The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-05-10
NUMBER Ii.


iced OF corn in nose-bags, and then to 60
back along the road, beyond hearing: to keen
attentive watch for any sign of pursuit to
take repast, and to rest until further orders.
When these things had been done, and when
the soldiers were out of hearing, our youth and
his three companions took their seats upon tho
corn-bags in the wagon; and whle eating
some bread and meat and grapes and passing
round horn of wine, Paulus laid the subject
OF his anxiety before the others. They agreed
with him as to the gravity of the disastrous
| possibility impending over them; and
| LohGihus, who was very modest, seeing that
neither ChRras nor Thellus prof1ered a word
said
| Gcntnrions, we left Rome, you know, by
the Via Nomentana; we have made about n
| hundred Thousand PAGES; we are now not far
from the Lake Thrasymene. of evil fame I
kno" this country well. Not six hundred
PAGES from tho road, on tho right hand there
is an accent bosky dinsle or hollow. 1t was,
think, formerly quarry, from which many
Thousand PAGES of this very road were paved.
1t ia now lined all round with copse and brush
wood. recommend that we take the wagon
through the fields into that dell, where it will
remain concealed completely, as it will be
much below the level of the surrounding
a.
harness the horses, which ssme of tho men can
mount and tide off upon. There are provi-
sons enough for three or four days for three Of
US. We will let the wagon roll down to q
ledge in the concave of tho dingle. The CEN
turiou Chsrias, Thellus and myself will re.
main on guard, and lead the forester's life for
q day or two or three. You, who are SO we'll
mounted, can ride fast as possible to the
(fcrmaDirus
bring back sufficient escort, say fifty men,
and we will await your return"
" You have touched it with the point Of q
needle" cried Paulus.
1t is good advice" added CLutias 81 I'm
Guidance. But we had better not leave uheel-
marks through The fields. Let US ourselves carry
the corn-bags, as well as the provisions into
the dell. Let tho wagon, the weight of which
will be enormously lghtencd after the coin ia
proceed forward. Tho h.rses can
then bear 1T swiftly; and all the ten soldiers
can have conveyance, two on horseback
eight in the wagon the two lame horses can
be led by the mounted men all Elk beasts will
thus be preserved for future 1 don't like
when in war, losing an ass, or even the ear of
IN ass, that can save"
Nevertheless" returned Paulus, we musk
ot separate the conveyance too far from what
has to convey. Yours be the task Of obliter-
ting the wheel. marks, not all the way to tho
ell, but near the road may be able to
ring back soldiers, yet not to bring another
'agon. Therefore we will forthwith carry
'onginus's plan into effect. tits possib!eto
ny how soon it might be too late"
without calling to the soldiers, who were q
undred yards off in their rear and were en-
ying their supper, Paulus tied his horses
cad to tree, and, with the vigorous help of
is three companions, soon saw removed into
le dingle, to which Longinus led the way, tho
agon and the whole of the treasure concealed
the tigbtlystrapped corn bags.
At the brink of the hollow, Paulus had I'M
ITnessed the horses, and led them back to the
ad. He now summoned the ten DICTIONARIES
Id them to ride in turn, four at time. for
me miles. leading the lame horses They
ere then to tether the auinal- where there ..
IS good grass, some fifty ya,d- from tho
al side aud continue their own march on
It to COrtoua, AID there they were to wait
TT they heard from him again
hey set forth Obediently at good round
e. But PAuluS, on bis mighty Sieed which
: now fed and refreshed, was to follow and
pass them, and was 10 tie til e first messenger
tbe emergency. Severtheless he could not
move nor tear himself away. He looked
the direction Of the dell, where all was
let and nothing visible. He looked forward,
ere be his men fact disappearing in the
certain starlight. He looked back, where
could hear and see nothing bot the dim
dscape, nothing but physical nature. At
), with a deep breath, he poised himself
i upon the back Of seianus shook the rSins
Z the bruteB powerfnl neck, and departed