Prosper the arrival of the ships and the camp made by the lake, soshe understood that the conflict was probably now roaring around thegalleys. Yet she unhesitatingly obeyed the impulse which led her awayfrom Herculanus straight down to the lake; there, though she would oncemore encounter the horrors of war, she would surely find her ownpeople.
So she ran directly down the hill, always watching sharply to see ifshe could not distinguish one of the Alemanni on her way. But the menwhom she met were not Alemanni; they were Romans, and lay dead or dyingon the earth. Once she was startled by a horse that dashed across herpath; trembling, she hid herself behind a clump of bushes; but thesteed bore no rider. Two, four, six masterless animals followed thefirst, but neither Romans nor Alemanni, who might have threatened orprotected her, were visible far or near: flight and pursuit had longsince swept down to the lake. A furious struggle was still ragingbelow.
She was forced to stop a moment, her heart was beating so violently.Looking back from the bushes, she saw a dark figure, now plainlyvisible in the light of morning, still swiftly chasing her; nay, itseemed as though, behind the first, a second pursuer had rushed fromthe camp or risen from the ground.
Again she ran forward, confidently hoping to reach her people by thelake before she was overtaken; for the child of the forest was skilledin running and had a considerable start. But, after a few steps, freshterror seized her: she again heard, this time directly behind her, thehoofbeats of a horse. At first she hoped it was another riderlesscharger, but it followed directly upon her track, and she now heard, inthe language of the foe, all sorts of cries urging the animal on. Afrightful thought darted through her brain. At any cost, she must turnto see whether--
Yes, her fears were verified. Herculanus had caught one of the horsesthat crossed his path, thrown himself upon it, and was now pursuing thegirl, who was using the last remnant of her strength to fly. Shedistinctly heard the heavy feet splash through the marshy pools of themeadow land; heard, alas! louder and louder, therefore nearer andnearer, the fierce shouts of the rider and the trampling of hoofswinged by his excitement. The space which separated them grew shorterand shorter very rapidly. Mortal terror overwhelmed Bissula; sheremembered how the cruel Roman had tried to kill her in the forest hutlike an animal slain for sacrifice.
In this approach of death one name, one only sprang to her lips."Adalo!" she shrieked, "Adalo! Help, save me, save Bissula!"
Vain appeal! No human being was visible far or near. No answer came.
There was no fighting on the strip of shore toward which she wasrunning, only far out on the lake blazing Roman galleys were floating,pursued by the little boats of the Alemanni.
The terrible horse was already very near. She could hear the snortingof the animal as it was urged forward with blows of the heels, shakingof the bridle, and shouts, to more and more frantic speed. Then--oh,rescue!--she saw in the gray light of morning, close to the shore,hidden among the rushes, two boats of the Alemanni side by side. Thosewere certainly no Roman vessels: there was neither triangular sail norlofty prow. Bissula even fancied that she distinguished on one thesixteen-branched antlers, Adalo's house-mark. Yes, yes, there it was;it was his fishing boat, and several men were bending to the oars. Shecalled loudly several times: "Help, Alemanni, help for Bissula!"
Oh, joy! They had heard her voice. The men were rowing with all theirmight; both boats were flying toward the shore to meet her. And then,more joy: she heard behind her a loud cry and a dull, heavy fall with asplashing noise. She could not help looking back.
Yes, the horse, urged beyond its strength by the pitiless rider, hadfallen; it lay on its side, lashing out savagely with its hoofs. Butalas! Bissula had rejoiced too soon. The rider had sprung up unhurt andwas now running toward her--only a few steps away, brandishing hisdagger. The second pursuer appeared from behind the horse. And the boatwas still several ship's lengths out upon the lake. Without hesitationthe girl leaped into the water, waded as long as she could touch thebottom, then with a strong push from the ground, spread out herpowerful white arms, well practised in the art, and swam toward thenearest boat.
No girl on the northern shore excelled Bissula in swimming; but thelong flowing folds of her robe hampered her, winding about her feet assoon as they were wet and preventing her from aiding the strokes of herarms with those of the lower limbs. And, horror! splashes behind herannounced that her pursuer, or two of them, had followed her into thelake, for she thought she twice heard a plunge or a heavy fall. Thisfear paralyzed the last remnant of her strength; her arms also refusedto obey her will; she sank with her face low in the water.
Once more she raised herself from it; then she felt her pursuer seizeher long robe and drag her toward the land; but at the same instant hisgrasp relaxed; a shrill death-cry fell upon her ear, followed by a low,angry growl. Turning her head, she saw Herculanus sinking in the armsof a huge blackish-brown beast.
"Bruna!" she called again; then her senses seemed to fail. There was astrange roaring in her ears; the water filled her nose, mouth, andears, and she sank.
Just at that moment four strong arms seized her by the shoulders, andthe white hands flung high out of the waves for the last time. Withgreat, but tender strength she was lifted into the boat. Then sheopened her eyes: Ausonius and Saturninus stood before her. She shriekedaloud in the anguish of the keenest disappointment; her eyelids closed,her senses failed, and faintness overwhelmed her.
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